CHAPTER 20: Issues Resolved – Part I
"Tatiana?" Jemima peered around the bush to where her friend's bed was located.
"Yes, I'm here. Oh, hello, Jemima." Tatiana smiled up at the young queen.
"Hi, um, I need some help."
Tatiana was all business. "What with?"
"I, uh, I have some…tom issues." Jemima's face turned scarlet underneath her fur.
Tatiana patted the scarf beside her invitingly. "Sit down and tell me all about it."
"Well…you see…Misto likes me, but I like Tumble, but I don't know how he feels about me, although Etcy says that he likes me, but I think she's making it up, 'cause how the heck would she know? but she thinks I should tell him how I feel, and I kind of want to, but I can't, because I'm too shy, and, besides, what would he think of me? What if he doesn't return my feelings? What if he'll never speak to me again?" Jemima paused in her tirade and took a deep breath. "I can't have him not speaking to me!" Jemima wailed. She took another breath. "I don't know what to do."
Tatiana's expression softened. "Okay, let's see if I've got this straight: Mistoffelees likes you, but you like Tumblebrutus. Etcetera says that Tumblebrutus likes you, as well, but you think she's making it up because she has no evidence. You want to tell Tumblebrutus, but you're afraid of how he'll react, and you don't know what you'll do if you find out he doesn't return your feelings. Am I right?"
Jemima nodded. "I need help."
"So you've said," Tatiana said, holding back a chuckle. "Okay, let's see what we can do. You'll have to give me some time to think."
Jemima nodded again and curled himself up into a tiny ball, her large, brown eyes watching Tatiana intently.
Oh, no, Tatiana thought, I can't stand people watching me while I think or try to do something. But she's so cute… Tatiana glanced at Jemima. …I can't possibly tell her to go away.
Okay, on to Jemima's…uh, issue. Well, I already knew that Misto likes her, and that she didn't feel the same way about him. Now I know who she does like, but I've yet to discover who Tumblebrutus likes.
Oh, gosh, I just remembered – Electra likes Tumblebrutus also! Oh, dear. This is not going to be good. I might need to talk to Tumblebrutus. Hmmm. This is going to be a tough one. Looks like I just might have to make my excuses to Jemima afterall. Well, here goes.
"Jemima?"
Jemima's ears pricked forward.
Tatiana cleared her throat. "Um…I'll need some time to think about this. Would you mind if we talked…later? Please?" As she watched Jemima's eager eyes lose their shine, she felt really guilty, but it was something she had to do.
"Yeah, sure," Jemima squeaked in a tiny voice. She looked unsure of what to do next. "Well…I'll see you later, then?" Before Tatiana could reply, Jemima shot off.
Tatiana grimaced. Poor kit. She turned around and padded slowly to the box where Tumblebrutus lived with Admetus, Plato and Pouncival. When she reached it, she suddenly become really nervous. What if one – or more – of the other toms were there? What would he think? What would they think? What if…? Tatiana shook her head, took a deep breath and called out. "Tumblebrutus?"
Immediately, a brown-and-white patched head appeared over the edge of the box. "Oh, hey, Tatiana," he said with a cheerful grin, swiftly leaping out of the box to land directly in front of the queen. "And what can I do for you?"
"We need to talk," Tatiana said seriously.
Tumblebrutus ducked his head, acknowledging her serious tone, and followed curiously as she began to head in the direction of the forest.
When the two had reached the centre of the forest, Tatiana sat down and Tumblebrutus sat in front of her, watching her with curious eyes.
"Have I done something wrong?" he asked, concerned.
"No." Tatiana paused, trying to think of the best way to word what she wanted to say next. "I have a job to do, and I need some facts straight from you in order to do it."
"And what exactly is this job?"
"Ensuring my friends' happiness."
"I see." Tumblebrutus was silent as he processed this, trying to figure out what this might mean. He had a faint idea, but he really wasn't entirely certain. "And which friend are we speaking of here?"
