"Do you really think will work, Tea," Mungojerrie asked as they walked over to the broken down care where Jennyanydots, Jellylorum, Skimbleshanks, and Asparagus would spend the day.

"It has to, Jer, and I'm pretty sure it will," Rumpelteazer replied, giving his paw a reassuring squeeze as they stood below the car's boot, a far enough distance away that those on it could see them. Jennyanydots looked down at Rumpelteazer, before giving her a courteous greeting. The two queens had an unspoken agreement to not directly mention the little outburst from the other day. They could still dance around the subject without really bringing it up, though. Things between them were still a little tense but, they were at least talking to each other.

"Good day, you two," Skimble said, looking at them, "Are you here to pick up the kits?"

"About that," Rumpelteazer said, looking up at the Scottish cat, "It has been brought to our attention that the kittens see us as role models and we, as you all know, probably aren't the best one to idolize."

"I would have never guessed," Jennyanydots replied, concentrating on her crotchet.

Jellylorum looked at Jenny angrily before turning to the two calicos on the ground, "Then what do you two suggest?"

"You four watch them today," Rumpelteazer said in a steady voice.

"After all," Mungojerrie interjected, "The nature of kit sitters are to watch the kits when their parents are too busy to take care of them themselves. The four of you, have more or less been lounging around in the sun while we watched over your little darlings. Now, it's probably time for them to get some influence from you."

"That's fine but," Asparagus paused, looking between them, "Why today?"

"Confidential information," Mungo apologized, as they began to walk off, "But we must go, we'll be back near evening. Have fun."

It was past midday and the kittens were sitting in a group, looking up at the elder cats through half lidded eyes. A few of them used the crotchet hooks that Jennyanydots provided to draw pictures in the dirt while others lazily batted a ball of yarn.

"I just don't get it," Jennyanydots said as she looked over at the kits, "They're just not doing it. I mean they have the hooks, yarn, I showed them how to do it; yet they won't crotchet."

"Perhaps they want a story," Jellylorum suggested but Skimble shook his head; he had already told them several tales that day alone.

"They might be tired; what about a nap," he suggested as Asparagus turned it down.

"They say they aren't tired; hungry?"

"They just ate not even an hour ago," Jenny said exasperatedly. "I don't know what they would want. I mean, what do Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer do that we don't?"

There was a collective murmur from the kittens, too quiet and slurred to be comprehended. Jellylorum and Skimbleshanks looked at them curiously as the kittens stared back at them before returning to their idle movements. Asparagus heaved a sigh, giving the smaller cats a searching look, "What are we supposed to do?"

"This sucks," Pouncival sulked, playing tic-tac-toe with Tumblebrutus, who nodded in agreement as he did an 'X' in the dirt with a crotchet hook.

"Did Jenny really think that we'd crotchet," Jemima asked in a hushed voice, "That's something that old...der cats do."

"I know," Electra said, batting the yarn at Etcetera.

"Skimble's story was fine and all but one was enough," Etcetera nodded as she hit the yarn back to Electra, "They're just so long."

"I wonder why Mungo and Rumpel couldn't 'sit us today," Tumble murmured.

"They're probably having some time alone," Jemima said, "To kiss and love and stuff. Coricopat and Exotica like to do that at night."

"Then why wouldn't they just wait until night," Pouncival asked, joining three 'O's with a line, "Why now?"

"I don't know," Etcetera shrugged, "Maybe they were secretly angry at us and thought that they'd punish us by leaving us here with them," she hissed, looking at Jennyanydots and the others.

"No," Pouncival said, shaking his head, "If they were mad at us they'd just lead us into the big puddle or... or trick us into eating something disgusting or... or... something, but not this."

"Then why did they leave us with four grown ups who don't know how to play?"

Tumblebrutus turned to face Electra, "You don't think it's because of yesterday; do you?"

"Huh?"

"Think about it. Jenny and Rumpel fought yesterday and now we have to stay with Jenny – and she was saying all those bad things about them yesterday. How they weren't right to watch us and... Now..."

The other kittens in the group took on a grave expression, seeming to think that Tumble had a point. They looked over at the older cats for a moment before huddling in a group, "We should tell someone."

"Munkustrap – Old Deuteronomy told us to go to him for advice," Jemima whispered, "We'll need someone to go find him though."

"I will," Etcetera volunteered as the others looked between them sceptically.

"Someone who's quiet enough to get away," Pouncival rephrased as Etcetera glared at him, "'Lec, you go. You're pretty fast."

She nodded, and received a location from Tumble on where to look before she snuck away. She slipped between some stacks of garbage, trying to go as quickly and as quietly as she could, while keeping her eyes opened for the silver tabby. She found him, not too far from a rusted washing machine and had to suppress a squeal of excitement, "Munkustrap."

He looked around before seeing the tortoiseshell queen, who was blending in with the trash, "Electra, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Jelly?"

"Yes but I really need to tell you something," she said before taking on a self important tone, "On behalf of all the kittens."

"Well then, out with it, what's the emergency?"

"A hem," Electra cleared her throat, "We have reasons to suspect that Jennyanydots is conspiring against us – us being the kittens – so we can never go near Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer again."

"What makes you think that," Munkustrap asked, crouching so that he was level with her.

"Because of what happened yesterday, and they left us with her, and she's forcing us to crotchet."

"What happened yesterday, Electra," he asked, raising a brow.

"That had a frank exchange of words," she said simply and was about to continue when she heard two approaching voices. The voices were hushed and talking in a rapid whisper; almost secretively. Electra took a few steps back, in case it were Demeter, she didn't want her to know that she snuck away. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer walked around the bend, freezing when they saw Munkustrap staring at them. Electra ran out from her hiding spot, throwing her arms around the calicos.

"'Lectra, what are you doing here," Rumpelteazer asked in surprise.

"I needed to talk to Munkustrap."

"What about," Mungo asked, cocking an eyebrow.

'We were worried that we'd never be able to see you again and would be forced to grow up crocheting and talking about what other cats are doing while doing nothing ourselves. Never playing, never having fun and never getting dirty,' her mind yelled. "We missed you."

"That's sweet and all but we need to talk to Munk-"

"There you are," all heads turned to see Jennyanydots rushing over, examining Electra for any cuts or scrapes, "We turn our backs for one moment and you disappear; I nearly had a heart attack." The rest of the group suddenly appeared; all of them speaking quickly and at the same time as Munkustrap held up his paws for silence, it didn't work.

"Munkustrap we need to speak to you," Mungojerrie said, "Now."

"Unless it's life or death," Munkustrap said, trying to get the kittens and the elder cats organized, "It'll have to wait."

A crash filled the air, followed by a scream – someone yelling a name the kittens had never heard. Munkustrap turned to face the two calicos, whose ears were against their heads, "I suppose that it could wait..."

Kristine, I need my mowing hat
You mean the sombrero? Wear it!
No way, then I'll loose my position as the coolest guy on the block
It's one sad block