"Father, father… dad!" Munkustrap shouted while gasping for air.
"Son, what is it?" Old Deuteronomy said with a welcoming smile.
"Father, I… I,… heard them… them… saying… about the redevelopment… the date…"
"Son, calm down and say it slowly. Is it the humans you are talking about?"
"Yes, father, I heard them say August 26th for the redevelopment, August 25th for our extermination."
"Son, that's only a bit more than two weeks!"
"Yes, father, that's why I'm in such a panic…"
"Ok, son. I want you to tell all the cats this evening social hour about this – no, never mind. Don't tell them the date. This will result in a group panic. Rather, tell them that anyone who has a good plan about what we should do about the redevelopment should tell it to you. Also, pick a new member for Plato's place in the patrol," Old Deuteronomy ordered.
Munkustrap gave a nod.
A few hours later at the evening social hour, Munkustrap went up to the cardboard box and called for everyone's attention.
"Ahem!"
All of them looked immediately up to him.
"I have two announcements to make. First, about the patrol. All of you should know that Plato was injured while patrolling, and by the way, that injury has nothing to do with the redevelopment. Therefore, I will pick a new member," Munkustrap said, pointing to Admetus, "You will join us starting right after this meeting. Second, I want to say this: Anyone who has a good plan for our safety from the redevelopment or, if ever possible, for stopping the redevelopment, please tell me."
All cats nodded.
As soon as he descended from the cardboard box, his brother, the Rum Tum Tugger, came up to him, fluffing his manes.
"May I assist you in any way, brother?" asked Munkustrap.
"Yeah, I guess. You know about the plan thing?" said Rum Tum Tugger.
Munkustrap gave a few nods.
"Well, I have an idea. Why don't we steal any papers that have to do with the redevelopment?" said Rum Tum tugger.
Munkustrap, in the outside, nodded with agreement. In the inside, he thought it was ridiculous. Is that guy sober? Steal the papers that have to do with the redevelopment? Yeah, if he finds where it is himself and doesn't get hurt in the process…
"Well, thank you. I'll think about it," said Munkustrap politely. I'm pretty sure my brother is drunk, he thought in the inside.
He kept walking to greet Demeter. When the two met, they kissed briefly.
"Munkustrap, are you doing alright?" she asked.
"Oh, honey, as always," he replied.
"Well, pleasant to hear that from you. Anyways, about the whole plan thing…"
"Yes…?" Munkustrap thought that his love would have a better idea…
"Well… I thought about making a queens' patrol team. I mean, the toms patrolling three times a day can't cover the whole day…"
Munkustrap's face froze at this.
"Demeter…"
"Munkustrap, I mean… I think it would help if four queens made a patrol team and you know… go around two or three times every day…" she said.
"Demeter, honey, you know that queens aren't supposed to do those kinds of stuff…"
"Munkustrap, this is a different situation. By the way, I already asked a few queens about this – Bombalurina and Victoria are willing to do so," she said.
Munkustrap was shocked. Victoria? That quiet Victoria? She... willing to do so?
"Well Demeter, I'm very sorry, but it is my job to make sure that all Jellicles are safe. Since the queens may get hurt or – at the worst, killed – I have to say no to that," Mukustrap said. It was final.
It was clear that Demeter was heavily disappointed.
"Ok… well, I was just asking. Have a nice day…" Demeter said. She gave a fake smile and walked away. But it was her eyes… those pretty eyes… A few steps before tears came down her beautiful cheeks… She was probably certain I would say yes, he thought, but I… I… didn't… I said no to my love…
Munkustrap's heart was broken.
He ran as fast from the main area to the end of the Junkyard.
The redevelopment, the kittens in shock… no, every cat in shock, Plato getting hurt, Rumpleteazer getting hurt, and now breaking Demeter's heart… he couldn't stand it all…
He quickly turned to see that he was far away from the main area…
"WHY AM I SUCH A FUCKING LOSER!" he shouted, tears falling like a massive waterfall from both of his eyes. He collapsed to the ground, crying like a kitten, and just cried…
I thought I could deal with this whole fucking redevelopment thing, he thought, but I couldn't. Then I thought that I can at least have a good time with Demeter, but that fucking didn't work out…
He heard a cat walking towards him behind him. From the sound of the pawsteps, it probably wasn't a big cat…
"Uhhh… Munkustrap? What does "fucking" mean?"
Munkustrap rapidly rubbed away his tears and turned his head…
It was Etcetera, with a curious face.
"Munkustrap, are you ok? What's wrong?" she asked, seeing his tearful face.
"Etcetera, I'm really ok, really," he lied.
"No, you don't look ok to me… you don't…" she said. She walked right up to Munkustrap and hugged him.
"Oh… Etcetera, it should be me hugging you, not the other way around…"
"Poor Munkustrap, all stressed from all kinds of stuff…" she said. She seemed to have a few tears dripping down, too, from her tiny face.
"Thanks, Etcetera, the hug really helps," he said. It really did.
"Any time, Munky," she whispered. And she hugged even tighter.
Munkustrap really didn't know what to do… The redevelopment plus Demeter… He had to let the stress out some way… but how…?