"Two friends. Electra…and Jemima." Tatiana noticed Tumblebrutus' body tense up and his facial expression distort slightly. It was obvious that he was now feeling very uncomfortable.
"I see."
"You like Jemima, don't you?" Tatiana asked gently.
Tumblebrutus' body tensed up even further. "Was it that obvious?"
"Not until your reaction to my mentioning her name. You became tense and uncomfortable. For a tom like you, that can only mean one thing: you like her."
Tumblebrutus gave a wry smile. "You're good. Yes, I do like her. But –"
"Stop," Tatiana commanded before he could go any further, holding up her paw as if to stop a train. She knew where this was going and she didn't want it to get there. "I know what you're going to say. 'But I don't think she likes me. She seems to like Mistoffelees. I'll never have a chance.'"
"Well –"
"Uh!" Tatiana put out her paw again. "Just be quiet and listen to me. Now, I know for a fact that two certain queens like you. I now also know for a fact that you like one of them." At Tumblebrutus' surprised expression, Tatiana smiled slightly. "Yes, Tumble. You like Jemima and she returns your feelings. However, she honestly has no idea what you feel for her, if anything. Perhaps you should tell her. But…don't say I was involved. Okay?"
Tumblebrutus smiled and nodded. "Thankyou, Tatiana." He gave her a hug.
Tatiana smiled, but pulled back. "Ah, but I have not yet finished."
"There's more?"
"Sure is. You see, I said I was trying to secure the happiness of two of my friends. As yet, I have only secured that of one – Jemima. I still need to secure Electra's."
Tumblebrutus' ears and tail drooped slightly. "Oh, the poor kit…I can't return her feelings – I'm in love with Jemima! Oh, she's going to be heartbroken. I can't break her heart like that!"
"Then don't."
"What?"
"I have a plan," Tatiana confided to him, "but I'm going to need your help. We'll have to work together as a team. Okay?"
Tumblebrutus nodded eagerly. Whatever Tatiana had in mind, it was sure to work – she seemed to be a rather intelligent queen. "So, what is this plan?"
Tatiana leant forward and began to whisper. "So Electra likes you and is going to be heartbroken when she finds out about you liking Jemima. Well, Misto is already heartbroken, because he knows that Jemima likes another tom." She furrowed her brow. "When I spoke to him, he didn't say who she likes, but he gave the impression that he knew. So he must know that she likes you. Now, we have a heartbroken queen and a heartbroken tom. What if –"
"– we were to make them fall in love with each other!" Tumblebrutus jumped up excitedly.
Tatiana grinned and nodded. "My idea precisely." She held up her paw in offering of a high-five, which Tumblebrutus gladly accepted.
"You know," Tumblebrutus began, "you are one smart queen. And beautiful, too. Mungojerrie certainly is very lucky."
Tatiana flushed beneath her fur, her nerves quickly rushing back to her. "Hey, watch it," she teased, "you're supposed to be in love with Jemima. You stop liking her now and you screw up my plans."
Tumblebrutus grinned. "Too right."
Although Tatiana and Tumblebrutus had slipped into the forest inconspicuously, they had not gone unnoticed by one queen in particular.
"That good-for-nothing, two-timing, double-crossing wench!" Electra howled, smashing her fist into her left front paw. "Stealing Tumble while she's supposedly in love with Jerrie. She'll regret this! She – eek!" Electra jumped when she felt a paw on her shoulder.
Apparently, Rumpelteazer had seen them, too, and knew what Electra was ranting about. "It moight not be as ya think."
"That's what they all say," Electra muttered moodily. "What else could it be?"
Rumpelteazer shrugged. "Oi dunno. But jes' settle down, eh? Before ya give yeself a cardiac."
"A what?" Electra peered at Rumpelteazer with a confused expression in her eyes.
Rumpelteazer shrugged again. "Dunno. 'Eard 'umans soiy it. Orll Oi know is it ain't good. Jes'…yeah. Settle, petal." With that, she disappeared.
