#7 Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

Suddenly, out of nowhere thunder crashed and lightning struck, and the lights surrounding the junkyard began to flicker and dim. From somewhere in the vicinity, an air raid siren began to blare. "Macavity!" Demeter hissed. The cats all looked around in terror before scattering in all directions; Munkustrap stayed behind to make sure they were all safe before diving to safety himself.

An eerie giggle came from somewhere in the junkyard, then a muffled, "Shhh!" There was silence for a moment, then another giggle... louder and a bit more obnoxious this time. Then, slinking out of their hiding places came two precocious little tiger striped kittens. The male, called Mungojerrie, shushed his sister again, looking around anxiously for their parents. Not seeing anyone, he hurried over to her.

"Do you have them?" he asked excitedly.

"Hehe, of course I do!" She looked around, grinning, then reached into the bag she carried. "Roses, from Mum's human's garden, the red ones, and the brooch from the antique shop on 17th Street, and of course," she giggled again, pulling out the piece de resistance, "The pearls!"

They stared at the string of pearls in awe for a moment, forgetting themselves. "Thank goodness the plan worked!" Mungo mumbled, pawing at the pretty white beads. "No problems?"

"Of course not!" his sister replied indignantly, "I am an expert thief! Especially when it's for Aunt Bomba."

"Are you sure?"

"Well...."


One hour earlier.

"Ready?" Mungojerrie murmured from his lookout perch in the big old oak tree outside the Brewster's home in Victoria Grove.

"Always!" Rumpleteazer hissed back impatiently.

"Alright... go!"

She had to suppress the urge to laugh aloud. This was her favorite part of the job... the danger, the adrenaline, and the fun of it all. She licked back her fur and pranced over to the door, situating herself before it and beginning to meow. Her senses were on hyper-alert as usual; she could hear Mungo breathing up in the tree as he waited for the old ladies to take her bait, she could hear the motorcars in the street, and, from inside the house, she could hear footsteps approaching. The door creaked open, and a short, plump, white-haired woman opened the door.

Rumple put on her prettiest face. "Meow?" she said, trying to sound as normal as possible.

"Oh, you silly kitten, there you are! We've been looking everywhere for you... now if only we could find your brother, too!" the old lady exclaimed. Hehehehe. Abigail Brewster swooped Rumple up in her soft arms and cradled her against her bosom, and Rumple began to purr. She couldn't really help it... no matter what mischief she and Mungojerrie got into to, the sweet old ladies never threw them out.

Abigail set her down once they were inside the house, and Rumple promptly curled up in her favorite spot by the window and began to wash herself.

Mungojerrie could see her from his perch. Alright, Mungo, your turn. There was an upstairs window that could be opened for Rumpleteazer's escape; he'd rejoin her later at the junkyard. Leaping down, he assumed the masculine version of Rumple's previous pose and began to meow as well. Soon enough, he heard Abby's footsteps again, and the door opened. When he got into the house, Rumpleteazer was nowhere to be found. He let Abby hold him for awhile; it was up to his sister to get the pearls. Don't screw this up, Rumple!

Upstairs in the bedroom, Rumpleteazer made a beeline for the jewelry box, ears peeled the entire time for approaching footsteps. She knew exactly where the pearls were; they were always in the same spot, and Abby foolishly kept replacing them every time a strand went missing. She leaped lightly up onto the chest of drawers, then the bed, then the bookshelf. She was just about the reach into the box and grab the pearls when her ears perked up at the sound of steps in the hall. No... not in the hall... on the windowsill.

She glanced over at the window and caught her breath; she could just make out the mangled form of Macavity through the lace curtains. She froze in place. Please don't let him see me! Without a problem, he opened the window from the outside and slunk into the room.

"Well, well, well," he snarled, "What have we here?"

"N-n-nothing," she stammered. She knew all about the kind of bad news Macavity was... she'd used him as a cover often enough.

"You know, you're so good at this stealing thing."

"I'm... I'm not stealing... just borrowing...."

"Please," he scoffed. "You should consider working for me. You would make a good little minion." He cackled and a shudder ran down her spine. "You, me, Growltiger, your brother... think about it." He turned, and just like that, he was gone.

She gaped at the place where he'd stood for a moment, trying to shake away his presence and turn back to the task at hand. The plan, what was the plan?? Oh, yes... Mungo is being distracting. I've gotta get out of here! 

