By Mirax and Jadadaye
Mistoffelees was stretched on the hood of the old, red car soaking in the sun
when Jellylorum walked by. She wouldn't have paused, but he was muttering to
himself under his breath and she couldn't help but overhear.
"Kids these days... they have no idea how easy they have it."
"What did you say, Misto?" she said, turning to him. Mistoffelees raised his
head and glared at her.
"You bloody kids. You have it much too easy these days."
"Misto, dear... are you sure you haven't been in the sun too long?"
He shook his head slowly. "You're just like the others. Thinking I'm getting
senile in my old age. Well, I'll show you!" He shook his fist at her. "I was
*there* at Growltiger's demise -- and I remember it like it was yesterday."
Jellylorum looked around nervously, hoping that somebody else was there. She
didn't particularly want to be around an obviously insane magical cat.
"Uhm... Misto, Growltiger's demise was a long time before you were born."
"Maybe it was for you, but I was there." He looked behind her and waved
someone over with a large gesture. "Gus will tell you I'm right," he said,
his youthful face steeled into angered determination.
*Oh, dear... he's set to prove his delusions are the truth. At least my
father will set him right and he can stop this silly game.*
"Gus!" Mistoffelees said once the elderly cat had made it over. "Set your
daughter straight. I was there at Growltiger's demise, correct?"
Gus nodded. "That's right, milady, he was."
Jellylorum put a paw to her forehead. *They're playing a prank on me, that's
it... and they got Father in on it...*
"Father," she pleaded. "How can he? He does not look old enough to have
been there. *You're* barely old enough to remember it!"
Gus just blinked his eyes. "Who do you think told me about it?"
"But... but..." Jellylorum spluttered. "*Look* at him! He's... he's just a
kitten!"
Mistoffelees scowled. "For the millionth time, I am NOT a kitten! For
crying out loud, lass, I was your age when your father was knee high to a
grasshopper!"
Jellylorum gasped, her mouth flapping like a fish as she tried to coherently
make a sentence. "No... too young..." Her breathing quickened and, eyes
rolling upward, she fainted.
Mistoffelees looked down at the ungraceful pile of fur formerly known as
Jellylorum. "I hate it when they can't handle graceful aging," he complained
to the other Tom.
Gus chuckled. "Well, my daughter was never one to easily accept things."
Mistoffelees nodded his head in agreement. "Well," he started, changing the
subject abruptly. "Want to go play golf?"
"Sure," Gus said. "But we're going to have to kick the kittens out of the
course."
Mistoffelees rolled his eyes. "When will those kids learn? You don't sleep
in the golf course. Especially not when your elders want to use it." By then
they had reached the 'golf course' to see Munkustrap, Demeter, Tugger and
Bombalurina sleeping peacefully in the center.
"If you young whipper-snappers want a nap place then use the tire," Gus
growled good-naturedly. "No one ever uses that piece of junk anymore."
Bombalurina sat up, glaring at him. "It's sunnier here, you--"
Munkustrap slapped a paw over her mouth. "We were just on our way there," he
placated their elders with a charming smile.
Mistoffelees glowered at her, steam practically flowing out of his ears.
"*Kitten*?" he screeched. "What ever happened to respecting your elders?"
Bombalurina gave him a withering look. "You, darlin', are not my elder."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not." She sighed. "Look, I don't have to sit here and take this,
I'm leaving." With that, Bombalurina stormed off, Tugger in her wake.
Munkustrap shrugged, turning a sheepish smile at Mistoffelees. "I tried
telling her, Grandfather. She just doesn't believe it."
"Thick headed little..." Mistoffelees muttered. "No respect these days! None
at all! Someone should teach these kids a lesson... Why, in my day…"
"In you're day what?" rumbled a new voice. They all turned around to find
Old Dueteronomy standing there, his arms crossed and a grin on his face.
"In MY day, kits had respect for their elders!" Mistoffelees vented.
The large cat nodded. "It's true. We did."
"WAITAMINUTE!" Demeter finally screamed, after spending the last few minutes
trying to figure this out. "WHAT is going on here?"
Munkustrap turned to her. "Grandfather is pissed that he doesn't get the
respect his age deserves."
Demeter gave him a grimace of a smile. "That tells me NOTHING."
The striped Tom bit his lip in thought. "Well... Mistoffelees is my
grandfather. He looks really young because the magicks that he uses preserve
looks."
Demeter looked back and forth at the two of them. "Oh *that* makes a whole
lot more sense..." she muttered under her breath while shaking her head.
"Great!" Munkustrap said enthusiastically, her sarcasm going over his head
twenty feet.
She shook her head more quickly. *I can't believe he's being this dense.*
*Neither can I.*
"Stop eavesdropping on me!" she screamed at Mistoffelees before running off
in a huff.
"Dirty old man..." Munkustrap muttered before running off after his mate.
Mistoffelees glared after them, his chin set into a childish, stubborn pout.
"Well, how do you like that..."
"Join the club," Gus said, handing him a golf club. "Your play."
