Well... here is the next chapter. I was very reluctent to post this chapter because I haven't gotten any new reviews. Thank you to broadwaybuff for reviewing. I mean really... the story has gotten over 100 hits since yesterday and did I get any other reviews? NO. Even if you people don't review my other works (which you should) this is one story that I really need feedback on. Is that too much to ask? Appearently it is.

Anyways... enjoy.

-Anglina

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Chapter 5: Car Talk and Cold Beers

"Well? Come on! what's wrong?" Rum Tum Tugger wasn't a very patient tom. especially about his cars.

"You're gonna have ta give it a rest-" came a muffled voice from underneath the belly of a red 1964 mustang. Shortly a built calico tom pushed himself out and looked up at the tom in front of him.

"But I can't!" whined the handsome maned tom.

"Look, you're gonna have ta trust me on this one. I couldn't care less if you had the president's lovely daughter in the car. You've got ta be more careful with your car." He stood up and brushed off his oil-splattered jeans. "I still can't believe that this is the 5th time in the past month that it's bottomed out. Another couple more times and you'll be singing for a new car, not queens." He walked tiredly over to the counter and pushed a button. The car he'd been working on slowly lowered to the ground. "For all that, you know the price by now, $250."

The other tom huffed, fluffed his mane, and pulled out his wallet. "Here, you need to stop putting in hours, man. We gotta get you a girl. I know, Bombalurina could get you one of her-"

The calico held up a calloused paw as he put the money in the cash register.

"Look, I'm not interested in one of her girls. I know what they're like. You've been trying to set me up ever since I got back from school two years ago. I don't want it, too much hassle. Hell, I see it every night with you and her in the bar. I know it works for you, but," he smirked and rolled his eyes as a receipt printed itself out. "it doesn't appeal to me. When I find the perfect queen, I'm sure I'll know. Now, I have to go. 'spose ta go to dinner with mum and Jemima at Jenny's. Again. 'sposedly it's some big occasion." The dinner's at his mum's friend's house was a weekly affair.

The maned tom laughed. "So you gonna meet us at the bar when it's over?"

He nodded.

"If I can get away. I really need a stiff drink."

"See ya, my man. I'll get my car later." With that, the Rum Tum Tugger sauntered out of the garage and ambled down Star Street.

Mungojerrie watched his friend go and shook his head. He grinned. Tugger was an accident waiting to happen. He looked around the pit he called home five days a week. He ran his paws through his short black hair. He was tall at 5'10" and well muscled. He'd have to be physically fit to work with heavy car parts. He had piercing green eyes and a handsome face with an engaging smile. If he felt like giving it. He wasn't as good-looking as Tugger, but if he wished, he could get a bed-warmer. At 25, he was almost the owner of Cattail's only auto-shop. The real owner was always away on stuff other than business and so for the past year and a half, Mungo had taken over the shop. He was the one who went over new shipments and ordered new parts and dealt with difficult customers.

He'd been back here in Cattail with his mom and sister for about two years after he'd graduated with a degree in Auto Manufacturing. He had wanted to open up his own shop elsewhere, but when he arrived home, they'd needed a mechanic and so he'd signed on. The owner had stayed around for a while to make sure that he knew what he was doing and then, finding Mungojerrie proficient enough, had taken off to who-knows-where. Nobody had seen or heard from the owner since then. And that was just fine with Mungo. He had grown fairly attached to the dump and had done his best to turn it into a more respectable place. However, it was hard to run it by his lonely self and so he'd hired on Pouncival. The young tom was a handful to deal with, but he was good and a fast learner. The tom's only real vice was that he'd spend all his breaks over at the hair salon where Electra worked. Mungo smiled as he took the cleaning cloth to the counter.

"Hey, Pounce!"

"Yeah?" a voice floated over from the other side of the garage. Soon a white and brown striped tom in a faded t-shirt and grass-stained jeans scooted over to his boss. His longish brown hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail. "What's up? It time to close?"

Mungo nodded and looked at the tom.

"Is the transmission giving you any trouble on Admetus' car?" he asked.

Pouncival shook his head quickly.

"Not now. It was earlier. Some of the parts wouldn't fit together, but then I realized I didn't tighten the screw enough. It's fine now."

"Good. How's everything else going? Any other problems?" Mungo wanted to know.

"Nope, sir. I drained the antifreeze on Keller's car and it'll be fine tomorrow. Oh, while you were on break, Callyn came by and dropped off those new spark plugs. You weren't here, so I signed for them. The slip's in the office. Do you want me to close?"