She grabbed the pearls and was out of the room as fast as she could, dashing through the window that Macavity had left open and running as quickly as she could down to the birdbath. Blech, she shuddered, I hate this part. It was the worst part of their plan, but she knew Mungojerrie was waiting for it, so she jumped into the birdbath and began to splash around. She only stayed in for a few seconds, but she saw a flash in the parlor window and knew her brother was on his way out, too.

Present moment

Should I tell him? she wondered. Nah... I'll tell him later. For the moment, it was high time for a celebration. The rest of their family slowly came out of hiding, and she sneaked over to the Tugger and discreetly handed him the pearls. "Give Auntie Bomba our love," she murmured with a low chuckle.

#6 Bustopher Jones

"Ah, Bustopher," Jennyanydots sighed excitedly, gazing at the portly cat from across the junkyard. "Jelly, do you see who's here?" she called to her sister, who quickly scurried to her side.

"Oh, old Bustopher Jones, is it?" Jellylorum asked as Jenny pointed across the yard. She laughed at the starry look in her sister's eyes. "Jennyanydots, you still think he's wonderful? After what he did to the kittens?"

"Yes," she sighed, "I mean... what?"

"Mistofelees and Victoria. I don't blame him, he was heartbroken when Mira died, but he just left them here!"

"He brought them to the place where he knew they'd be safe." Jenny replied. She sighed again, unable to take her eyes off of the biggest and smartest tom of all.

"He never comes to the Jellicle Ball," Jellylorum reminded Jenny. "He always spends the night at Blimp's."

"You're right," Jenny said, finally coming to her senses. "Why is he here?" She looked around. "And where is Mistofelees? Victoria couldn't care less about her father, as long as she can dance. But Misto wonders why he left... I wonder where our little magician went."

"Check his pipe," Jellylorum replied. Jenny smiled her thanks, and set off in search of the magical little cat. She found him exactly where Jellylorum thought he'd be, crying in his sewage pipe.

"Misto," Jenny whispered, climbing into the pipe. The tiny black tom tried to wipe his tears, but they kept flowing. "Come, my dear." She wrapped her arms around him as he tried to stop sobbing.

"Why did he leave me here? Why is he back? He left us alone for so long," he cried. His attempts at staying strong failed with every tear that slipped down his white face.

"I don't know, my dear," Jenny whispered. "Perhaps he wants to make amends now."

"Do you think? Maybe I can use my magic to make him sorry!"

Jennyanydots laughed. "I don't know about that, but something could be done..." she grinned. "I have an idea. Just follow my lead."

She left the tube and went to the cats who were playing and singing. "Did you see who's here?" she asked the drummer cat, Aristophanes. He shook his head."Bustopher Jones! Here, play something fun, I want to sing to him," she said excitedly. The other cats rolled thier eyes, knowing how obsessed Jennyanydots was with "BJ" as she over-affectionately called the cat about town.

They struck up a rousing chorus, and she began to sing praises to the Brummel of cats. "Bustopher Jones is not skin and bones..."

"In fact, he's remarkably FAT!" Bombalurina added, and Jenny laughed. It seemed like the whole tribe was joining in the attempts to reunite Mistofelees and his father. Soon enough, Jenny caught Misto out of the corner of her eyes, gently rubbing his father's tail. Bustopher turned around and a light of recognition came into his eyes. Misto ducked out of his gaze, but he smiled for just a moment. Father.

Jennyanydots finished her song, as Bustopher plucked his boutenniere and gave it too her. She swooned, but not before she saw Bustopher give Mistofellees a hard pat on the back and an invitation to Hoxes'. All was well.

#5 Grizabella the Glamour Cat

"You see the border of her coat is torn, and stained with sand." Everyone could see the pain that she felt as she sang, but she whispered on. "You see the corner of her eyes twist... like a crooked pin." She could feel the stares on her back, and she whirled around, catching glimpses of Jennyanydots, Jellylorum, and her sons. The Tugger had shunned her, and now sweet Munkustrap stood between her and the tribe.

"Munk," she wanted to whisper. She looked up at his usually kind face, but it showed no signs of compassion towards her. He kept glancing around the tribe, first at his mate, then his brother. She shook her head, and began to walk on. She held her chin high, but she wanted to weep. Her own son! Her own son!

She heard words behind her, and they cut to the core. "The postman sighed as he scratched his head... You'd really have thought she ought to be dead!" Shame boiled inside of her at the painful reminders of her days with Deuteronomy and then the nights she spent with so many others. Her beautiful black coat was forever torn and ruined by the strange disease that had attacked her body. Pain wracked her body, and she was bent double with the force of it, but no one came to help her.... She was all alone, and feared she would be forever.

