Hello, hello! Here is the next installment of "Holiday Love." Enjoy!

-Purrs, Anglina

broadwaybuff: thank you for your devotion. (smiles)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4: Cattail, Aunt Jennyanydots, and More Memories

Rumpleteazer drove the truck down streets, looking for something.

The town was quite quaint. At the entrance to town sat the city hall building and next it was the police station and the small jail. A little way down there was a pond surrounded by trimmed grass and there were ducks all around it. And right beside it was a huge gnarled oak. The tree had what looked to be a rope swing attached. From the pond four roads branched out. To the right was Main Street which housed a supermarket, drugstore, pub, a tailor /clothing shop, an outlet/appliance store, a café/coffee shop, an antique shop, and a beauty parlor. To the left on Star Street lay the church, library, a car garage, real estate office, and the school. The other two roads, Grove and Apple appeared to be residential.

There was a row of fairly neat houses on either side of the two streets. While some of the houses were neat, there were some that had junk all around them. Some had Christmas lights and others didn't. At the end of Apple Street was a large house surrounded by a metal fence. It was overgrown and looked to be decomposing. Teazer remembered it being there when she was little and she would sneak over to it and stare at it through the holes in the fence. Once she had even dared to go inside the fence. Needless to say, she never set foot beyond the fence again.

Rumpleteazer drove the truck down Apple Street and started slowly scanning the house numbers. "Ah-ha! Found it, number 12621 on Apple." She pulled into the driveway. It was a simple two story blue and white house with light yellow curtains and a covered veranda. She pulled into the driveway and got out. She dashed up to the house and pounded on the door. "Hey, Aunt Jenny, it's me, I'm here!" no answer. She peered into the windows and didn't see anybody. She walked back to the car, heeled boots clicking on the cement.

"Is she there?" Goldith called, sticking her head out the passenger window.

Teazer shook her head. "Nope. I guess we'll have to swing by the store. Come on, let's go." She climbed back in the truck and Goldith pulled her head in as well. Teazer backed the truck out of the driveway, drove to the end of the street and turned around. As she came back to the center pond, she took a left onto Main Street and cruised down past the café, beauty parlor, and came to a rest in front of a fairly good-sized store front. The sign above the door read:

Cattail Clothing and Tailor

You want it, we got; if not, we'll make it.

Jennyanydots, Owner

Teazer smiled and hopped out of the car straightening her skirt as she did so. "Come on you lazy cats! Let's go. If Aunt Jenny's not at home, then she'll be here." She skipped up to the door, two friends in tow. She pushed open the door and looked around. Behind there was a bank of windows, which housed mannequins wearing winter clothes. It was fairly large inside. There were circular racks with clothes hanging from them. There were also racks along the walls. Near the back was where all the material and sewing supplies and accessories were kept. Off to the right was a large counter. It had cash register on the left side and covering the rest of it was a cardboard measuring template. Behind it and off to the right was the ribbons and button collections. The store was well organized, clean, and bright. There, waiting at the counter was an orange and white striped queen. Teazer walked up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Excuse me,"

The queen turned around and looked startled. "Yes my dear?"

"Um, do you know where Aunt Jenny is?" she asked hesitantly. She'd never been called 'my dear' and she was bit taken aback. There was also something about the queen in front of her that was familiar and frightening at the same time, something that she couldn't understand.

The older queen smiled thinly and replied, "Aunt Jenny? Oh, you must be Rumpleteazer. You've grown up so much since you were last here. Jenny has talked of nothing else for the past two days. My name's Jellylorum, by the way. Jennyanydots is my best friend. She's in the back getting me some more thread." She continued to stare at the younger queen in front of her. Something about her struck a chord and a memory. A church… and a lightning flash… the memory disappeared and Jellylorum blinked. Teazer was stunned.

"You remember me from way back then? It's been over 10 years. I certainly don't remember you." she shook her head and a lock of blonde hair slipped. She pushed it back impatiently and shifted from foot to foot. She didn't remember, but… she did remember. Blue lightning… and a shriek. The effect left her with a small headache and questions. Questions that she couldn't answer.

"All right Jellylorum, I have the yellow you asked for, but as for the cotton, you'll have to wait until…" a rather large queen came bustling out of the back storerooms talking all the way until she reached the counter. She had tiger stripes and leopard spots and a cheerful voice. She noticed Rumpleteazer and two more cats not far behind her. She stopped and dumped the stuff on the counter. "Rumpleteazer! My darling niece! Finally, how are you? You've grown up so much, I hardly recognize you! Come here, don't just stand there. Give your Aunt Jenny a hug." She came out from behind the counter and enveloped Teazer into a huge hug. Rumple returned the hug.

"It's good to see you too. I'm really sorry it took me over ten years to come back and visit. Oh, by the way," she motioned for Goldith and Alonzo to step forward. "This is my best friend, Goldith and her tomfriend, Alonzo. Guys, this is my Aunt Jenny."

