#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...

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"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.