#4 The Rum Tum Tugger

"Meow." All the Cats stopped what they were doing and looked at each other, some in excitement, others with dread. The call was more like a growl than a hello, and it caused every queen there to melt, and several kittens, too.

The Tugger laughed to himself as they all crowded around him. Every queen wants me and every tom wants to BE me! he chuckled. They were all pawing at him at once, crying for a little bit of his attention. He walked, swaggered, rather, to the center of the junkyard, feeling like the Pied Piper of London. "Now, now, ladies," he said in his deep baritone voice. "There's more than enough of me to go around!" He backed away, looking for one queen in particular.

"Jemima, where's Bombalurina?" he asked the kitten, stroking her chin. She giggled.

"I don't know, she's not here yet," she sighed coyly. Tugger shook his head at the precocious kitten. She was sweet, but far to young for him. He stepped away, only to be blocked by Etcetera, who eagerly scratched at his leg.

"Cetty, what are you doing?" She squealed.

"Vicky, he spoke to me!" he could hear her say as she ran off in excitement.

Ah, this is the life, he thought. Here, I am a god!

"The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious... beast!" a deep alto whisper came through the hushed crowd. Tugger turned, and his heart skipped a beat. If it was possible, he held his head higher and walked with a bigger swagger towards his mate, who stood calmly on the other side of the junkyard. He ignored the sighs of disappointment that came from the girls, for he had eyes for one kitty only... Bombalurina.

He remembered the first time he met his Bomba. It was their first Jellicle Ball together, the first dance as eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. He had been rather annoyed at his brother, who was getting a lot of attention from Daddy, but not from the ladies. The only lady who wanted him was shy, quiet Demeter. Demeter was small, pretty, but she was so good. Good girls were no fun... But Bomba, she was fun...

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"Hey, Tug!" Munkustrap called. "Tug, where's Mum?"

"How should I know?" Tugger called back. "Go look for her yourself."

"Tug, please." he sent his brother a pleading look, then turned back to the pretty little lady he was talking to. Old Deuteronomy sat up on the tire, watching his son with a pleased grin on his face.

"Munkustrap," he roared to his oldest son. "Come here, and bring Demeter." Munkustrap looked at the young queen anxiously, but obeyed.

"I hope I didn't get you in trouble, Dem," he whispered. She smiled in her usual shy way, beaming at him from beneath her long lashes.

"Munkustrap, you have chosen well." Old Deuteronomy smiled at his son happily. "Demeter is the one destined to be your mate."

The Tugger scoffed and turned around, disgusted. Stupid Munk, he gets everything! Papa's blessing, a cute girl... well... he glanced around at all the kittens who had surrounded him. So I get more girls than he does. Has Papa chosen a match for me? Of course not! Who am I? I am just the Tugger, Papa's disappointment.

"Well, if it isn't Mister Know-It-All." Tugger turned.

"Huh?" he said, then he suddenly realized that he was dead meat. Standing before him was the sexiest debutante he had ever seen. She was red from her head to the tip of her pointy tail, striped with black and white. She was a tall cat, almost as big as he was, but he failed to recognize her as she spoke in a husky whisper.

"Don't you remember me?" she asked, gracefully pushing her way through the crowd. He shook his head, speechless for the first time in his life. "Bombalurina," she said coyly, rolling the 'r' in her name and looking him in the eye with a look that would've brought any cat to his knees. "Remember? You told me two years ago that I was far too sweet for anybody. You told me to take a trip, and I did. Now I'm back."

The Tugger stood there in shocked silence. This cool and collected dame was nothing like the Bombalurina he remembered! She was gorgeous...

"Tugger!" a bark from his father recaptured his attention.

"Excuse me, Bomba," he stuttered. He sauntered over to where his father had just dismissed Munkustrap. "Yes?" he asked obediantly.

"I see you're becoming reaquainted with young Bombalurina." Tugger barely managed to nod. "Be careful," Old Deuteronomy warned. "She's fiesty."

"Yes, sir." Old D waved him off, and suddenly the Tugger realized that he wanted to have Bomba as his wife. He would have her... and, by the end of the night, he did.

#3 The Gumbie Cat

"I have a gumbie cat in mind..." Jennyanydots could hear from where she hid in waiting beneath the hood of the jalopy. She sighed, not even thinking about the routine she was to do. She did it every year, and she knew it backwards, forwards, and in her sleep. Mister Mistofelees would "magically" raise the hood of the car, she would yawn and roll out, and then she would tap dance while the other cats sang her praises. She loved the attention, but she didn't feel she deserved it.


