It was the night of the Jellicle Ball. All the Queens were getting ready for the big night.
'Do you think Misto will finally talk to me tonight?' asked Victoria to all her friends.
'Well, you're quite the dancer, I'm sure he'll be falling head-over-heels for you!' said Rumpelteazer. The rest of the kittens then whispered to each other excitedly in the corner. The Queens were also getting ready in Jennyanydot's den.
'Do you think Munkustrap will also finally ask you out tonight?' asked Bombularina.
'I hope so; he's just so shy isn't he? But then again, I'm one to talk!' Demeter said. 'I feel the same way about him as he does to me. I hope he knows that. Anyway, what about you and the Tugger, he has to ask you to dance, he's always in the spotlight!' said Demeter.
'I know!' said Bombularina brushing her already pristine fur. 'He's just so….he seems really full of himself on the outside, but I bet there's a sensitive spot underneath.' She said dreamily.
'Don't get too wound up over him!' said Jennyanydots. 'You ought to be careful.' But she was smiling. Jellylorum however still had a disapproving look on her face.
'Oh no! Look at the time! It'll be starting soon.' said Demeter. When all the felines were ready they headed for the Junkyard, just as the Jellicle moon was rising.
'Hey girls!' said the Tugger walking over to them. Etcetera almost fainted. 'Hey, Bomba, do you want to dance?' asked the Tugger. Bombularina's eyes lit up.
'Of course!' she said and they both walked onto the dance floor. They were the best dancers there, they looked like an item! Demeter then walked over to Rumpelteazer and started talking to her.
'Hi, how's Mungo?' Demeter asked.
'Yeah, he's fine! But he has this massive crush on Etcetera and its sooo cute, he can't find the courage to talk to her!' replied Rumpelteazer.
Demeter laughed. 'So do you have your eye on anyone?' said Demeter.
'I guess Victor is quite cute, but otherwise no. Has Munkustrap asked you out yet?' she asked.
'Not yet.' said Demeter.
'Well guys find it hard to talk to girls they like, just like Mungo! Anyway, want to dance?
'Yeah!' said Demeter and they then went up onto the dance floor to a rather upbeat song.
Time passed. Old Deuteronomy watched over his tribe, positively beaming. The more dances went on, the more the sky darkened. There was always a mating dance near the end of the ball and the music began to play. Demeter was watching all the couples on the dance floor when she hadn't realised Munkustrap had walked over to her.
'Hi! Er……do you want to dance?' he asked tentatively.
'Yeah, sure!' she said. And they walked onto the dance floor together in each others arms. Lots of other cats were also there. Victoria with Misto, Jemima with Alonzo, Bombularina with the Rum Tum Tugger and Rumpelteazer had managed to ask out Victor already!
Macavity was watching all this from behind a skip. He growled when he saw Demeter and Munkustrap dancing together, but he had to focus on the plan he had. Apparently Old Deuteronomy tended to sit on the vicarage wall to laze about and this was presumably the place where his den was. So, Macavity and Co. crept around the back of the Junkyard towards the church.
When they reached the vicarage, there was a bit of a wood and some fields behind them. Eventually, they found where Old Deuteronomy made his home. Inside this den, there was a bed in the centre with a couple of old blankets inside and the rest of the room was strewn with what were Old Deuteronemy's treasures. There were balls of string, empty sachets of cat food and even some battered pockets of cat nip.
'All of you, search the place, I want you to look in every nook and cranny there is, I don't care if you leave the place a mess, just find me that collar!' said Macavity.
They got to work, they tipped over boxes, emptied sacks, but none of them could find the collar. They were just about to give up, when Macavity saw something sparkling underneath a pile of old rugs. He went over to look and he picked it up. A gleaming white cat collar was shining in front of him encrusted with jewels and diamonds. Macavity was sure this was the collar.
'I've found it! Ha! I've found it!' and Macavity jumped for joy. Finally after months of searching, he had found it.
'Why don't you try it on Sir?' said Anubis sheepishly. Macavity hesitated, but he still went to place the collar around his neck. As soon as it touched his throat he dropped it in pain. It had made a red mark around his neck where it had been, he looked at the collar, and it was still shining at him, but motionless. He was confused, why had it burnt him like that? He hadn't expected it to.
'Is there anything wrong sir?' asked one of Macavity's spies.
'No, er, I-, I-' started Macavity.
'-want to know why it burnt you?' said a voice behind him. Macavity turned. Old Deuteronomy was standing in the doorway of his den.
'I think I'll be having that back now.' said Old Deuteronomy smiling. Macavity didn't move.
'The Collar can only be worn by those who didn't mean to find it and not necessarily use it but to keep it as a treasure and a gift. '
'Huh?' said Macavity.
'And also, why does my den look like the Jellicle Junkyard itself?' asked Old Deuteronomy smiling. Nobody spoke.
'Er…we were just….leaving' said Mercranium, another one of Macavity's followers. They ran out of the den and Macavity didn't need telling twice, he still wanted to live up to his lyrics. 'For when they reach the scene of crime, Macavity's not there!'