Chapter Three: Foolish Games

Author's note: It was pointed out to me(and I agree) that the terms of the bet weren't made clear (thanx, Mystitat). Since I'm too lazy to rewrite chapter one again and post it again, I'll explain here. It's simple, really. If Mungojerrie initiates the mating, Tugger wins the bet. If it's Rumpelteazer who asks Mungojerrie to be her mate, Bombalurina wins. Any questions? Comments? Snowballs? Now, read and enjoy.

"Bombi? Can I talk to you?"

Bombalurina paused in the middle of her grooming to give Demeter a nod. Demeter sat down beside her.

"So, things with the Tugger are still-"

"Yeah."

"Do you want to-"

"No, I don't want to talk about it." Bombalurina punctuated this statement with an icy glare. It did nothing to phase Demeter.

"Maybe you should-"

"No."

"This isn't-"

"Munkustrap could talk-"

"No."

"Dammit, would you let me finish a SENTENCE!"

"Just did."

"You said I could talk to you." It made Bombalurina feel both guilty and giddy to see Demeter finally begin to lose her temper.

"Yes. You talked, I listened. Are you done now?"

Demeter sighed and hung her head briefly. When she spoke again, it was all in a careful tone, as though Bombalurina were a land mine about to go off if Demeter said the wrong thing.

"You and the Tugger…you've both got a lot of pride. But sometimes, when you love someone, you need to be more…what's the word?"

"Humble?"

"Yes. A little humility wouldn't kill either of you. You'd get along better too."

"And how would I go about doing that?" This was delivered in a mocking, sarcastic tone, as though Bombalurina were waiting breathlessly for Demeter's advice.

"Well, you could apolo-"

"Stop right there! I don't want to hear it! Ok? He humiliated me and I won't apologize to him!"

"It's just a little thing-"

"No! Look, I give in now, he owns me! He'll be the big tomcat who tamed Bombalurina! And do you know what'll happen then?"

"No."

"He'll leave. You know him. He only wants something if he can't have it. I give in now, I'll lose him." Demeter shook her head.

"Bombalurina, you're not stupid, but you really act like it sometimes. I've heard him talk about you and he really cares about you."

"Maybe he could try telling me that himself." Demeter opened her mouth to speak, but Bombalurina cut her off. "I don't want to talk about it, OK?"

Demeter sighed, and began her own bath. Bombalurina went over to the water dish and drank. As she did, a single teardrop fell into it.

The Rum Tum Tugger was sunning himself when he felt the tug on his tail. He ignored it at first, but then—

"YEEEOOOW!" The cat had just bitten down on his tail. He leaped up, fur bristling, ready to tear the cat apart, when he saw that it was Jemima.

"Sorry, Uncle Tugger. My teef are itchy. Mum says I'm getting grown-up teef now. See?" She bared her teeth for him.

"Yeah, very nice. Still, how would you like it if I chomped on your tail while you were napping?" Jemima giggled at the image of the Rum Tum Tugger biting her tail. "Why aren't you playing with the other kits?"

"I am. We're playing hide-and-seek. Can you help hide me?"

"Sure. Where's a good hiding place? The Ford?"

"No, I saw Jerrie and Teazer hop in there."

"Oh, really?" A mischievous gleam came into his eye. "Jemima, go hide under the old tire."

"Ooo, good spot." She ran off to do as he suggested. When she was out of sight, he slunk over to the old Ford. He heard a loud giggle, then a shushing noise. He grinned. He hopped up on the trunk, and his weight slammed the lid down, trapping the two inside. C'mon, Mungojerrie! Figure it out, she's a queen, you're a tom and you're in the back of a car. Mungojerrie didn't seem to understand, though, as immediately the two inside began pounding on the lid and yelling for help. He settled onto his haunches and tried to ignore this.

Unfortunately, Tumblebrutus happened by at that moment.

"What's that noise?"

"Er, what noise? I don't hear anything."

"It's coming from the trunk."

"No, there's no noise. If there was a noise coming from the trunk, I would be able to hear it. But I don't, so there isn't." By now, the ruckus was drawing attention and some of the other kits playing the game were crowding around.

"Yes, there is. Get off, I think you trapped one of the kits playing hide-and-seek by accident."

