Chapter 4: The Old Gumbee Cat
The cats and heroes all gathered around as Munkustrap was about to introduce the first cat contender. "I wonder who the first contender's gonna be." Peyton said. "I don't know, but I'm super excited." Seamus said. "Shush! Munkustrap is about to start singing." Ginny whispered.
[The Old Gumbee Cat]
Munkustrap: I have a Gumbee Cat in mind, her name is Jennyanydots
Her coat is of the tabby kind with tiger stripes and leopard spots
All day she sits beneath the stairs or on the steps or on the mat
She sits and sits and sits and sits – and that's what makes a Gumbee Cat,
That's what makes a Gumbee Cat
As he sang, the cats opened the suitcase nearby to reveal the old Gumbee Cat, Jennyanydots, waking up from her nap with a big yawn and coming out into the stage.
Demeter, Bombalurina & Jellylorum: But when the day's hustle and bustle is done
Then the Gumbee Cat's work is but hardly begun
And when all the family's in bed and asleep
She tucks up her skirt to the basement to creep
She is deeply concerned with the ways of the mice-
Jennyanydots: Their behavior's not good and their manners not nice
Demeter, Bombalurina & Jellylorum: So, when she has got them lined up on the matting,
She teaches them-
Jennyanydots: Music, crocheting and tatting
Victoria, Etcetera, Electra and Jemima put on mouse masks and began motioning their hands, like they were sewing up something. "Wow. That's really cool." Intress said. "It's like something out of a fairytale." Cho said. "I think that's kinda the idea." Sarah said.
Munkustrap: I have a Gumbee Cat in mind, her name is Jennyanydots
The curtain cord she likes to wind, and tie it into sailor-knots
She sits upon the windowsill, or anything that's smooth and flat
She sits and sits and sits and sits – and that's what makes a Gumbee Cat,
That's what makes a Gumbee Cat
Demeter, Bombalurina & Jellylorum: But when the day's hustle and bustle is done
Then the Gumbee Cat's work is but highly begun
Pouncival then dressed up like a cockroach and carrying a fork as he joined in the number.
She thinks that the cockroaches-
Jennyanydots: Just need employment
Demeter, Bombalurina & Jellylorum: To prevent them from-
Jennyanydots: Idle and wanton destroyment
Demeter, Bombalurina & Jellylorum: So, she's formed, from that lot of disorderly louts,
A troop of well-disciplined helpful boy scouts,
Jennyanydots: With a purpose in life and a good deed to do-
Demeter, Bomalurina & Jellylorum: And she's even created a Beetle's Tattoo
Munkustrap then started undoing the buttons on Jennyanydots' heavy coat. Then she removed her mittens. Demeter and Bombalurina removed her boots as the cats came out dressed as roaches and carrying silverware. Jennyanydots then removed her whole heavy coat, revealing her true coat. "Whoa! Now that's style." Dean said with impression. "Talk about a quick shed." Tangath said. Then everyone started tapdancing around in different movements. Then the cats started tapping like a cartwheel. Jennyanydots moved as if she was being pushed back. Then the cats starting bending over as Jennyanydots vocalized. The cats turned around and bent over again. "UP!" Jennyanydots exclaimed. She started marching in front of the cats as they tapped. Pouncival marched behind her, preparing to jab her with his fork. But she turned around and caught him, motioning him back to his own spot before continuing. "Squad salute!" She commanded. The cats saluted her. She saluted back. The cats started taking formation as she marched towards the center of the stage.
Munkustrap, Harry, Bombalurina, Hermione, Intress, Demeter, Sarah and Jellylorum joined in the tap dance as they all started jogging on the spot, then they spun around. They started jogging again before they spun around again. Then they jogged on the spot once more, a bit longer this time. Then they tapped on the spot for a second before the cats and heroes saluted Jenyanydots.
Chorus: For she's a jolly good fella
Then everyone dropped down to their knees as the number reached its close. "Thank you, my dears." Jennyanydots said as the number ended. The heroes applauded afterwards. "Oh, she's just magnificent!" Cho cheered. "I can see why she's a worthy candidate for the Jellicle Choice." Kaz said. "Yeah, she's got her ways with mice and cockroaches. I can respect her." Tangath said.