Mungo nodded as he threw the rag into the bucket.

"He shoots! He scores!" he pumped his fists into the air. As he lowered his arms, he added, "Yeah, that would be nice if you could. I gotta change for dinner. I'm grabbing a pre-dinner beer and then I'm off. I'll see you tomorrow."

He walked into the small office and pushed aside the chair, revealing a small fridge. He pulled the door open and grabbed a Bud.

"Don't forget to turn on the alarm and the light. I'll check it later to make sure. Got it?" he pointed his finger at the other tom who nodded fervently.

"Good. I'm outta here!" he finished the beer and dropped it into the garbage as he stalked out and towards his car. He peeled out and headed for the café to pick up his sister from her shift as a waitress. He parked the car and got out. As he pushed the door open, a little bell tinkled above him and he entered the Moon Café. Owned by Rum Tum Tugger and home to the best maple-walnut scones around.

"Jerrie!" cried a voice.

He turned around just in time to catch his exuberant sister, Jemima as she hugged him.

"Hey, watch it. I've got grease all over me." But he was laughing as he said it. "Ready to head home? Don't forget, we've got to at Jenny's by 7 and it's 6:15."

"Ok, I'm coming. Oh, did you hear?" she called as she headed to the back to clock out and exchange her apron for a coat.

Meanwhile, he sidled up to the counter.

"Hey stranger, what'll you have?" purred a voice.

He looked up to see Etcetera looking at him with big eyes.

"Hey Etcetera. Um… just a cup of coffee, black, in a plastic cup to go." He winked at her and pushed a buck and a half towards here as she blushed.

"No problem, Mungojerrie." She replied as she hurriedly filled a cup.

He continued to make conversation with the petite orange and black striped tabby queen and sipped his coffee. Soon he saw his sister emerge. She wrapped her coat around her back and maroon body. He slung an arm around her shoulders as they left.

"Anyway, apparently, Jenny's niece from NYC is here visiting for the holidays. I haven't seen her, but Keller was in here earlier and told me she noticed an unfamiliar queen entering Cattail Clothing. I wonder what she's like."

Jenny had a niece? Hmm. It was something to think about. Well, if they were going to have dinner there, odds are that he would see her. As he was thinking of this, his mind seemed to space for a minute and in it's place came a few fleeting memories. A church alter… a queen in white… and a flash of lightning. And then, the memories vanished. They left him, however, with a headache. The two siblings got into the car and Jerrie pulled out into the street and drove home in silence. As they cruised down Grove St. and pulled into a two-story yellow house, his mind wandered to what he thought Jenny's niece might be like. While this wasn't his own home, he spent so much time here, that it was more like an extension of his own. His house was over on Apple. He divided his clothes between here and home. After he let Jemima out, he went to the door and yelled,

"Mum! I'm going home and I'll see you later tonight." Then he left before she could comment. He pulled out and drove down Apple St. as he passed Jennyanydots house, he saw a black and white tom reach into the back of a purple truck and haul out some bags. He then looked up and saw a calico body lean out the upper window and yell,

"Alonzo! Make sure to leave the drafting table!"

The calico looked up and he saw a flurry of short blonde hair and blue eyes. He didn't get a chance to see more because he soon passed the house, when he did see that bit, a memory of a white dress flashed in his mind. He shook his head and continued to drive. Soon he pulled up to his one-story white house. It was as plain as possible. He parked the car and checked his watch, 6:25. Ok, he had approx. 40 minutes. He opened his door and was greeted by his sparse furniture. He lived like any typical bachelor, with as little stuff as possible. As he stood under the shower head, his mind wandered to the blonde-haired calico. Was that Jenny's niece? Oh, well. He'd find out tonight.

Little did he know that it would change his life forever.

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Oooo... cliff-hanger. You want to know what's going to happen? Don'tcha? However, I've been thinking... before I post the next chapter I need reviews. I'm not going to post it unless I get some reviews. Yes, I know that's petty and juvenile (I've heard it before), but I NEED FEDBACK! But something in the story doesn't make sense to me and I can't put my paw on it and I have to rely on my fellow felines and human fans. But that doesn't seem to be happening... does it? Well... I'll let you felines/people decide. If you want me to finish the story... review. Oh, and when I make my choice, it will either be in a new chapter or up on my profile. I don't care if you flame me or give me a fluff review, just review. BUT... the best reviews are when someone actually has taken the time to throughly analyze it. But, hey, it's up to you, the reader.

-Anglina