"No! I mean, I can't. I hurt my leg. Jemima bit it." She heard this.

"No I didn't. I bit your tail and that was only cuz you were waving it around. Why are you trying to lock up Jerrie and Teazer?"

"Er, they like it in there?"

Just then, the trunk burst open, sending the Rum Tum Tugger flying. He landed right on his butt. Two blurs of multi-colored striped fur ran out of the trunk. Both of them walked up to him and glared at him.

"Mungojerrie! And Rumpelteazer! Were you two in there? I had no idea!" A bright pink ball flew at him, hitting him square between the eyes. "Ow! OK, I'm sorry. But I really didn't mean to trap you." Rumpelteazer went to chase her ball, leaving Mungojerrie with him.

"Listen, Oi don't know wot you're up to, but it won' work."

"I'm not doing anything, and it will work."

"How the bloody 'ell will it work if you don' do anything?"

"It just will. Hey, so how was she?"

"Wot?"

"Ooo, defensive! He's denying it!

"Wot? Did that make more sense in your 'ead?"

"What did you think I was up to?"

"Wrecking the game! Giving away our 'iding place!"

"Er, yeah. That's exactly what I meant."

"Wot did you mean about Teaze--" Now Mungojerrie looked angry, his fur bristling. Uh-oh.

"Well it's been lovely chatting with you, Mungojerrie, but I have to—with the—and the idea—Coming!" He ran the other way as fast as he could. In a fight, he was probably stronger than Mungojerrie, but the thief had forgotten more dirty fighting tricks than the Rum Tum Tugger would ever know. He leaned against a tree, panting. Then he heard the voices. He recognized Mistoffelees and a queen. He edged around the tree and saw Mistoffelees and Victoria cuddling together. They saw him and jumped up, looking a little guilty.

"I am so glad I decided to run this way. So, the two of you?" They nodded and sat back down, looking uncomfortable. He sat between them. "Well, congrats. It's always nice to see a tom surrender to the bonds of mating." He put his arms around both of them. In a stage whisper, he said, "Reminds me of what I want to avoid."

"That's a grim way of looking at it," Mistoffelees said. Then, looking serious, he said, "Can we trust you to keep this a secret till the Full Moon Dance? We want to announce it then."

"No problem, little buddy. So cute," he added, patting each of them on the head. "But you'll owe me one." He strolled away, singing, under his breath, "Oh well! I never! Was there ever, a cat so queen-whipped as the Magical Mr. Mistoffelees!" A cat slunk out of an old shoebox, making the Rum Tum Tugger jump. "Munkustrap! Shouldn't you be out saving a kit from a burning building or something?" Munkustrap did not appear amused by this.

"Demeter told me to talk to you. About your spat with Bombalurina."

"Aw, don't worry. We'll settle it, eventually."

"Normally, I'd agree. But Demeter isn't…feeling herself these days and I don't want her worked up over this." The Rum Tum Tugger looked at him, surprised.

"Are you going to be a daddy?" Munkustrap beamed.

"Yes. Jennyanydots told us last week. They'll be here in about five weeks. But," he added, looking stern, "I want peace and quiet in the Yard. If you two want to fight, take it outside."

"No problem, Munk." The Rum Tum Tugger continued toward the Junkyard, not feeling a bit guilty. They weren't actually fighting now, just tricking the Tricksters. That had to be allowed. After all, Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer had it coming, what with all the stunts they pulled. "Yeah, and then 'Strap yells at me. How fair is that?" He continued arguing with an imaginary Munkustrap the whole way in, and when he bumped into Bombalurina, he didn't even notice she was crying, not at first. "Oh, it's you."

"Yeah. It's me. Get outta my way."

"It's a free Junkyard, I can stand where I want--" Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Munkustrap drawing a finger across his throat. He had spent too many years getting thrashed by Munkustrap to want to get into it now. "And I want to stand over here now." Then he noticed the tears as she stormed past him. He almost called her back then to say—what?--but some measure of pride kept him from it. He contented himself with watching her back. I hate to see her go, but I love to watch her leave! Once I win this bet, everything will be fine.

Another Author's Note: Thanx and hugz to everyone who reviewed! Peace. Out.