Part 3

The next day Alonzo was watching all of the other kittens play out in the yard. He was sitting far away from the others, just listening to try to understand what they were saying. He realized they were talking about the ball of yarn Tugger was holding. He didn't know what they were doing at all and watched in confusion as they split up into two teams. Munk, Bomba, Exotica and Asparagus Jr. was on one team and Tugger, Admetus (a kitten found earlier that day), Coricopat, Tantomile and Cassandra was on the other.

"It's not fair", Bomba was saying, but Alonzo didn't understand. "They're one more than us."

"But we bettah", Exotica said.

"Maybe", Munk said and looked at Alonzo and grinned. "Maybe Alonzo wants to play."

"How can he play with us", Tugger asked. "He won't understand."

"Of course he wanna", Munk said. "Wait here."

Alonzo covered back when Munk ran up to him but Munk just smiled.

"Hi", he said. "You play with us?"

"Che cosa", Alonzo said. (What?)

"Play", Munk said throwing the ball up and down. "You." He pointed at Alonzo. "And us." He gestured for all of them. "Play?"

"Cosa?" (What)

"Um… Ah!" Munk ran over to Admetus and pulled him over. "Play see!" He said and he and Admetus started playing with the ball.

"Vuoi giocare", Alonzo asked. (You want to play)

"I don't know what that means but yes!" Munk said nodding.

"Yes", Alonzo repeated. "Sì"

"Sì!" Munk yelled and grabbed Alonzo's arm and pulled him over to the others. "Alonzo's on my team!"

"Does he know the rules", Tugger asked.

"Um", Munk turned to Alonzo who tilted his head to the side.

"Che cosa?" he asked again.

"Do you know how to play football", Munk asked.

"Cosa?"

"Football", Munk said and showed Alonzo the ball. "Ball."

"Ball", Alonzo repeated. "Palla." (ball)

"Uh yeah… um… foot", he pointed at his foot.

"Foot", Alonzo repeated. "Piede." (foot)

Munk nodded and kicked the ball to his team mates and they passed it around and Alonzo grinned.

"Oh calcio!" (football)

"You know it", Tugger asked in a dry tone.

"Posso?" (May I?) He held out his paws for the ball and Munk handed it to him and Alonzo started to do some advanced tricks and dribbling before passing the ball off to Admetus.

"Hey you're good", Admetus said and made a thumbs up. Alonzo did the same.

"Okay let's start!" Munk said and put his arm around Alonzo's shoulders. "You, Bomba, Exie, Asp and I… team." Munk explained.

"Sì …" Alonzo said a bit hesitant. He guessed it meant they were on the same team.

"We make goal there", he pointed to the two cans used as goal posts. As to proof the point he kicked the ball into the goal and his team cheered. Alonzo nodded. He got that.

"Quindi c'è il nostro obiettivo calcio?", Alonzo asked and pointed at the lamp and can near them. (So that's our football goal?)

"Um", Munk said. Alonzo walked up and motioned for someone to shoot the ball at it. Admetus shot the ball towards him and Alonzo hurriedly stopped it and kicked it away.

"Sì?"

"Exactly!" Munk grinned. "We're gonna win this!"

Alonzo grinned and they started playing, they had to stop sometime to get everyone to understand, mostly the younger kittens because the English cats had the same rule as the Italians did. Alonzo was really good at it and Munk was happy because for the first time ever his team won!

"So boys", Deuteronomy said when they sat down for dinner. "What did you do today?"

"We-" Tugger began but Munk covered his mouth.

"Let 'Lonz tell daddy", Munk said and then looked at Alonzo who looked confused.

"Che cosa", he said and Deuteronomy turned to him.

"Munk and Tugger wants you to tell me what you did today?"

"Oh… Beh in un primo momento stavano giocando da soli e ho appena visto. Ma poi Munkustrap ha chiesto se volevo giocare a calcio con loro. In un primo momento non capivo cosa volesse dire, ma lui ha trovato un modo per dire a me. Abbiamo giocato nella stessa squadra e abbiamo vinto. Munkustrap era molto più felice di me per qualche motivo ... ha mai vinto prima?"

(Well at first they were playing by themselves and I just watched. But then Munkustrap asked if I wanted to play football with them. At first I didn't understand what he meant but he figured out a way to tell me. We played on the same team and we won. Munkustrap was much happier than me for some reason… has he ever won before?)

Deuteronomy laughed and ruffled Alonzo's headfur.

"I don't know what he said", Munk said. "But it sounded good…"

"It sure did", Deuteronomy said. "Congratulations on the victory Munkustrap. But Alonzo."

The Italian kitten looked at him.

"Sì", he said.

"I want you to start learning English."

"Ma… No posso…" (But… I can't…)

"Why not", Deuteronomy asked.

"Perché devo andare a casa a Venezia... non parlano inglese... Se ci comincio a parlare come te mi dimenticherò italiano..." (Because I must go home to Venice... they don't speak English there… If I start speaking like you I'll forget Italian…)

"Alonzo", Deuteronomy said with a heavy sigh. "Listen to me." He pulled the kitten closer. "You are not going back to Italy."

"No?"

"No…"

"Mai?" (Never?)

"Well maybe when you're all grownup. But right now." Deuteronomy rose and the three kittens did the same. "It's time for bed."

"Okay", Munk said. "Good night dad!"

"'Night daddy", Tugger called.

"Buona notte signore", Alonzo mumbled and followed Munk and the others.

"Buonna notte Alonzo", Deuteronomy said and left to find Jenny and Jelly. Alonzo had to learn English… and soon.

TBC There next chapter up. Sorry for the wait.

HGP - Laptops are always wierd I've noticed :P

KatyOnACloud - Oh you have? Whell in that case ignore what I said before :P I know I love little Bomba too :)