Chapter 2>

Rumpelteazer stood silent with the other two queens as the four toms disappeared into the morning fog. Wordlessly, they went their separate ways. Rumpelteazer had the blues as she climbed onto the trunk bonnet of the old automobile closest to the center of the junkyard. She laid there until she fell into an uneasy sleep. There were moments when she awoke to the sound of one of the elder cats calling out to her mate or a pile of rubbish being knocked over by one of the more rambunctious tom kittens. The third time she awoke was to the sound of four queen kittens playing in the center of the yard.

Victoria was a beautiful soft natured queen cat of solid white. She was just beyond her kitten years, not much younger than Rumpelteazer herself. She proudly held the attention of three kittens for she had with her a brightly colored ball that was marked with red and yellow stripes all the way around and blues stars on either side.

"My house mistress gave this to me just this morning." She said with delight as she tossed it to a sweet-faced kitten of black and orange with a v of white on her front. She had bright dancing eyes.

"I wish I had a house mistress, or even a home like that." Jemima spoke as she looked at the ball and then tossed it to another kitten. This kitten was mostly white with fractured stripes of black and light brown.

"You will, when you're older and some of your shyness wears off." Ecetera laughed and held the ball for longer before she tossed it to her sister who would've matched her fur pattern except where there was white on Ecetera, there was black on Electra. Her stripes were also reddish-brown where her sister's were light brown.

"I'm sure you could teach her something about that, Ecetera. Just pay attention, Jemima. Next time Rum Tum Tugger is about. You'll learn how lose your shyness and some dignity as well." Electra said as she received a pouting look from her sister.

They all laughed.

"You should've noticed by now that I already am. Please go back to your playing for I have more important things to do now." a long limbed dark tom with a finely combed mane suddenly spoke aloud.

The queens shrieked for that's what they always did when Rum Tum Tugger was around anyway. Rumpelteazer smiled as she watched. The kittens continued to pass Victoria's ball around. Ecetera was now showing-off a bit more since she knew that her favorite "Tommy" might awake and watch them.

Just then, the two rambunctious tom kittens had returned and pounced on the ball from seemingly out of nowhere. Rum Tum Tugger opened one eye with an annoyed stare but chose to do nothing but try to sleep again.

"Hey, give that back. It's not yours!" Electra shouted for it was her turn to catch the ball next when it was taken.

"Is it yours?" the troublesome tom asked with a mischievous grin.

"No, it's Vicky's." Electra tipped her ears in the direction of the snowy cat who looked displeased by the use of that common-class nickname.

"Then she should speak-up for it." Pouncival prodded for he knew that Victoria was far too proud to plead for her toy.

He looked to her and winked his white eye that was encircled in a patch of brown that extended straight across his nose and ended in a sharp point on his right cheek bone for the rest of his face was white surrounded by patches of black brown and white fur.

Then he tossed the ball to his friend.

"Well, if you want it, come and get it kittens." Tumblebrutus said as he caught the ball while doing an amazing acrobatic flip that both mesmerized and annoyed the kittens. He also had one eye surrounded in the brown color of his patched fur and one eye in snowy white for he was a mix of brown and white altogether.

The two were the most agile of any of the Jellicle cats and very difficult to catch.

"Oy! You give 'em back their ball before Munkustrap needs to hear of it." Teazer finally stood up as she spoke.

The kittens all turned in surprise for no one had realized that she was there all this time. Jemima started to look around to see if any other cats might be quietly looking-on.

"That's right, Teazer. He does not like to hear of his Jellicles stealing things that don't belong to them, does he?" Pouncival's devilish grin widened even more.

Rumpelteazer fell silent for he did have a point that she couldn't argue. That nasty little scamp is really enjoying this, she knew.

In the next instant the two toms had bounded to the top of the rubbish pile where Pouncival vaulted into his favorite old chair with Victoria's ball in paw. He turned with a daring grin before disappearing beyond it.

The kittens looked sad but no one as much as Victoria.

"My lady will be displeased that I have already lost my toy. She will not get another like it again, I believe."

"I'm so sorry, Victoria." Electra said as she rest a reassuring paw on her friend's shoulder. "It was my fault. Maybe if I had caught the ball in time, Pouncival would not have been able to get it. I'll find some way to return it to you, I promise."

Victoria patted her friend's paw as if to say it was alright.

"Oi'm sorry kittens. oi tried, oi did. But there's no use reasoning with those pesky 'ittle brats."

Jemima suddenly brightened up. "Mungojerrie can help us get the ball back. They couldn't say no the likes of him. Where is he, Rumpelteazer?"

"Gone."

"Gone?" All four said in surprise.

"Where?" Jemima asked first.

"Munkustrap 'as 'im out on a mission with Coricopat and Alonzo. They might be gone for some toime." Teazer answered flatly.

"It'll be strange not seeing them about and seeing you and Tantomile without your identical brothers. What will you do?" Ecetera was curious.

"Oi'll be all roight." She assured them. The kittens looked as sad as ever as they dragged their tails away.

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The next day, there was much excitement around the junkyard for Munkustrap had returned with news that Macavity had already begun to pick-up from his new location and was moving on to another. Alonzo was leading the other two Jellicles to follow them.

Rumpelteazer was becoming less like herself as she stayed on the automobile trunk bonnet and watched the others go about their business. Some of the other cats took notice of this and tried to encourage her throughout the day. She awoke early in the afternoon for a friendly paw was patting her own. It was that of Admetus. He was a tall tom for his age and a friend of Jerrie's. He looked genuinely worried for the mate's younger sister.

"Cheer up, lass. It's not that bad. Time passes quickly and that old tom knows how to look-out for himself as I know you do too. I already miss hearing your frolicking laugh." He said as he gave he her a comical smile that normally would have sent her into hysterics.

She mustered a grateful smile for the smokey brown and white cat with the lightening strike of white dividing his masculine face.

"Yeah, Oi'll try, thanks mate."

"Anytime, love." he said as he turned to see Tantomile approaching.

He gave her another comical smile which did produce a laugh that she didn't hold back.

"It's strange isn't it? We're so much like our brothers in appearance and character but still we are on our own." Tantomile asked in her enigmatic way although Rumpelteazer knew just what she meant.

"Yeah, but they're all roight, aren't they?"

If anyone would know, Tantomile would.

"I am sure of it, for now. Be patient Rumpelteazer, and be careful." Tantomile warned as she strolled away.

What did she mean by that? Rumpelteazer wondered for a moment and then she seem to perk up of her own accord. This sulking about was pointless and it wasn't like her one bit. There was too much to do now. She was tired of being a good little queen. She bounded off of the automobile and noticed that Tantomile was now being comforted by Rum Tum Tugger who was assigned to be the look-out. The perfect distraction for to easily slip-away. So she did. With a quick stop by Victoria Grove, she nabbed a quick dinner and then "happened" upon an open door to a tool shop where she made-off with a most useful can opener. Pleased with her night's accomplishments, she felt just like her old self again, if only half of a familiar duo.