I don't do anything, she thought, I only watch out for the kittens and raise the little ones when they are too small to survive otherwise. They are all special, I just teach them good manners. Old Deuteronomy brings me the kittens, I take them in, and I teach them to wash behind their ears! That's all...

Except for one kitten... Macavity. He was always difficult, but I loved him, truly. He was so sweet and feisty all at once. And then he left us...

She sighed, remembering that fatal night, when Demeter disappeared and Macavity struck fear in the hearts of all Jellicles. She remembered the days later, when poor Demeter came back and thrust four tiny kittens into Jennyanydots' arms, unable to say what had happened. But Jenny knew. Jenny knew what Macavity had done to her. And she knew why she must raise the kittens. She knew.

She laughed to herself at the thought of those kittens. They had been fun to raise, as mischievous as they were. Coricopat and Tantomile never allowed themselves to be apart, and Electra and Plato were just crazy. They were always biting each other, always scratching each other, and when Electra grew a little older and became to succumb to the charms of her uncle, Plato was always there to smack her paws and keep her safe. All four of them were attached to each other, and although they were all still kittens, technically speaking, only Electra really played like Victoria and Jemima did. The other three much preferred to go off alone and study themselves or their ineffable names. When they were little, though, they were as bad as she was when she was young...

**********************************************************

"Jennyanydots!" Jenny's owner screeched. "You stupid cat! What do you think you're doing?"

Stupid! Jenny scoffed. I'm not stupid! She licked her tiny paws daintily, clearing away all evidence that she had gone near the forbidden rose bush.

"MY ROSES!" Alice screamed. "They're ruined!" She grabbed a broom from the closet, hollering, "I'll kill you yet, you crazy cat!"

Jenny looked up from her washing and sighed. Here we go again. Again, she returned to her washing. She could hear Alice's steps first in the kitchen, then in the hall, then closer, closer, closer, until the bedroom door opened silently. Jenny just sat there on her bed of tulle and stared at the raving woman. She saw the broom come up and then...

Quick as lightning, she was gone. She tore through the house, a tiny, white streak of fuzz, as Alice came behind her, swatting at her with the broom. Ha! That stupid human never learns, does she? She dove under a chair, and sure enough, the broom followed. She slid behind the stove, under the refrigerator, through the doorway and into the greenhouse. Leaping nimbly on every single topiary, rose bush, and fig tree, she led a winding path through the conservatory into the study, where her muddy paws plastered instant kitten masterpieces all over the walls, mahogany desk, and leather furniture. She glanced behind her, and couldn't help laughing as she ran.

Alice's hair was flying all over her head, wisps of gray protruding everywhere. Her slip was showing, and her skirt was torn.... "Ooh..." Jenny's eyes got wide. The forbidden slip! She stopped mid-run, and, just as Alice was about to swing, crouched low on the ground, fixed her eyes on the hanging bit of lace, and lept. Her claws caught ahold of it immediately, and Alice began to scream. Jennyanydots laughed and laughed as she tore that lace to shreds, then made her escape. The plastic door slammed behind her, and she heard Alice sink into a chair and blow a piece of hair out of her face.

She ran through the park to her sister's house. "Jellylorum!" she called. "Jelly!" Another white tabby kitten appeared, and they squealed in delight.

"Did you get away?"

"I squished a rose bush, and she chased me out!" Jenny squealed in excitement. Jellylorum gasped.

"You did WHAT?"

"I squished a rose bush, and it was lots of fun!"

"That's bad, Jenny. Old Genesis will not be happy about this. He'll say, 'No grandchild of mine should misbehave as much as you do, Jennyanydots."

Jenny hung her head. "But it was fun!"

Jelly smiled and nodded, but she insisted that Jenny was wrong. "Come here, Jenny," she said to her twin. "I have an idea. We have a lot of mice and cockroaches here, and my owners are always complaining about them. Why don't you teach them to behave? Maybe you'll settle down if you have something interesting to do!"

Jenny thought about that. "Alright, I suppose I'll try it... I'll teach them to tat! And then they can make presents for your mistress and she won't hate them anymore! But you have to promise not to tell Old Genesis about my rosebush caper."

"Of course not," Jelly agreed. Thus, as quickly as she had left one house, Jennyanydots came into another. She and Jellylorum stayed together for the rest of their lives, and Jennyanydots became the most well-behaved and respected cat in the Jellicle tribe, due to her good manners, fair treatment of all misunderstood creatures, and excellent Christmas gifts.... lace, hand-made in her mouse tatting classes.