Goldith came up to Jenny and gave her a hug. "It's good to finally meet you, Jenny. This is Alonzo." She let go of the striped queen and grabbed the black and white tom's arm.

He smiled and then looked as if he wasn't sure of what to do. Jenny fixed that and hugged him too. He looked a bit startled, but hugged her back.

"All right, Tea and friends, let me finish with Jellylorum and then we'll chat. Oh, by the way, Jelly,"

The other queen looked at her.

"You and your family are still coming over tonight, right?" she asked as she rang up the purchases.

Jellylorum nodded and gathered up her stuff. "Of course, I wouldn't miss it. Oh, it'll just be the kids and me. Bustopher is out of town. Is 7 ok?" even as she said that, a feeling of trepidation came over her. For what, she didn't know.

"Sure, and be sure to bring the pudding!" Jenny called as her friend went out the door. "Well, how was your trip? Are you guys hungry or thirsty?"

Teazer laughed. "No Aunt Jenny. We're fine and our trip was fine. Oh, I've got the material and something special. Hey guys, can you give me a hand?" she saw Jenny start to move. "Oh, wait here, Jenny. It's a surprise!" she dashed out to the truck and lifted the lid. Soon Goldith and Alonzo joined her. With Teazer standing in the bed of the truck handing the bags down to Goldith who handed them to Alonzo, they got them all out. And for two of them it was special because with every bag handed over, Goldith got a kiss. Teazer handed down the last bag and laughed. "Ok, ok. Save it for the bedroom. You guys make me sick."

"Hey, hey, look who's talking, Miss Suckface. You were the same way when you were dating Reaper." Goldith chided, gently. Rumpleteazer stuck her tongue out and then frowned.

"Yeah, but please don't bring him up again. I, I can't handle it. Maybe I'll be able to eventually. Hell, I'll have to if I ever want to get into a new relationship. But I don't want to deal with it around the holidays." But Goldith wouldn't give it up.

"But what if you meet a tom during the holiday's that sets your heart a flutter? Then what are you gonna do?" she folded her sweater clad arm over her chest. "I mean, really, are you say to him, 'Hey babe, I think you're cute, but I've had a bad relationship and don't want to deal with it over the holiday's. Can I take a rain-check until after New Year's? 'Cause you see, I can't have a relationship until I get over my old one.' Honey, I really-"

"Stop it! Stop it, Goldith! It's not funny. I can't help it I'm slow to recover. I don't want to talk about it again. If I do meet someone, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." Teazer picked up some bags and stalked inside, ignoring the worried looks directed at her by Alonzo and Goldith.

"I don't understand her!" Goldith threw her paws in the air. "She needs to give it up. Yes, he was a bastard, but really!"

Alonzo shifted nervously. He didn't like to be around queens when they fought. He picked up a few bags and said nervously,

"Um, Love, I think you should leave her alone. I know you're my queen-friend, but this time I'm siding with Teazer. Different queens take longer to get over some things than others. It took my sister three years to get over her fiancée. I think you should just leave her alone. If you keep bringing it up, it'll just make her repress the feelings more. She'll deal with them when she's ready or when someone touches her heart."

Goldith just stared at her tom. That was the smartest thing that had ever come out of his talented mouth. Oh yes, it was a very talented mouth. She remembered him taking about his 27 year old sister and how much hell she'd gone through.

"I really didn't mean for it to come out sounding so rude. I guess I have to and apologize now."

Alonzo chuckled. "You guess? Hell, I'm a tom and even I know when the line is crossed." That earned him a glare from the gold and brown queen.

Goldith sighed and picked up the remaining bags and pushed the door in. "Here are the rest of the bags, Jenny."

The two queens looked up and then Teazer looked away.

"Teaze, I need to talk to you. Now."

"Fine. What do you want to say? Do you want to tell me more about how to live my fucked up life?" she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Rumpleteazer! Watch your mouth, young lady." Jennyanydots scolded.

"I'm sorry I said that stuff. I know you're still hurting and, I, um, should be the one to judge you. I shouldn't have said that stuff. I know you'll deal with it when you're ready. But one more thing… don't let the perfect tom go by just because you're stewing over him. Again, I'm sorry. I don't know if this means anything, but I am there for you and so is Alonzo." She smiled hesitantly.

Teazer sighed. She knew Goldith was right, even though it hurt. She also knew that her friend didn't really mean it.

"It's ok, Gold. Really. I know you didn't mean to say that stuff. I also know that it's true. I'm not mad at you," she smiled crookedly. "I never could stay mad at you for too long. I will deal with it… eventually." She went to her friend and engulfed her in a hug. It was then that she remembered the material.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "I almost forgot the material. Aunt Jenny, I brought you all the material you asked for and…" her blue eyes sparkled. "something you've always wanted." She went over to one of the bags that Alonzo had brought in. "Close your eyes." She reached in and pulled out the bolt of California Silk. She held it in her paws and walked over to Jenny. "Ok, open your eyes."

Jenny opened her eyes and her mouth dropped. There, in front of her was a bolt of silk. It was the most beautiful stuff she'd ever seen.

