Chapter 16: Gus, the Theater Cat
As the cats and heroes all stood up, the elderly cat, named Gus, slowly walked towards the center. Old Deuteronomy stepped down and comforted Gus, gesturing him to talk. But he couldn't do it. Jellylorum gently led him back to his can and sat him back down. "Poor old cat. What's his name?" Hermione asked. "His name is Gus. He has quite a history, my friends." Old Deuteronomy said. "I'm sure." Najarin said. "What kind of history, Old Deuteronomy sir?" Luna asked. "I think it is best for you to listen and learn through this song." Old Deuteronomy said. The heroes listened carefully as Jellylorum started to sing.
[Gus, the Theater Cat]
Jellylorum: Gus is the cat at the theater door
His name, as I ought to have told you before
Is really Asparagus, but that's such a fuss to pronounce
That we usually call him just Gus
His coat's very shabby, he's thin as a rake
And he suffers from palsy that makes his paws shake
Yet he was in his youth the smartest of cats
But no longer a terror to mice or to rats
For he isn't the cat that he was in his prime
Though his name was quite famous, he says, in his time
And whenever he joins his friends at their club
Which takes place at the back of the neighboring pub
He loves to regale them, if someone else pays
With anecdotes drawn from his palmiest days
For he once was a star of the highest degree
He has acted with Irving, he has acted with Tree
He likes to relate his success on the halls
Where the gallery once gave him 7 cat calls
But his grandest creation as he loves to tell
Was Firefrorefiddle, the fiend of the fell
The heroes were amazed by this. "This Gus is one heck of a cat." Seamus said. "Yeah. Especially for being an actor." Tom said. "Shh. I think he's about to sing himself." Sarah whispered.
Gus: I have played in my time every possible part
And I used to know 70 speeches by heart
I'd extemporize back chat, I knew how to gag
And I knew how to let the cat out of the bag
I knew how to act with my back and my tail
With an hour of rehearsal, I never could fail
I'd a voice that would soften the hardest of hearts
Whether I took the lead or in character parts
I have sat by the bedside of poor little Nell
When the curfew was rung then I swung on the bell
In the pantomime season, I never fell flat
And I once understudied Dick Whittington's cat
But my grandest creation, as history would tell
Was Firefrorefiddle, the fiend of the fell
As Gus sung this, an illusionary shadow appeared before the stage. The heroes were startled by this shadow's appearance. "What is that?" Ron asked in a whisper. "No idea." Hermione whispered. "Do you think that might be…the fiend of the fell?" Carmelita asked. "Might could be." Neville whispered. But before anymore could be asked, as Jellylorum started to sing again, the shadow of Firefrorefiddle walked away.
Jellylorum: Then, if someone will give him a toothful of gin
He will tell how he once played a part in East Lynne
At a Shakespeare performance he once walked on pat
When some actor suggested the need for a cat
Gus: And I say now these kittens, they do not get trained
As we did in the days when Victoria reigned
They never get drilled in a regular troupe
And they think they are smart just to jump through a hoop
Jellylorum: And he says as he scratches himself with his claws
Gus: Well, the theatre is certainly not what it was
These modern productions are all very well
But there's nothing to equal from what I hear tell
That moment of mystery when I made history
As Firefrorefiddle, the fiend of the fell
As Gus sung this, the shadow of Firefrorefiddle reappeared and danced around him as he stood up. As he and the heroes watched, the shadow of Firefrorefiddle gave a dramatic bow and backed away as he left. The Heroes turned back to Gus as he started to sing one last time.
These modern productions are all very well
But there's nothing to equal from what I hear tell
That moment of mystery when I made…
He couldn't bring himself to finish as his sadness finally cracked. Old Deuteronomy stepped down as Gus walked back to Jellylorum. As Old Deuteronomy gestured that it was alright, Jellylorum comforted the old cat as she led him away. "Poor old Gus." Angelina said. "He had quite the life." Tangath said. "Everyone always does." Hermione said as a tear fell down her cheek.
