Chapter Two: Round One, Draw

Mungojerrie woke up, yawned and stretched. The sun had insisted on moving and the spot Rumpelteazer and he had picked for napping was now cold. Mungojerrie's stomach let out a loud gurgle, reminding him that it was past time for supper. Time to go home. He nudged Rumpelteazer, who was curled up into a tight ball.

"Teazer, it's time to go 'ome."

"No….just five more minutes."

Rumpelteazer was a heavy sleeper and he had known her to have an entire conversation while half awake and not remember any of it on waking fully. He nudged her again. She didn't respond, except to put her paws over her eyes.

"Don't you want supper, too?"

"Bring it 'ere."

"C'mon, wake up."

"Uhg."

It was time to play dirty. Mungojerrie began to tickle Rumpelteazer mercilessly. When she laughed and tried to roll away, he caught her foot and tickled it. She pulled it out of his reach, but left her sides vulnerable. He tickled her ribs. She responded by biting his arm. It turned into a kitten fight, which he "let" her win.

"Whoi'd you wake me up, Jerrie? Oi was 'aving a good dream."

She was sitting on his chest, wiping tears of mirth out of her eyes. She looked over at the spot where she had been sleeping and frowned.

"Jerrie, did you take me super ball?"

"No, Teaze."

"Then Oi lost it again. 'Elp me look for it."

"You lose that thing every toime you bring it 'ere. Maybe you should leave it to 'ome."

"Yes, Mummy."

She dove into the nearest garbage pile and came up with a banana peel on her head.

"Jerrie, you look 'ere. Oi'll see if one of the kits took it."

She scampered off toward the sounds of mewing and play-fighting. Mungojerrie sighed and began digging around in the trash pile Rumpelteazer had abandoned.

The Rum Tum Tugger snuck a look around the corner. When he saw that Mungojerrie was alone, he walked up behind him. Mungojerrie was mumbling under his breath.

"Stupid rubber ball…how anyone can foind anythin' around 'ere…the thin's Oi does for that Teazer…"

The Rum Tum Tugger cleared his throat. Mungojerrie jumped.

"Oh, it's you. Wot do you want?"

"Just to talk. You know, about…stuff. Er, sunspots. Mice. Food?"

He was getting nowhere with this. Mungojerrie had turned back to the trash pile and was digging through it. The Rum Tum Tugger tried again.

"What are you looking for?"

"Teazer's super ball. She loses it every toime she brings it 'ere."

"Huh, girls. They'd lose their tails if they weren't attached. But hey, that Rumpelteazer, she's pretty hot, huh?"

Mungojerrie finally looked up at this.

"Wot?"

"Oh c'mon, you live with her. Can't tell me you haven't noticed.

"Noticed wot?"

"Yeah, seems like only yesterday she was a scrawny, squealy kit. But now? She's still too skinny, but those laigs! If she were older…"

" 'Ere now! That's me best friend you're talking 'bout!"

"Then you do know what I mean. You'd be smart to take my advice."

"Wot advice? Oi'm completely lost now."

"Ask her out. She's bound to say yes."

"Oi don't wanna do that! She's me best friend."

"Exactly."

The Rum Tum Tugger swaggered off, thinking that Mungojerrie had gotten the message, though he had seemed thoroughly confused. Ha! You'd don't stand a chance, Bombi! Pucker up!

"What are you looking for, Rumpelteazer?"

As it happened, Bombalurina knew exactly what Rumpleteazer was looking for. By some amazing coincidence she also knew where it was.

"Oh, Oi've lost me super ball again. 'Ave you seen it? About…" she measured a size with her thumb and forefinger, "So big and broight pink and it bouces loike you wouldn' believe!"

"I think I saw Pouncival playing with something like that," Bombalurina said, pretending to think hard, "Yeah, then he threw it in that tree. See, way up there?"

Rumpelteazer looked to where Bombalurina was pointing. Sure enough, she could see something small and pink

"Now whoi'd 'e do somethin' loike that?"

Bombalurina shrugged, trying to look innocent.

"I don't know. You'd better get climbing, hadn't you?"

Rumpelteazer gulped.

"Cloimb? Way up there? It's so 'igh!"

