CHAPTER 16: Practice Begins
The next morning, the Jellicles all gathered in front of the tyre to listen to Munkustrap address them on the topic of the upcoming Jellicle Ball. Firstly, Munkustrap explained that the Junkyard Jellicles would all learn the songs and dances, and the Jellicles who lived away from the junkyard would join them a week before the ball. Munkustrap then proceeded to inform the tribe of the order of performances, which was as follows:
- Overture
- Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats
- The Naming of Cats
- The Old Gumbie Cat
- The Rum Tum Tugger
Here, Munkustrap paused. He turned to Tatiana, Jemima and Victoria, who were sitting together. "As the Junkyard Singers, I was wondering if you three would favour us with a few songs throughout the ball?"
The Junkyard Singers had a quick conference in hushed tones before the three nodded.
"We'd love to," announced Jemima.
"Excellent," responded Munkustrap. "Now, where was I? Oh, yes." He continued with his list.
- The Rum Tum Tugger
- a song from the Junkyard Singers
- Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town
Here he paused again. "Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, will you two be wanting to perform your number this year?"
Mungojerrie shook his head. "We've discussed this, 'n' we 'ave decoided against it – that part of our loives is over."
Tatiana looked at Mungojerrie in surprise. "You have a number?"
Mungojerrie nodded. "Yeah, we did."
"Oh, please perform it for us!" she cried out suddenly. "I would love to see it."
Mungojerrie hesitated before hearing several other cats calling out, "Please do!"
"It has always been one of our favourites," added Demeter.
The stripy twins had a seemingly-long conference before Rumpelteazer nodded. "Okoiy, we'll do it, but we'll 'ave ta change the words."
Munkustrap nodded. "Okay, you're in." He cleared his throat and continued once again.
- Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer
- Old Deuteronomy
- The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles
- The Jellicle Ball
- another song from the Junkyard Singers
- Gus: The Theatre Cat
- Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat
- Macavity: The Mystery Cat
- Mr. Mistoffelees
- another song from the Junkyard Singers
- Journey to the Heaviside Layer
- The Ad-dressing of Cats
Munkustrap gazed around at the cats gathered before him. "All clear?"
"Wait, you mean we're up for three songs?" queried Victoria.
"Is that alright?"
The Junkyard Singers nodded. "Yes."
"Good. Now, we shall begin by practising some dances for the actual ball. Oh, before I forget, I'm open for requests for the mating dance."
Immediately, there were hushed murmurs running through the tribe, many speculating about who would be mating this year.
Tatiana turned to Mungojerrie, her eyebrow raised. "Mating dance?"
"It's sort of a tradition in the troibe. Any pair of cats can moite at any toime of the year, but they get to do a special dance at the next Borll to sorta…seal it, Oi guess. Moike it official."
"That's a nice idea."
Munkustrap quickly called the meeting back to order. "As I said, we shall begin the practice with some dances from the ball. The ones after the mating dance, to be exact. Deme?" He motioned to his mate.
Demeter stepped forward and proceeded to allocate each of the cats to a group. Toms and queens were always separated. Some cats also had more than one group. Demeter called out the groupings (some names Tatiana didn't recognize):
- Munkustrap, Alonzo, Admetus, Coricopat and Plato
- Tugger, Plato, Mungojerrie, Admetus and Alonzo
- Tugger, Plato, Admetus, Coricopat and Alonzo
- Bombalurina, Demeter, Tantomile, Cassandra, Etcetera
- Victoria, Rumpelteazer, Jemima, Etcetera, Electra and Tatiana
- the same as just mentioned with the addition of Mungojerrie and Pouncival and the exception of Etcetera
Demeter stepped down as Munkustrap clapped his paws together.
"Now, we shall start rehearsals immediately. We'll split into two of the groups for today. Tugger, Plato, Mungojerrie, Admetus and Alonzo, please make your way to the North end of the junkyard. I shall join you presently. Victoria, Rumpelteazer, Jemima, Etcetera, Electra and Tatiana, please go to the South end. Toms, Tugger and I will be your mentors, although I'm sure you remember your steps from last year. We just might need a few adjustments. Queens, Demeter and Bombalurina will be your mentors. Everyone else can treat this as a normal day, just so long as you keep away from the rehearsal groups. Now, without further ado, let the rehearsals begin!"
At that proclamation, the Jellicles scattered into their respective groups, their excited chatter filling the air.
Tatiana felt slightly queasy at the thought of having Bombalurina as a dancing instructor, as the first (and last) time they had met, there was a tense feeling in the air. Tatiana was certain that the red queen did not like her at all.
Rumpelteazer skipped up to Tatiana at that moment and linked arms with her, steering her towards the designated practice area. "Excoited yet?" she asked with a grin.
"Well, a little…but I'm not too sure how it's going to go having Bombalurina as a mentor."
Rumpelteazer laughed. "Nor am Oi – Oi'm not 'xac'ly in 'er good books at the moment. Actually, Oi'm not really in Demeter's good books, either, so that jes' makes it twoice as 'ard fer me. At least Demeter loikes yoo."
"True…" Tatiana admitted, "…but I can't help feeling so jolly nervous about it all!"
"Ya'll be foine," Rumpelteazer soothed her friend. "Look, if ya don't git it within a few practices, Oi'll be more than 'appy ta 'elp."
Tatiana smiled. "Thanks, Teazer."
"Anythin' for moiy brother's queenfriend," Rumpelteazer assured Tatiana, making her blush.
"What's this?"
The two Jellicles looked over to see Demeter now walking beside them.
Rumpelteazer grinned. "Tatiana 'ere and moiy brother are together."
Tatiana's blush deepened.
"Really? That's very nice to hear, Tatiana." The older queen gave Tatiana a quick squeeze. "I think you two would be great together."
"Uh, thanks, Demeter."
"Nah, she's jes' glad ya've foinally toiken yer attention off of poor Munkustrap," Rumpelteazer said with a sly wink at Tatiana.
"Oh, Rumpelteazer, I do wish you would be quiet now. Please?" Tatiana muttered, now thoroughly embarrassed.
"No need ta get orll worked up, now," Rumpelteazer jokingly scolded her friend. "We're 'ere, anywoiy." She gestured to their practice area.
"Good."
Demeter stepped to the front of the gathered queens to join Bombalurina (who immediately took charge), but not before whispering to Rumpelteazer, "Remember, I'm going to get you."
Rumpelteazer cringed back slightly, praying to the Everlasting Cat that Demeter's threat would be empty. Somehow, she knew it wouldn't be.
Bombalurina clapped her paws together to gain everyone's attention before opening the rehearsal. "As you are now all aware, this is to be the first dancing rehearsal for this year's Jellicle Ball. I expect you all to pay close attention and to do as you are told. Anyone caught mucking around during rehearsal time will be severely – I repeat, severely – punished. Is that clear?" She narrowed her eyes and gazed around at the nodding heads. She put her paws on her hips, straightened up and smiled. "Good. Now, let's begin. Deme?"
From there, Demeter took over the day's rehearsal.