"Good ol' Electra. Just settle down and shut up, and all will be right in the world. No tom likes you, but everything will be fine anyway. The only tom you like turns out to be the type to have affairs, that's it. Stupid Electra!" she screeched. At that moment, she noticed Tatiana stalking out of the forest, a satisfied smirk on her face. Electra growled. "I hate you…"
In reality, Tatiana's satisfied smirk as she walked out of the forest was a self-satisfied smirk. She felt pretty pleased with herself for coming up with such a great plan and already reaping good results. She just hoped that her way of getting Misto and Electra together would work quickly and efficiently.
She looked up and noticed Electra scowling at her. Uh-oh… she thought. I hope she didn't see us go into the forest…
But Tatiana was not able to linger on that thought any longer, for Rumpelteazer suddenly bounded up out of seemingly-nowhere and glomped her friend. "'Ey, Tats, guess what?" she cried cheerfully, slipped her arm through Tatiana's. "One of the older toms 'as come ta the junkyard in preparation fer the Borll. Oi think yer gonna loike 'im."
"Teazer, in case you've forgotten, I love your brother," Tatiana scolded lightly.
Rumpelteazer chuckled. "'Ow could Oi forget that? It's fer the Moitin' Dance. Oi mean, since you don't 'ave a father and orll…"
Tatiana gasped. "Oh, I'd almost forgotten about that! I've been so caught up…" She shook her head.
Rumpelteazer eyed her friend curiously but said nothing about what Tatiana just said. Instead, she kept pursuing her own line of conversation. "So, d'ya wanna meet 'im?"
"Ummm…okay…" Tatiana said uncertainly, her nerves returning once again, this time in full force. "I'll have to find Jerrie first, I suppose…"
"'E's orlready there. But 'e knows 'im. Come, let's go." Rumpelteazer steered Tatiana in the direction of the junkyard entrance.
"They should be 'ere soon," Mungojerrie told the older tom. He sounded like he was trying to calm down an impatient tom, which he was – except the impatient tom was himself.
"I'm sure they will," the older tom soothed.
While the older tom lay down with his tail curled around his body, looking quite peaceful, Mungojerrie fidgeted with his paws, his ears flicking back and forth at the slightest sound, his eyes darting to the slightest movement.
After a while, Mungojerrie's darting eyes finally latched onto Rumpelteazer and his mate-to-be. With a grin, Mungojerrie jumped up and raced over to Tatiana, nuzzling her and giving her ear a quick lick in greeting. "'Mornin', moiy dear."
"'Morning, Jerrie." Tatiana smiled up at her handsome tom.
"Come on, Tats," Rumpelteazer said impatiently, still bouncing up and down with excitement. She grabbed Tatiana's paw and dragged her over to where the older tom lay, Mungojerrie following them.
When the trio approached, the older tom stood respectfully and smiled welcomingly. "Ah, so this is the young queen about whom Mungojerrie has been jabbering incessantly for the last half hour."
At the compliment, Tatiana blushed underneath her fur and ducked her head slightly, shyly peering up at the tom from beneath her lowered eyelashes. "Nice to meet you." Her voice was very quiet; almost inaudible.
A small blush also crept onto Mungojerrie's cheeks at the older tom's words.
"And a pleasure to meet you, my dear."
"This" – Rumpelteazer swept her arm over the tom dramatically – "is Asparagus Junior. Ya'll meet 'is father at the Borll. Gussy 'ere 'as bin loike a father ta Jerrie 'n' me. 'Asn't 'e?" She turned to her brother.
"Yes, 'e 'as," Mungojerrie agreed, smiling warmly at Asparagus Jr.
"Sit down, sit down," Asparagus invited Tatiana, changing the direction of the conversation. He gently took her paw. "Come, you must tell me all about yourself."
"Oi've gotta go…talk ta Electra. See ya loiter, Tats!" Rumpelteazer called cheerfully with a wave. "Come on," she said to Mungojerrie, giving him a nudge.
