Oh no! I just realized that I had accidentally uploaded the Ghost Whispers chapter by mistake! Please forgive me! So that's why everyone was so confused… oops. I changed my mind about what Jemmie and Lecs sound like in this. JEMIMA sounds like that Fleetwood Mac lady singing Rhiannon, and Electra sounds like Yvonne Elliman singing I Don't Know How to Love Him (from Jesus Christ Superstar.) Anyways… on to the best part of this whole thing- the disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I don't own CATS or any of the songs in this fic, unless stated otherwise. (Yeah, I'm short on funny disclaimers.)
~*~
"What is your great and brilliant plan, O Fearless Leader?" Coricopat questioned.
"Alright, so first we need a name for the band," Misto began. "I think we should do something in tribute to the Beatles. Jemima, any other suggestions?"
"I was thinking something like… 'Flower Power.' We're doing sixties stuff, right?"
"Yeah, I see what you mean. Tantomile, what do you suggest?"
"I'm confused."
"Erm… right. Electra?" She thought for a moment.
"If we wanted to have an indie band name, we could use four completely unrelated objects."
"That could work… Corico, what do you think?"
"I've had an epiphany!" the striped tom cried, leaping up from his seat.
"I don't think that means what you think it means," Misto stated. Coricopat ignored him.
"We can combine all of the suggestions… our name can be 'Confused Flower Beetle Epiphany!'" The other four thought about it for a moment.
"I kinda like it," Electra agreed. The other's consent was given, and Misto decided to tackle the next question.
"What should we play on Friday?" Their performance was in two weeks time. Misto thought it was a rather short time period, but they would have to cope.
"We should probably do something that we can all relate to," Jemima suggested. "Or something with… with some sort of story attached."
"Hey, do you guys remember when the district used to be one gigantic junkyard? Before they installed TV and stuff?" Coricopat inquired.
"Not really," Jemima admitted. "I was pretty young back then."
"Oh… right. Well, we could sing something about how everyone was feeling when this whole place got redone. I even know the perfect song!"
"Oh boy," Tantomile groaned, rolling her eyes. "Here we go again."
"Do you have it on JellicleTunes?" Misto questioned. Coricopat nodded excitedly, pulled out his iMeow, and flicked through the five-hundred or so songs he had downloaded. Once he found it, he turned up the volume and began playing the song.
As the quintet listened, they agreed that it was fitting for the story they had in mind. After running through it a couple of times, they had a discussion on what to wear.
"Something sort of shabby," Jemima suggested. "We don't want to look rich."
"Definitely shabby," Coricopat said. "But the song's kinda rebellious, so… what about torn jeans and t-shirts and stuff?"
"That could work," Misto stated. "Then again, the lyrics aren't really rebellious. We could wear black t-shirts and jeans- those look kinda defiant, but not too bold."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," the twins replied. "Let's do this thing!"
~*~
"Sorry, Misto, but this table is for Rumpus Toms only." Mistoffelees blinked. As far as he could remember, he had always sat by Tumblebrutus at lunch time, ever since they were kits.
"Rumpus Toms?"
"Yeah, the band I made. What's your band's name?" Tumble asked, smiling. "Who's in it?"
"We're, um, Confused Flower Beetle Epiphany," Misto mumbled, blushing. He suddenly felt like he should have thought of a better name. "Jemima's on drums, Tanto's on bass, Corico sings and plays rhythm guitar, and I'm lead guitarist." Tumble looked confused.
"You let Coricopat and Tantomile in? Why?"
"Yeah, and what's with the name? It's kinda weird. No offense," Pouncival added quickly.
"Just as weird as the twins," Plato muttered, snickering.
"Didn't your mama tell you that it's rude to talk behind people's backs?" and evilly-sweet voice said, its owner digging his claws into Plato's shoulder.
"Didn't your mama tell you that it's rude to threaten people?" Plato hissed. "Oh, wait; you don't have one!"
"That's going too far, Plato," Tumble snarled.
"Besides, it might not be such a good idea when my sister and I have our claws in your back," the voice growled, much more malicious than the first time.
"Corico, let him go," Misto commanded. "You too, Tanto. He's not worth your time." The twins reluctantly sheathed their claws.
"It's not like we were making him bleed or anything," Coricopat mumbled. "C'mon, sis, Misto's right. A wimp like Plato isn't worth it. If it was Tugger or something, then, yeah, a fight would be worth it, but…" He trailed off and walked back to his table. Tantomile sighed.
"Sometimes, bro, I think you're too violent for your own good…"
~*~
After long days of waiting and practicing, the day of the competition came. All of the bands had to get ready inside the gym. The judges had set up their tables on the far side of the room, and the stage was designated by red taping. The Jellicles who weren't in the competition viewed from the bleachers, as well as the bands that had already gone. Tugger's band, Toms of Duty, had gone first, singing the Elvis Presley hit "Blue Suede Shoes." Confused Flower Beetle Epiphany was the last band to go. Once the Sunshine Girls- composed of Etcetera, Victoria, Rumpleteazer, and Cassandra- had finished playing "Here Comes the Sun," Electra began checking their sound system. The four musicians got in place when Etcie and her band had received their scores.
"You are Confused Flower Beetle Epiphany?" Jellylorum asked, looking at her paper.
"Yes, ma'am," Misto replied.
"And your members are Mistoffelees Ingannare, Jemima Accendere, and Coricopat and Tantomile Jones?"
"Yes, ma'am,"
"What will you be playing, Mr. Mistoffelees?"
