"Sundown all around
Walking through the summer's end
Waves crash, baby, don't look back
I won't walk away again
Oh, baby, anywhere you go,
We are bound together
I begin, baby, where you end
Somethings are forever
Circle in the sand
Round and round
Never ending love is what we've found
And you complete the heart of me
Our love is all we need
Circle in the sand
Circle in the sand
Cold wind, tide moves in
Shivers in the salty air
Day breaks, my heart aches
I will wait for you right here
Oh baby when you look for me
Can you see forever?
I begin, baby, where you end
We belong together
Circle in the sand
Round and round
Rising of the moon as the sun goes down
And you complete the heart of me
Our love is all we need
Circle in the sand
Circle in the sand
Baby can you hear me?
Can you hear me calling?
Oh, baby, anywhere you go,
We are bound together
I begin, baby, where you end
Somethings are forever
Circle in the sand
Round and round
Never ending love is what we've found
And you complete the heart of me
Our love is all we need
(Circle in the sand)."
(Circle In The Sand by Belinda Carlisle)
The light had begun to dim when Jazzie stirred, having had the most glorious dream. Who said it had to end when she awoke? She was where she loved to be more than anywhere else in the World, struggled against the velvety soft fur of her beautiful silver male. She smiled and closed her eyes again, hoping for just a little more time in her whirlpool of bliss. But for some reason, something didn't feel quite right. She stretched her legs and gently kneaded him with her paws, trying to shift the uncomfortable feeling, but it only grew more persistent. She buried her cheek into his fur, finding momentary comfort in having his warm body pressing against hers and the thud of his heartbeat against her ears. Then a scent filled her nostrils. In fact, she realised that she could smell everything, from the wooden floorboards, to the detergent in the woollen blankets, and even the rust coming from the corrugated iron roof. She fervently wished she could switch off her sense of smell, for it felt overloaded and she was beginning to feel very queer. Then another scent hit her. One that was so familiar. One that she couldn't usually get enough of now hung sickly in the back of her throat. It was him! His faint burly scent that smelt like Chipre and intoxicated her whenever she breathed it in was now making her feel queasy as though she had finally overdosed on it. Suddenly overwhelmed with nausea, she staggered from the bed and only just made it to the sink in time to throw up into it, crying out as her guts continued to twist and heave long after they'd been emptied. "Mon Dieu, make it stop!" She thought as she retched and gagged.
Just when she thought she couldn't take any more, the feeling lifted and she leaned weakly against the sink, gulping in air. Someone caressed her ears, but she felt herself shrink away from the touch as though repelled by it. "Don't...!" she whispered hoarsely.
She could almost feel his heart breaking behind her, but there was nothing she could do about it, and he remained silent as he filled up a cup with spring water and handed it to her. "And so it begins," he said finally.
"Sank you," she answered graciously, taking a small sip.
She looked at him sympathetically. "You've done zis before, haven't you?"
"Enough times."
His face was deadpan, but he couldn't fool her anymore. She could see the pain that he was trying to hide and cursed herself mentally for being unable to do anything to ease it. She brushed aside her own anguish and tried to smile. "Sorry about your sink," she apologised. "I clean it up-"
But he put a paw on hers to stop her. "Don't worry about it," he told her.
Then he smiled. "I don't suppose you'd like a cup of tea?"
She clapped a paw to her mouth and once again began heaving into the sink. "I'll take that as a 'no' then?" he chuckled, shivering a little as he busied himself with the tea making but thought nothing of it, putting it down to sympathy pains (He often got those!)
Despite his protests that he'd sort it, Jazzie was true to her word and thoroughly scrubbed the sink, still feeling a dull sense of nagging queasiness but was quietly confident that she wasn't going to be sick again (She hoped!) "How about one final yoga session?" he suggested. "It'll make us feel better."
"Us?" She asked as they wandered outside, jumped down off the scrap pile and into the clearing.
She looked at him, but he didn't elaborate any further which immediately set off the suspicion bell in her brain. "Munkustrap? What are you hiding?" She demanded.
"I'm not hiding anything!" He laughed. "Come on! Samastitihi. And this time, I am going to follow you."
"Pourquoi?" She asked as she faced him in the equal standing position with her big toes together and arms by her sides. *1
He quickly made some excuse, "I just...don't fancy doing anything too taxing today."
"And why not?" Jazzie persisted.
"I'm feeling a little tired," he admitted.
"Nothing for you to worry yourself over!" He insisted stubbornly when she looked like she was about to start an argument. "Now...breathe."