"Well," the tri-coloured queen began, still feeling very shy, "my name is Tatiana…"
Jemima threw a stone into the river. She watched it sink to the bottom before picking up another and repeating the process. Suddenly, a quick movement in the water caught her eye. It was a fish! And quite a large one, too. Jemima's stomach made a rather loud noise. Good timing, she thought, grinning. Let's just see if I can catch it this time. Leaning forward, her eyes trained on the fish, she slowly stretched out her paws, preparing herself to dive. The claws on her hind paws slipped out and clung onto the rock upon which she was standing. Not once did she blink. She leant forward a bit more, stretching out…
"Got it!" Jemima whooped, holding up her prey proudly.
"Congratulations."
At the sound of another voice, Jemima whirled around, losing her balance and falling in the water. "Eek!"
"Looks like you got a bit wet as well." With a chuckle, Tumblebrutus offered Jemima his paw.
Flailing slightly, Jemima glared at Tumblebrutus, but found she couldn't keep up the charade for very long. Instead, she burst out laughing. "Yes, it looks that way," she agreed ruefully. Jemima gratefully accepted Tumblebrutus' offered paw and stood up. "Just as well it isn't too deep here." She then realized how close she was to the tom, and her cheeks turned scarlet beneath her fur as she stepped aside. "Uh, th-thanks," she stuttered nervously.
"You're welcome." Tumblebrutus smiled warmly, but, inside, he too was a bundle of nerves. Tell her now, you fool! Tumblebrutus stepped to the edge of the river and succeeded in catching his own fish.
"At least you managed to stay dry," Jemima commented, lying down on a warm, flat rock to try and get her fur dried.
Tumblebrutus chuckled and sat down beside her. "Yeah, well, I guess that's mostly my fault. I'm sorry, Jemi."
Jemima shrugged. "It's okay." She began to eat her fish.
Tumblebrutus did the same. The entire time, he was trying to think of the best way to tell Jemima how much he cared for her. Just…go on and say it. Just do it. "Jemima?"
"Mmm?" After finishing her meal, Jemima had closed her eyes. Now she opened one eye lazily.
"Uh…did you enjoy your fish?"
Jemima let a fleeting smile play over her lips. "Yes. Did – did you enjoy yours?'
"Yes."
Silence.
"But that wasn't what you wanted to say, was it?" Jemima sat up.
"I…no." Tumblebrutus stood and absently rubbed the back of his neck. Do it… "Jemima, I love you!" he blurted out.
Jemima's eyes opened wide with shock.
"I've loved you for a while now, but…I guess…I was afraid of how you'd react. Oh, Jemi, please say something!" he begged.
"You really love me, Tumble?" she asked breathlessly.
Tumblebrutus nodded.
Jemima's face broke into a grin. "Oh, Tumble, I love you, too!"
Tumblebrutus relaxed visibly and let out a breath that he didn't know he had been holding. He sat down beside her. "Jemima, you have just made me one very happy tom. There's only one thing – well, for now, at least – that will make me happier."
"What's that?"
For an answer, Tumblebrutus slowly bent his head down and captured Jemima's small mouth in a sweet kiss, relishing the taste of her lips on his.
When Tumblebrutus kissed her, Jemima's body went rigid with surprise, but it soon relaxed into his as she savoured every moment of her very first – and very special – kiss.
"Tatiana?"
Tatiana turned around. She had just come back to her box from a very long and very interesting conversation with Asparagus Jr. She had found that, while they had been talking, her nerves had mostly worn off and now she really liked the older tom. "Yes, Jemima?"
Jemima was so excited that she looked fit to burst. She raced up and flung her arms around Tatiana in a huge hug. "He loves me! He loves me! Oh, I know that you didn't get to, uh, really do anything to help me, but thanks anyway. But I just can't believe it! He really does feel the same way about me!"
Tatiana grinned and chuckled. "That's great, Jemi," she said, ruffling her little friend's headfur. "I'm really glad for you."
"He loves me!" Jemima said again as she skipped away.
Two down, two to go…