"Rumple… I don't know what to say. This, is this…"

Teazer laughed and said as she pushed the material into her aunt's paws, "Yes, Aunt Jennyanydots, this is a complete bolt of California Silk. I had a memory of you admiring a dress made of it and so I bought you a bolt. I was going ta save it and wrap it up, but I figured I'd let you have it now. Merry Christmas."

"Oh, dearie… you didn't have to. It must have been quite expensive." Jenny tried to tell her, but one could plainly see the happiness in her green eyes.

Teazer came up to her aunt and hugged her. "Like I said, Merry early Christmas. And don't worry about the cost, I can afford it."

Jenny still looked uncertain, but smiled.

"Ok, dearie, if you say so. You were always one to get your own way. Oh, you probably want to unpack and settle down. Jellylorum and her son and daughter are coming over tonight for dinner. We have it every week. You'll like her son. He's real nice and quite good-looking." She winked at Teazer, who blushed.

"I don't really need you to set me up, Aunt Jenny. I'm, I'm not really to get into a relationship. And no," she stopped, seeing the expression on Jenny's face. "I don't want to talk about it. Let's just say that I made a complete fool of myself and I'm not quite recovered. But if it makes you feel better, I'll be nice to him. I guess I need to start learning to trust toms again."

Jenny looked at her watch. "Oh, my! It's getting late. I need to close up shop and get you three home. You'll want to unpack and freshen up for dinner, I'm sure. Tonight it'll just be a small affair. You three, me, Skimbleshanks, Jellylorum, and her two kids, Mungojerrie and Jemima." While she talked, she hurried around the store, packing things up. "Hey, Goldith, could you be a dear and close the blinds?"

Goldith nodded and did so.

"Ok my dears. Everything is done and locked up." She said cheerfully as they left the store. "Let's go home."

"Um, Jenny, do you want a ride? I've got my truck." Teazer pointed at the purple vehicle.

"Sure. It's better than walking." She commented as she climbed in the front seat.

Teazer started the car and drove down the street towards Jenny's house. As they drove down the long street, most of the houses were lit up. The only big exception was the house at the end of the street. There was nothing cheery about the house and yet, a feeling of familiarity washed over Teazer as she looked at. When they got to the house, she was surprised to see Christmas lights part-way up. Then she saw an orange-marmalade tom climbing a ladder. It was Uncle Skimbleshanks, Aunt Jenny's husband. Teazer pulled the truck up to the curb and put it into park. "I didn't know uncle Skimble was home, Jenny. We came by earlier and nobody answered the door."

Jennyanydots got out of the car and waved her paw.

"Oh, he was home. He was probably out in the back. He has the next three days off and then he's got to go back to work on his trains. He's now the train manager." She said with pride. "Skimble! Look who's here!"

Skimble came down the ladder and grabbed Teazer up in a big hug. "Hi lassie! How have ye been? We've missed ye so much."

She laughed and returned the hug. "I've missed you too Uncle Skimble. I'm sorry I haven't come to visit. I've been really busy. Work keeps me on my feet."

"Good to hear, good to hear. Speaking of hearing, yer aunt tell me you've got a show coming up." He released her and climbed back up the ladder. "Be a love and pick up that end of the light string. Got to get these lights up b'fore Christmas. There's a good lass."

"Oh, Rumpleteazer, dear, just bring in your stuff. Do you need any help?" Jenny called from the porch.

"Nope. I'm fine. Alonzo will help me with my drafting table tomorrow. Can I set it up in your shop?" she asked as she drug out several bags from the bed of the truck and drug them inside.

The inside of Jenny's home was designed to be comfortable, not stylish like Teazer's apartment. From the entryway, to the right was the living room with a connecting door to the kitchen. To the left lay the bathroom and the dining room. There was a staircase which led upstairs as it wound around the wall. Beside it was a hallway which led to the roomy kitchen. The three cats followed Jenny upstairs.

"All right dears, Teazer, we've kept your old room, so you can have that. Alonzo and Goldith… you can have the guestroom. I'm going to start dinner. Dinner is at 7." With that said, she retreated to the kitchen.

"I'm gonna head out to bring more stuff in." Alonzo called over his shoulder as Teazer wandered to her room. It was almost the same as she remembered it. The only difference was that the comforter was missing. That was ok. Teazer had brought her own stuff. She went over to the window and opened it. She leaned out and saw Alonzo trying to lift something. "Yo! Alonzo! Don't bring in the drafting table!" she yelled out the window just as a car pulled by. She looked up just to see it continue on down the street and disappear from view. She pulled her body in and closed the blinds. She needed to change out of her skirt and top. She and Goldith had bought a couple of lovely dresses yesterday and Teazer figured it would be the perfect thing to wear tonight. She always liked to make a statement with her clothing. She pulled out the filmy blue dress and looked at her watch. 6:30. Good. She had time to take a quick shower and then change for dinner.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Like it? Hate it? LET ME KNOW!