"Humph! So, you sink I cannot do taxing?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I never said that-!"
"Oui. But you were insinuating it!"
"I was not!" He grinned mischievously. "I would just like to see what you've learned, that's all. And perhaps at least try and put me through my paces!"
Her paws were on her hips as she answered defiantly, "You're on!"
"I am so dead?" He assumed.
She smiled just a little bit evilly. "Yes," she said. "You are."
By the time their session was over, both cats lay on their backs in savasana with their eyes gently closed and their breathing gradually slowing down. "Was taxing for you, no?" She asked after a while.
"Um, fairly," he replied (He had to admit, she was getting pretty good at this yoga thing, but he wasn't about to tell her that!)
"Fairly?!" She roared.
He slowly made his way to standing and faced her. "Er, do I look dead to you?" he asked condescendingly.
"Are you trying to wind me up?" She growled.
He laughed. "I don't exactly need to try. Plus you know I love it when you're angry. It is so very cute."
"I'll give you cute!" She wanted to tackle him, but then suddenly remembered! Probably not wise in her condition! So instead they stood facing each other, not really knowing what else to say.
"So," she began. "I suppose zis is goodbye?"
He sighed heavily. "Yes. I suppose it is."
She couldn't even kiss him because the mere thought made her feel sick. So they simply nodded their farewells, then she turned and walked away. "Jazz…just a minute!" He called.
She stopped and closed her eyes in exasperation, but refused to turn around and meet his. "Please...zis is already hard for me…"
"I know," he said understandingly. "Which is why I feel I need to say this."
"Say what?"
"I can't buy your love, don't even want to try
Sometimes the truth won't make you happy
So I'm not going to lie
But don't ever question that my heart beats only for you
It beats only for you
I know I'm far from perfect
Nothing like your entourage
I can't grant you any wishes
I won't promise you the stars
But don't ever question that my heart beats only for you
It beats only for you
'Cause when you given up
When no matter what you do, it's never good enough
When you never thought that it could ever get this tough
That's when you feel my kind of love
And when you're crying out
When you fall and then can't pick
You're heavy on the ground
When the friends you thought you had haven't stuck around
That's when you feel my kind of love
You won't see me at the parties
I guess I'm just no fun
I won't be turning up the radio
Singing baby you're the one
But don't ever question that my heart beats only for you
It beats only for you
I know sometimes I get angry and I'd say what I don't mean
I know I keep my heart protected, far away from my sleeve
But don't ever question that my heart beats only for you
It beats only for you
'Cause when you given up
When no matter what you do, it's never good enough
When you never thought that it could ever get this tough
That's when you feel my kind of love
And when you're crying out
When you fall and then can't pick
You're heavy on the ground
When the friends you thought you had
Haven't stuck around
That's when you feel my kind of love
'Cause when you given up
When no matter what you do, it's never good enough
When you never thought that it could ever get this tough
That's when you feel my kind of love."
(My kind of Love by Emeli Sande)
She heard a dull thud behind her. Confused, she just happened to glance back and screamed when she saw the Bengcoon lying motionless on the ground. "MUNK!"
She raced to his side, fell to her knees and pulled him onto her lap. "Speak to me my love!" she pleaded, giving him a shake but he didn't respond. "Oh no! Please! Not again!"
She kissed his forehead, determined to override the stupid sick feeling, and her caressing paws discovered a rather fine lump growing on his temple. Slowly, his eyes flickered open and he looked up at her. "What...? Where...? How...?"
He felt disoriented and confused. "How come I'm on the floor?"
"I don't know, you just...collapsed!" She replied shakily.
"Ah."
He slowly sat up. Then his paw went to his side and he doubled over, grimacing.
"What is it? Tell me!" she begged.
"It hurts...!"
"Since when?"
"Well it, never really stopped..." he confessed. "But now it seems to have gotten worse all of a sudden."
That didn't sound good! "Oh no! Munkustrap, why didn't you say somesing?" She cried.
"I didn't want to worry you," he said guiltily.
"Foolish Tom!" She berated. "I need to get you to ze Infirmary. Can you walk?"
He gingerly touched his head and winced. "I'm going to have to, aren't I?" he grumbled. "Jenny's going to be happy, not!"
As predicted...
"I cannot count how many toms we've lost to bravado!" Jennyanydots scolded as she examined him. "You're running a temperature of forty point one, your lymph nodes are like a couple of eggs and your wound is infected! That knife must have been filthy!"
