Chapter 10: Pekes and Pollicles
Old Deuteronomy sat down on the tire as Munkustrap began addressing the cats and the heroes.
Munkustrap: Jellicle Cats meet once a year
On the night we make the Jellicle Choice
And now that the Jellicle leader is here
Jellicle Cats can all rejoice
The cats all began to move around. Victoria and Jemima sat with Old Deuteronomy. The heroes sat near the 3 cats as Munkustrap took center stage. "What's going on, Old Deuteronomy?" Sly asked. "Munkustrap is about to regale us with a little song about our friends in the dog tribes." Old Deuteronomy said. "Did he say dogs?" Padma asked. "Well, let's listen and find out." Harry said.
[The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles]
Munkustrap: Of the Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles
Together with some account
Of the participation of the Pugs and the Poms
And the intervention of the Great Rumpus Cat
"Rumpus Cat? Who's he?" Ron whispered. "No idea. Let's keep listening and find out." Hermione whispered.
The Pekes and the Pollicles, everyone knows,
Are proud and implacable passionate foes
It is always the same, wherever one goes
And the Pugs and the Poms, although most people say
That they do not like fighting, yet once in a way
They will now and again join into the fray
And they
Toms and Queens: Bark, bark, bark, bark
Bark, bark, bark, bark
Munkustrap: Until you can hear them all over the Park
Now on the occasion of which I shall speak
Almost nothing had happened for nearly a week
And that's a long time for a Pol or a Peke
The big Police Dog was away from his beat
I don't know the reason, but most people think
He'd slip into the Wellington Arms for a drink
And no one at all was about on the street
When a Peke and a Pollicle happened to meet
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer came out dressed as dogs, glaring at each other. "Ooh, this is getting good." Tangath said.
The did not advance, or exactly retreat
But they glared at each other, and scraped their hind feet
And started to
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer: Bark, bark, bark, bark
Bark, bark, bark, bark
Munkustrap: Until you could hear them all over the Park
And they
Toms and Queens: Bark, bark, bark, bark
Bark, bark, bark, bark
Munkustrap: Until you could here them all over the Park
Now the Peke, although people may say what they please,
Is no British dog, but a Heathen-Chinese
And so, all the Pekes, when they heard the uproar,
Some came to the balcony, some came to the door
There were surely a dozen, more likely a score
And together they started to grumble and wheeze
In their huffery-snuffery Heathen-Chinese
But a terrible din is what Pollicles like,
For your Pollicle Dog is a dour Yorkshire tyke
The Toms, dressed like Pollicles, began to march.
Toms: There are dogs out of every nation,
The Irish, the Welsh and the Dane
The Russian, the Dutch, the Dalmatian,
And even from China and Spain
The Poodle, the Pom, the Alsatian,
And the Mastiff who walks with a chain
Munkustrap: And to those that are frisky and frollical
Let my meaning be perfectly plain
Toms: That my name it is Little Tom Pollicle
And you better not do it again
Munkustrap: And his braw Scottish cousins are snappers and biters,
And every dog-jack of them notable fighters
And so, they stepped out, with their pipers in order,
Playing 'When the Blue Bonnets Come Over the Border'
Tugger was playing the very song on his bagpipes, knocking over the Queens dressed like Pekes as the others dressed like Poms.
Then the Pugs and the Poms held no longer aloof,
But some from the balcony, some from the roof,
Joined into the din with a
Toms and Queens: Bark, bark, bark, bark
Bark, bark, bark, bark
Munkustrap: Until you could hear them all over the Park
Queens: Huffery-snuffery, huffery-snuffery,
Huffery-snuffery, huffery-snuff
Munkustrap: Until you could hear them all over the Park
They all started barking and howling. The heroes covered their ears as they got louder and louder. Just then, Munkustrap shouted, forcing them to their knees.
NOW! When these bold heroes together assembled,
The traffic all stopped, and the Underground trembled,
And some of the neighbors were so much afraid
That they started to ring up the fire brigade
When suddenly, up from a small basement flat,
Why who should stalk out, but
All: The Great Rumpus Cat
Suddenly, said cat leapt out of nowhere and landed near Old Deuteronomy and the heroes. Munkustrap, out of annoyance, brought the Rumpus Cat out to the center.
Munkustrap: His eyes were like fireballs fearfully blazing,
He gave a great yawn, and his jaws were amazing
And when he looked out through the bars of the area,
You never saw anything fiercer or hairier
And what with the glare of his eyes and his yawning,
The Pekes and the Pollicles quickly took warning
He looked to the sky and gave a great leap,
And then every last one of them scattered like sheep
The cats quickly took off to ditch their costumes.
And when the Police Dog returned to his beat,
There wasn't a single one left in the street
Munkustrap and Rumpus Cat danced together for a while as the cats came back out. Tugger started playing the bagpipes again, but no one was amused.
All: All hail and all power to the Great Rumpus Cat
As the cats all bowed, the heroes applauded and cheered. "Wow! That was amazing!" Parvati cheered. "Bloody brilliant!" George cheered. "That was quite an interesting story." Maxxor said. "Yeah. I loved every bit of it." Kaz said.
The cats all started to gather around Old Deuteronomy and the heroes. Old Deuteronomy began to sing his reflections on the story.
Old Deuteronomy: Jellicle Cats and dogs all must
Pollicle Dogs and cats all must
Like undertakers come to dust
Suddenly, they were interrupted by a loud crash. Everyone sprang up as the heroes drew their weapons. "What was that?" Sarah asked. "Macavity!" Demeter cried. As the cats were being scared, a shadow looked down at them from the scrap piles before disappearing. The cats scattered in fear, leaving Munkustrap with Old Deuteronomy and the heroes. "That's the second time we've heard something about this Macavity." Seamus said. "Yeah. Who exactly is this Macavity anyway?" Neville asked. "I don't know, guys. But whoever he is, we have to be ready for him if he ever comes back." Harry said.
