"You know, Etcy, maybe I shouldn't have asked Munk about going on the vacation with him…" Jemima said with a sigh.
"Oh, Jemmy, you're just all worried and stuff!" said Etcetera with her usual big smile.
"But… I don't know… It seemed like he was screaming inside of him when he and I were talking after the meeting… you know…"
"Jem! It's alright! You're like the only kitten who never went out of the junkyard, and here's your chance before winter!" said Etcetera with a friendly punch at Jemima's shoulder.
"Etcy, yeah… you're right… It's kind of embarrassing that I'm dating Alonzo but I never went outside of this place… It's like… like… as if I was so dependent on my parents. But… you know I have that adventure thing in my heart… But… I think I made Munkustrap angry… and…"
"Jem! Poor Jem! I never saw you so worried! You need a hug, I'm sure!"
She gave Jemima a big, tight hug with her big smile. Jemima usually would've hugged back tightly. But today, she just looked up into the sky… the gray autumn sky… her eyes shining of worry in the gray air…
That night, there was a quiet knock on Rumpleteazer's den door.
Shoot. It's Munk. What did I do wrong… Several thoughts started to pinch the queen's mind.
Another knock.
She slowly walked to the door and even more slowly opened the door. A gush of freezing air gushed in.
"Rumpleteazer?" said a small voice.
It was Jemima.
"Oh, hey!" Rumpleteazer said, thankful that it wasn't the protector tabby.
"Hi," the kitten grinned slightly in a polite manner, "I'm curious if Mungojerrie is here…"
"Uhh… no."
"Ok. May I come in?"
"Oh, yes, yeah. Come in quick! It's like… freezing… We don't want to catch a cold, do we?" the orange queen said with a small, welcoming smile.
As Jemima came in, Rumpleteazer closed the door rapidly and jumped into her "bed," hurrying into the blanket. It was indeed freezing. Then she realized that this wouldn't be very polite for her guest.
"Sorry… I was just real cold. Do you want supper?" she asked apologetically.
"Well… I already ate it, but sure," Jemima replied.
Rumpleteazer walked to and dug upon a pile of what seemed to be huge clump of junk and took out two rats, both rather fat.
"A rat! But it's not like… I'm a special guest or something!" the kitten exclaimed with eagerness after seeing what was given to her.
"Oh, you surely are! I was lonely, you know, with Mungo stealing, I mean, working… in the streets…"
"Why aren't you with him?"
"Well.. uhh… he is doing something kinda big and thought it would be faster by himself."
"Oh," replied Jemima.
"By the way, does your parents know you're here?" Rumpleteazer asked.
"I told them I was going to a friend's den for the night, but I didn't tell them that I was going to your's. I mean, then they wouldn't allow me… no offense!"
Rumpleteazer grinned a naughty grin at this. She was pleased to hold of such reputation in the tribe.
"Mmm! That's the best rat I've ever eaten in these days!" Jemima commented after she had her first bite of the supper.
"Yes… only for special guests like you," Rumpleteazer said, "I told you that I have been rather lonely since Mungo's not here…"
Supper took only a few minutes. Both cats were hungry, after all.
"Do you want to sleep in Mungo's bed or with me?" Rumpleteazer asked.
"I would like to sleep with you… you know, kinda like a small slumber party… if I could since it's cold and all that. And I don't want to anger your brother or anything," Jemima answered.
"Sure. I haven't slept with a friend since I was a kitten."
The orange queen crept into the blanket, then the kitten. Although the "bed" was somewhat small, the two didn't care: It was cold and they had to preserve as much heat as they could… both for comfort and safety.
"It's been… been… a while since I… I… slept together with a friend…" said Jemima, shivering.
"Are you cold?"
"No… I'm… I'm… fine…"
"Well… you speak like you're cold…" Rumpleteazer said. She shifted more of the blanket towards Jemima.
"Teazer, you… you… have to keep some of the blanket your… yourself… You're cold… too…"
"I'm fine… My furs are thicker than yours, anyways…"
"I really like your o… orange coat, by the way. It's… it's… really fancy and all…" Jemima said.
"But how can it dare compare to the softness of your's…?" Rumpleteazer replied.
Both giggled. Rumpleteazer put her paw on Jemima's back to feel the kitten's fur and to show her that she really did mean it… in that Jemima's fur was really soft… to a point where she, the one said to have a fancy orange coat by the kitten, somewhat envied it… although not seriously. Jemima was still shivering. Rumpleteazer felt the heat of Jemima's back in the midst of all the violent shivering.
"Teazer, I… I… just want to say something since we're kinda… friends…"
"Yes?"
"Well, it's really personal… but… but I guess it's ok with you. Well… you know how… how… I'm going with Munk on his vacation?"
Rumpleteazer nodded.
"Well… I think Munk… Munk… that he is mad at me… He… he… he probably wanted to go himself, but I kinda ruined it… I… I don't think I should've raised my paw at the meeting…"
"Jem, Munkustrap needs company… And wait, Jemima… are… are you crying…?"
Indeed, there were small crystals of tears slowly falling from her eyes…
"Jem…! Jem… This is nothing to cry over… really… Jem…"
Jemima wiped away the tears with her paw, yet more formed at her eyes and started race down.
"Jemima… don't cry… It's really no big deal. Munk wouldn't get angry with you… although he would with me…"
Jemima still let out more tears.
"Jemima… oh… dear… I heard kittens let out tears easily… but… this! Let me give you a hug… Yeah, you need a hug…"
Rumpleteazer hugged Jemima closely and gave her a few gentle pats on her back.
"Teazer… thanks… I'm getting an awful lot of hugs today…"
"Jem, you deserve all those hugs."
"I… I really feel so special today… really…"
"Jem, you know what the purest tears of a Jellicle… are?"
Jemima shook her head.
"It's the tears from a kitten… who worries too much that she hurt another cat's heart… That's the purest Jellicle tear…"
Jemima knew that this was just made up to calm her down, but she nodded, smiled, and closed her eyes for sleep.
Rumpleteazer knew that Jemima knew this. But she smiled back and closed her eyes, musing on how she wasn't lonely anymore… that she did not have to sleep in a cold bed by her lonely self on this dark and cold night.
….
I thank all of you who are reading this. I certainly appreciate comments… The third chapter will come up… soon… I suppose…