"What's the matter? Are you scared of 'eights? I mean, heights." Bombalurina cursed mentally. Spend too much time with either of the Junkyard's resident troublemakers and that accent would rub off on you. "Go on. I'll watch."

Bombalurina sat down on a rock under the tree. Rumpelteazer looked at her,then at the tree. She gulped again, then walked to the tree and began climbing. Bombalurina smiled a predatory smile. Phases One and Two had gone off without a hitch. Now, if Phase Three went right…

Rumpelteazer stretched out a shaky hand and grabbed the ball. She had made it up the tree, despite almost falling twice. She turned carefully on the branch to start back down. Bombalurina chose that moment to say, "Don't look down, sweetie."

Of course, Rumpelteazer looked down. Instantly she was paralyzed with fright. The ground was miles away and seemed to be shifting. How had she ever gotten up here? She dug all sets of claws into the suddenly flimsy branch. She was sure that any second now the branch would break and she would fall.

"Bombalurina! 'Elp!" she squeaked out.

"Oh, are you stuck?"

"Yeah! 'Elp me!"

"What should I do?"

"Oi don' know!"

Bombalurina thought for a moment, then smiled.

"I'll go get Mungojerrie. He'll get you down."

"No! Don't do that! 'E's scared of 'eights too!"

"What kind of cat burglers are you!"

"Terrors o' Victoria Grove, that's wot! On the ground!"

"Whatever. I'll go get him."

Rumpelteazer wrapped her arms, legs, and tail around the branch and squinched her eyes shut. After ten forevers (or two minutes, give or take) she heard voices below.

"Is that Rumpelteazer up there, Munkustrap?" That was Demeter's voice.

"It is. What are you doing up there, Teazer?"

Rumpelteazer opened her eyes.

" 'Elp!" To her immense relief, Munkustrap began to climb the tree.

"Why did you climb up here in the first place?'

"Bombi told me to. Me ball got stuck up 'ere."

He reached the branch. Rumpelteazer inched over to him, still scared of falling. He grabbed her hand and pulled her over his shoulders in a fireman's carry.

"Wait!"

He teetered on the branch for one heart-stopping moment.

"What now?"

"Gimme my ball!"

He grabbed it and handed it to her. He started to climb down. Rumpleteazer held on and shut her eyes again.

Bombalurina stood under the tree, glaring at Munkustrap as he came out of the tree and thinking, Burst into flames, burst into flames, BURST INTO FLAMES! Mungojerrie finally ran up to her, out of breath.

"Ya said…Teazer's in trouble?"

"Not. Anymore."

Bombalurina began to grind her teeth, wanting to hit something. That do-gooder! Why can't he just leave the damsels in their distress? Munkustrap reached the ground and put Rumpelteazer down gently. Demeter went up to her.

"Sweetie, why did you climb up there?"

"To get my ball. Look Jerrie! Oi found it!"

She bounced it as hard as she could and began chasing it. Mungojerrie intercepted it.

"You can play later, Teaze. Now it's toime to go 'ome."

"Oooh," Rumpelteazer pouted. Bombalurina found herself wishing that she could pout that prettily. The Rum Tum Tugger would've apologized right away if she was that cute. Mungojerrie was apparently immune to it, as he began to herd Rumpelteazer out of the Junkyard. Bombalurina turned back to glare at Munkstrap.

"Well, I HOPE you're HAPPY!"

Then she caught sight of the reason for Munkustrap's tree rescue. The Rum Tum Tugger was looking right at her, with a knowing smirk plastered on his face. She had a sudden urge to walk over to him and hook his eyeballs out of his head with her claws. She restrained herself to smacking him upside the head and stalking off, her tail thrashing.

"I see you and Bombalurina haven't made up yet."

The Rum Tum Tugger jumped and looked around for the owner of the voice. He relaxed when he saw Mistoffelees.

"Nah. We're taking care of it."

"Oh, really? So what earned you a swat in the head?"

"None of your business."

"You know, you could just apologize. It's not too late…"

"Misto, you may be the most powerful magician in this Junkyard, but you have no clue about women."

Mistoffelees walked away then but the Rum Tum Tugger could hear one last sentence.

"I may know more than you think."

More than what? thought Tugger.