Chapter 11: Grizabella The Glamour Cat

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What was this? Standing at the foot of the clearing was this old Queen. She must have been very old, because her coat was hanging off of her in ragged shreds. Her ears were tufts, and her face sunken and hollow.

She looked very sad. She smiled for a moment, but then her face turned grim. Huh. Wonder why? She was obviously just coming to join the party. I noticed that Tugger had vanished from sight once more. Good riddance to him! Wait, was I mad at him or glad at him? Oh well, must go say hello to new woman!

However, what I saw stopped me and shocked me.

Quaxo had thought the same as me, and he had gone up to her to welcome her. But then Munkus suddenly pushed him back, giving the old Queen a cold glare. I looked around - everyone was giving the Queen the same cold glare. I saw Jemima go up to her, reach out to her, but then Dad came up and pushed her out of the way. I don't get it, what was wrong with this queen? Was she evil or something? At that moment I saw Bombalurina walk up to her. She seemed to be sizing her up, and Old Queen turned her face away from her, a look of shame. Bombalurina hissed, then moved away from her. I saw Tumble try to move to her, but Alonzo held him back. I saw them whisper for a moment, before Alonzo pushed Tumble over to Plato. I walked up to him. "What's going on?" I whispered. My friends look as confused as I did. "I dunno. Who is she?" Tumble asked. I shrugged. Suddenly Plato smiled.

"Hey, Pounce, go scratch her!" he said. WHAT?! Was he crazy? "What?! No, I'm not going to scratch an old queen for no reason!" I protested. But Plato just said "Come on, Pounce, no one likes her anyway, look!" he said. I looked, and saw Mom push Electra away from the queen. Plato did have a point....but there was no way I was going to scratch her!

"Go do it!" Plato urged. Tumble shook his head. "No, Pounce don't do it!" he said. Suddenly Plato started to push me towards her, but Tumble tried to hold me back. Plato shoved me over and I landed right in front of her. I stood up quickly. I looked at Plato in pleading, but then I thought, Screw you Plato! I'm just going to go greet her.

I beckoned for her to come. She smiled, and began stepping towards me. Yeah, it's okay! You seem nice. I'm going to ignore the worried looks everyone is giving me. Welcome to the Junkyard, ma'am! She got so close...she reached out...

OW! Stepped on my tail! Crap! I had reacted and accidently scratched her arm. She jerked up at me, pain and sorrow in her eyes. I was horrified. Horrified that I had done it, and I immediantly dove through Tumble and Plato and ran into the oven.

Oh my goodness...how did I just do that? It was an accident! But her eyes.....she looked so hurt....

Suddenly, I was turned around sharply. I gulped when I found myself looking into my father's angry eyes. "Why did you do that?" he asked, fury in his voice. I gulped, worried I was about to get turned over his lap, and rushed out "I-I didn'-I didn't mean to!! I was just trying to be f-friendly!". My dad opened his mouth to talk again, but then we both stopped. There was someone singing.

Remark the cat who hesitates to all of you

Somehow, I broke out of Daddy Skimble's grip and rushed out of the oven. It was clear-the Old Queen was singing.

In the light of the dawn

The door opens on her like a grin

She turned around, and then saw Jellylorum, trying to hold back a curious Etcetera and Electra. Suddenly, she stepped forward, and sang:

You see the border of her coat is torn

And stained with sand

Wow. Her coat did look bad....

Cassandra walked up to her, getting close. But then she turned and fled at a glare from Munkustrap. Well, at least she ran into Alonzo's arms....The old Queen sang again:

And you see the corner of her eye twist

Like a crooked pin

Finally, she stopped. She looked around, and I saw what she saw-angry cold glares. She was clearly not wanted, though why I don't know. However, I had to give it to her-she was brave. She smiled, a happy thought crossing her mind, and she put on a look of pride as she began to walk out. But then, Demeter suddenly appeared behind her. And she began to sing:

She haunted many a low resort

Near the grimy road of Tottenham Court

She flitted about the no man's land

From "The Rising Sun" to "The Friend At Hand"

Demeter, what are you doing? With each word the pride on the old queen's face turned into one of sorrow and....something else. But Demeter continued.

And the postman sighed as he scratched his head

You'd really had thought she ought to be dead

That was not nice at all!

And who would ever supposed that that

Was Grizabella, the Glamour Cat?

Huh? Grizabella? Was this who this cat was? The queen covered her head with her arms, as if she was scared to be recognized by her name.

Grizabella. It was pretty. I wanted to go up to her, but then Bombalurina suddenly wrapped an arm around Demeter, and sang,

Grizabella the Glamour Cat

Then, they sang together:

Grizabella the Glamour Cat

Then, all of us Jellicles, began to creep toward her. I myself slid on my knees behind Munkustrap. The old Queen was moving slowly, but I could tell she heard our words, our bitter song.

And who would ever supposed that that

Was Grizabella

The Glamour Cat?

I blinked. The queen...Grizabella...Grizabella was gone. Demeter suddenly rushed out, to where she had stood, and looked out into the distance.

And I couldn't stop thinking.....who was that Grizabella?

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Done!

Note: I don't like the idea of Pounce purposely hurting Grizabella, not in this fic.