#2 Macavity

Sirens wail, the lights dim, the wind blows.... Someone shrieks, "MACAVITY!" and suddenly, the junkyard is cleared of cats.

"Haha," he chuckled to himself. They're afraid of me! ME! Who ever would've guessed? All of these sweet and spicy characters that I'm related to are scaredy-cats!

I've never done anything to deserve this kind of treatment. Sure, I spent some time (all right, a LOT of time) with Demeter. But she's pretty, kind, and it was a good way to get back at good ol' Munk.

Munkustrap. That stupid cat thinks he knows absolutely everything about everyone. He thinks that just because he's the oldest and he was Father's favorite that he is better than me! He thinks he's better than the Tugger! So what if he's the next Jellicle patriarch? He's unimportant. And, if I can get rid of him, then I can get rid of that stupid Tugger, and I'll be next in line! Ha!

Another cold gust of wind blew through the alley, and Macavity grinned to himself, too excited and angry to shiver. Tonight would be the night that they would pay. He would take his kittens away, far away... Or better yet, he would take his rightful mate and make more kittens! We don't need more little Munkustraps running around loose. He already has that stupid little Alonzo... no nephew of mine should be that devoted to his parents! Parents aren't worth anything...

Well, mothers are. Mother. Poor, sweet Mother. I wonder where she is... I wonder IF she still is... or if she's long dead by now. I wonder how many other siblings I've gained over the years. I wonder...

The lightning spot on his chest was suddenly illuminated by the moonlight, and he slunk back into the shadows even farther. "Hey, boss!"

"Not now, you idiot!" he hissed to his henchcat, "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Uh, no boss, umm... everything ready for tonight, boss?"

"I don't know, Mistletoe! That's your job! And if it's not ready..." Macavity bared his claws at the young tom cat. The black cat shrank away, and Macavity could hear his soft calls to the others as he escaped.

His mind was already on another subject. I'll frighten them all night.... terrorize them! And then, when the time is perfect.... I'll spring it on them. I'll take their precious leader... and my Demeter. And then... THEN! I'll kill that stuck-up Munkustrap... I'll bring him down lower than he's ever been before.

As he lay there in his pipe, Macavity's bitter heart throb with jealousy towards his family. He let himself go back, way back... to his very beginning of his completely miserable life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Well, Grizabella, you've done it!" she cried as she gazed her three newborn kittens. The trio were as different as could be, the oldest one a tiny silver kitten with black tiger stripes, the middle kitten a fluffy Maine coon like his father, and the third... well, the third one was different. The third one was all black, with tufts of mustard yellow and red fur poking out all over the place. A white lightning bolt streaked down his chest, and he was loud.

"Ahh, Grizzy," her mate came to her, licking her fur in salutation. He was gentle as her looked at her carefully and lovingly, then at their tiny kittens. Their eyes were still closed, and would be for hours, but Old Deuteronomy could already see who they would become. He had a vision for each of them.

"The little tabby will be my heir, dear Grizzy. He will protect the Jellicles when I am gone, and he will make the family line continue. He is Munkustrap, after my dear, deceased uncle. The second one will make everyone proud. He will study and become a very learned cat. He will always be serious and loving, kind to all. He will always be there when Munkustrap needs him to be. He is... well.... Grizzy, do you have any ideas for a name for this kitten? I rather like Tugger."

She chuckled. "Well, I think we should call him Rum Tummer."

"Hmmm," Deuteronomy frowned. "That's too much fun. We'll call him the Rum Tum Tugger, and see if the length of his name makes him ponder it, thus keeping him silent." They both grinned and licked each other. "And the youngest one..."

He picked up the tiniest kitten in his great paws. "Oh, my." He looked at it closer, and the kitten quaked in fear. He was tiny, much smaller than either of his brothers, and he looked very afraid. But he seemed the muster the tiny amount of courage he had in time to nip the paw that was holding him. "This one will have to go to Jennyanydots. He's too small to survive on his own. We shall call him Joshua, but she will probably rename him. Meanwhile, we will raise Tugger and Munk."

Grizabella looked up at him and tears pooled in her eyes. "Must we send him away? He will live; he's a Jellicle cat!"

Deuteronomy shook his head sadly, and, with the tiny kitten mewing like he was lost, walked away from his wife and kittens, to the home of the gumbie cat.

