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.