Jazzie had tried her best to treat him on her own, but the moment she had removed the dressing the smell of infection had hit her nostrils and she'd had no option but to dive for the toilets. "I'm sorry Jenny, I just can't do anysing…!" she said when she finally emerged, looking thoroughly drained.
The Gumbie Cat put a kind arm around her. "Go home dear," she suggested. "You're no good to us like this. Go and rest, come back when you feel better. Don't worry about him. I will sort him out!"
"Merci!" Said Jazzie, graciously.
"Shoo! Scram!" The Gumby Cat replied, swishing her towards the door.
Jazzie took one last glance at Munkustrap who was lying on the examining table with his arms folded like he'd been ordered to, waiting patiently to be treated. But she could tell by the way his tail was flicking that his patience was fast running out. He met her eyes and gave her a pleading look that said, "Please, don't leave me with her!"
"Merde!" Jazzie cursed herself inwardly. "I told you not to look into zem! What did I look into his eyes for? How am I supposed to leave?"
"Jenny, could I have a moment wiz your patient, please?" She asked, tentatively.
"You most certainly cannot!" Jennyanydots replied haughtily.
"Pleeease, Jenny!" Jazzie begged.
"Oh...alright!" huffed Jennyanydots. "Five minutes! That's all!" And She marched off somewhere.
Meanwhile, Jazzie held the Bengcoon's paw and felt him squeeze her's. "How are you feeling?" She asked, even though it was quite obvious how he was feeling.
"Like shite!" He replied honestly, his eyes still begging her not to go.
"I'll be back!" she promised, knowing he would rather have been lying on a bed of nails than stuck there on that table!
"I'm going to prove you wrong, Munkustrap," she told him. "As soon as zis sickness deserts me, I shall be onto you, so be warned! You're not going to get rid of me zat easily!"
She grasped his paws and helped him to sit up. The movement was clearly painful for him because he pressed his lips together, closed his eyes and held his breath before letting it out through his nose. But he didn't complain. She sat opposite him and crossed her legs, held his paws tightly in hers and then pressed her forehead into his.
"Sometimes we're quiet," she sang,
"Because we want to listen
Or 'cause there's so much
We want to say
The heavens and hells in us
Drive us, drive us insane
I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you close to me
I'll hug the cage in you
The cage is in you-ou
You-ou are close to me."
He replied, "We are lonely sometimes
She said hugging her knees
I love you, yes I love you
Do you love me? Please...
I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you close to me
I'll hug the cage in you
The cage is in you-ou
You-ou are close to me."
"I'll keep looking for you," she admitted.
"Amongst unfamiliar faces
When I walk the streets
Ride the bus
And squeeze myself
out of crowded places
I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you close to me
I'll hug the cage in you
The cage is in you-ou
You-ou are close to me."
They promised eachother,
"We wash away our lies
With our tears and we're naked
When we're crying
We look for the truth in
Everything we do
And we love ourselves
Laughing, laughing, laughing
And we love ourselves
Laughing, laughing, laughing
I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you close to me
I'll hug the cage in you
The cage is in you-ou
You-ou are close to me."
"I'll be the one you can stay with
When all your loves aren't true
Down hills in my heart
I'll come running to you."
They embraced.
"I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you like a mountain
I'll hug you close to me
I'll hug the cage in you
The cage is in you-ou
You-ou are close to me."
(Hug You Like A Mountain by Eliza Carthy and the Wayward band feat. Teddy Thomas)
She tried to pull away, but he held on. "You have to let go of me!" She told him.
"I promised you I wouldn't!" He whispered.
"You must! Or we'll both get into trouble!" She replied nervously.
"Don't go!" He pleaded.
"I have to."
She forced down a painful lump in her throat and tore herself away.
As he watched her leave, he heaved a sigh that was laden with sadness, just as Jennyanydots bustled over armed with antibiotic tablets, water, saline, wads of thick gauze pads, cotton buds, tweezers, gauze cloths, scissors and surgical tape. "Lie down!" She ordered, grabbing his shoulder and pushing him down flat.
"Can I go after this?" he asked hopefully.
He received a stern sideways glance from the indomitable matron and an equally stern reply. "You Sir, are to have a week of bed rest and THEN I shall decide whether or not you are well enough to leave."
She gave him a look that blatantly said, "Argue with me, at your peril!"
"Oh!" Munkustrap groaned.
This was going to be as much fun as taking a ride on a legless horse!