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Months passed and turned into years, and Joshua prospered under Jennyanydots care. When he was two, she set him loose on society, making sure he washed between his toes, dried behind his ears and always had a healthy diet. The years of favoritism spent on Munkustrap and the Tugger (who, despite his father's hopes, refused to even open a book, much less study it), had begun to wear on the young Joshua. He hated that his father never spoke of him or to him. He hated that Munkustrap and Tugger got to learn to read and write, as Jellicles often do. He hated that Jennyanydots seemed more occupied with her own kittens when they were born and he was a year old. Those stupid twins were always pulling on his tail, scratching him and biting him, and Jenny would just laugh and say, "Now, Joshua, be nice to your cousins."

So he ran. He ran far away. He ran away from his father, his brothers, and Jennyanydots' loving home. He ran away with a gang of old, ugly mousers, and he quickly rose to the top of the outfit. He stayed away for several months, but one night (after he had been into the catnip, I might add), he was feeling a little frisky. So he returned.

It, too, was the night of a jellicle ball. The cats had gathered, and Old Deuteronomy was there with Grizabella and his sons. Jennyanydots was there, but her kittens were nowhere to be found (like usual). But this ball was different from the ones that Joshua had attended before. He tried to go in, he tried desperately to join his family, but Munkustrap barred the way.

"Munk, what is this?" he growled. "Let me in. I'm a Jellicle, just as you are."

The tall silver cat stared at him. "Who are you?" he asked forcefully. Joshua scoffed at him, shaking his head angrily.

"I'm your brother, you old bat!"

"My brother is already here, with the ladies as usual. I do not know you."

Joshua had had enough. He shoved his way through, and his eyes fell on a small, young queen in the center of a group of toms. She was black and gold, with red stripes cascading through her fur. She was gorgeous.

Munkustrap saw where his gaze went, and he was suddenly even more alert. Demeter was his mate, she was the mother of his three kittens, and there was no way that this stranger was going anywhere near her.

Claws flashed. Teeth tore through flesh. And in the end, Joshua won. Munkustrap lay in a pool of blood, and Joshua grabbed his prize and ran, crying the whole time, "I am evil, I know bad things about every one of you, and I hate you all! I am Macavity, and you will never get rid of me!!!" The name had come out of thin air, but it stuck. Joshua, his mother's favorite son, had become the terror of the tribe: Macavity, the mysterious Napoleon of crime.

#1 A Jellicle Moon

It was silent in the junkyard. A bright, white moon rose full above the skyline of London, and a cold wind howled. Out of nowhere, a small black, and gold cat appeared. The queen had a fierce, frightened look about her, and she looked around cautiously. The wind blew through, rippling her fur, and she let out a small hissss and ran for the safety of a sewer pipe. Macavity! she sensed. He always seemed to know when the Jellicle Tribe met, and he was very good at crashing parties... and Demeter was scared to death of him.

From behind an old jalopy slunk a sleek, silver tabby. He crouched on the hood of the rusty car, searching for an signs of his mate, brothers, or other Jellicles. He spied a sleek siamese on the edge of the junkyard, smelled the old railway cat approaching. He could hear his brother climbing far above his head, and he knew that it was time.

"Are you blind when you're born?" The call, like a secret code, brought more cats into his presence.

His mate answered him from the pipe, "Can you see in the dark?" and the invitation to the ball began. Demeter's children Coricopat and Tantomile came to him, and so did many kittens. Sweet Victoria came with her mother and brother, Misto. The cats began to sing and dance, crying out with joy and passion at the sight of seeing those that they loved. Munkustrap was nuzzled and licked by many kittens, and his heart swelled with pride as they looked up to him. Being the oldest son and the protector of the tribe made life difficult, but it was worth it. His father trusted him, his mate trusted him, and everybody loved him. When he was there, Macavity stayed in the shadows, and life was good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside the junkyard, lurk in the shadows was exactly what the angry Macavity was doing. Years! he hissed to himself. Years of being an outcast for no good reason. Demeter is as beautiful as ever, but she hates me, thanks to that no-good brother of mine. Just because he was born first, that stupid Munkustrap gets everything. I hate him, and I hate everyone in that stupid tribe. The only one worth having is Demeter... Bombalurina isn't bad either. But, no, Tugger has managed to seduce her. And what does "Daddy, dear" do? NOTHING!

Tonight, he vowed, tonight Demeter will be mine.... and the rest of those "favored" cats can sit all alone in their pathetic little tribe, dancing and singing the night away. And I will finally sing with Dem again. Finally.