"We're playing 'No Man's Land,' by Billy Joel."
"You may begin." Misto nodded, stepped back, and allowed Coricopat to step forward to the mike.
"Dim the lights, Lecs!" the tom commanded. The lights dimmed, until all that could be seen of the four were black silhouettes. The guitar and drums kicked in just before Corico started singing.
"I've seen those big machines come rolling through the quiet pines," he began, his voice deeper than normal.
"Blue suits and bankers with their Volvos and their valentines,
Give us this day our daily discount outlet merchandise!
Raise up a multiplex, and we will make a sacrifice!
Now we're gonna get the big business," The lights began to grow brighter, though they were still dim.
"Now we're gonna get the real thing,
Everybody's all excited about it!" The other three sang in harmony with him. They had worked hard at it.
"Who remembers when it all began
Out here, in no man's land?
Before they passed the master plan
Out here, in no man's land.
Low supply, and high demand,
Here in no man's land!" Everyone was watching them in silence. Nobody had thought they would be this good.
"There ain't much work out here in our consumer power base,
No major industry- just miles and miles of parking space." Coricopat swept his arm out to indicate just how much parking there was.
"This morning's paper said our neighbor's in a cocaine bust.
Lots more to read about Lolita and suburban lust!
Now we're gonna get the whole story,
Now we're gonna be in prime time!
Everybody's all excited about it!"
"Who remembers when it all began?" the four sang.
"Out here, in no man's land?
We've just begun to understand,
Out here, in no man's land.
Low supply, and high demand,
Here in no man's land!" Coricopat sang by himself yet again, gazing heavenwards with a pleading expression.
"I see these children with their boredom and their vacant stares.
God help us all if we're to blame for their unanswered prayers!
They roll the sidewalks up- at night, this place goes underground.
Thanks to the condo kings, there's cable now in Zombietown!
Now we're gonna get the closed circuit,
Now we're gonna get the Top 40,
Now we're gonna get the sports franchise,
Now we're gonna get the major attractions!" They joined their voices together for one last chorus.
"Who remembers when it all began
Out here, in no man's land?
Before the whole world was in our hands
Out here, in no man's land.
Before the banners and the marching bands
Out here, in no man's land.
Low supply, and high demand,
Here in no man's land!" Jemima went into a final drum roll, while Misto slid his hands over the strings in an impressive solo. Coricopat scream-sang the last line a few more times, decrescendo-ing, like they had practiced. Even Tantomile had an impromptu bass solo-type thing.
Once the closing note had been hit, they bowed to a clapping audience, Coricopat breathing heavily. (He had been energetically gesturing and acting while singing. It was an exhausting business.)
"It is quite clear to all of us that you four have incredible musical talent," Jellylorum complimented. "Good work. Mistoffelees, I am especially impressed with you learning the guitar bit in just two weeks." Gus stayed silent for a moment, pondering over what to say.
"Your stage presence was excellent," the old cat commended. "You kept the whole audience hooked. You all did an excellent job, in my opinion." Finally, the last judge- Bombalurina. The beautiful queen was to judge them on style.
"I think your clothes suited the song," she stated. "However, I feel that you could have done something more. Try changing it up next time. Do something funky. Surprise me." They nodded- Coricopat and Misto perhaps a tad more enthusiastically than the girls- and went to sit on the bleachers and receive the final decision.
After going to a separate room and conferring, the judges reached their decision.
"Rumpus Toms, consisting of Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, Plato, and Admetus, you will not be playing in two weeks," Jelly announced. "I'm sorry."
~*~
Once they went outside, Misto offered his condolences to Tumble.
"I'm sorry you guys didn't make it through," the tuxedoed tom stated. Jemima and Tantomile nodded, and gave Coricopat a sharp nudge in the ribs.
"Yeah, alright, I'm sorry," the striped tom sighed. He smiled crookedly at Tumble, to let him know that he really was sorry. Tumble grinned back at him.
"You guys did a good job," he said. "You deserved to make it. And I'll definitely root for you next time." He turned to his former bandmates. "Let's go, toms. Bye, Misto. I'll see you guys around."
Tantomile stared at her brother once the Rumpus Toms were out of earshot.
"Wow, Cori, I didn't expect you to be so… almost-nice to Tumble!" Coricopat shrugged.
"Just because Plato's a jerk doesn't mean that his friend is. Tumble's a good kid." Seemingly unnerved by his sudden display of compassion, he tried to cover it up. "So, do you guys wanna go get some ice cream tomorrow? To celebrate?"
"I was about to ask the same thing," Jemima replied, beaming. A dark car pulled up to the curb and honked. "Oh, that's my dad. Bye, guys! See ya tomorrow!"
~*~
Yay!! They made it through! Poor Tumble, though. Sorry to any Plato-lovers; he just creeps me out with his eyebrows and aloofness… ahem! REVIEW!
P.S. I forgot that FF didn't allow people to post "websites" when I updated the last chapter, so CFBE's emails are:
Misto- Little Magician at Jellicle Cats dot net. (fictional site… I think…)
Cori- Storm In the Air at Jellicle Cats dot net.
Tanto- Psychic Cat at Jellicle Cats dot net.
Lecs- Electric Queen at Jellicle Cats dot net.
Jemmie- Moonlight Dancer at Jellicle Cats dot net.
All the emails are also made up. So don't send stuff to them, just in case there's people with those addresses, and they suddenly receive emails saying stuff like,
"Hey Jemima! I loved your drumming in No Man's Land, it rocked! I'm so glad you made it through! Keep on rockin'!" So… ya. Review!