As she walked into her new home, the slim calico inhaled the cool air of the morning that was coming in through the open door.
“ Spotty, come here kitty,” her master beckoned her. She walked over to him, and he picked her up. He scratched her under her chin, (she loved it when people did that to her) then said to her, “ Why don’t you play outside for a while.” With that, he put her outside and closed the door. She was furious at first, but then something that was moving caught her eye. It was another cat, and it was walking towards her. She began to hiss fiercely to warn the intruder off, but it was Munkustrap, and he wasn’t afraid of other cats.
“ It’s okay,” he coaxed. “ I’m not here to fight, instead I want to welcome you to the neighborhood, since you moved into the house where an ex-Jellicle of ours used to live. Her name was Cassandra.” The scared calico backed away from him, and Munkustrap stayed where he was. Finally she began to ease up, and went to sniff him. He stayed still, as not to frighten her again. After she was done, she asked him what his name was.
“ Munkustrap,” he replied. “ And yours.”
“ Patchabie, but my owners call me Spotty,” she wrinkled up her pink nose at the name, then sat down to let him sniff her. He didn’t, instead he just walked a circle around her, to check out her markings. She was mostly an all creamy light brown calico, with patches of white, black and red on her back and sides. Probably how she got the name Patchabie. Then he stood back in front of her to look at her face. She was a very attractive cat. Her face was the same creamy light brown as her body, with a white patch over her right eye. He thought she looked the opposite of Tumblebrutus and Pouncival, but the neatest quality about her was her eyes. She had one green eye (right), and one yellow eye. After he was done examining her, he asked her if she would like to see the Junk Yard. She said that she would, and both cats left her home.
Back at the Junk Yard, Munkustrap found Coricopat and Tantomile, coming out of their chamber. He walked over to them and introduced Patchabie to them. She was a little skittish of the twins at first, but calmed down after Tantomile walked slowly over to her and nuzzled her shoulder.
“ I’m Tantomile,” the mystical female said giving Patchabie a friendly smile. Coricopat stayed where he was and said,
“ And I am Coricopat.” Patchabie gave him a shy smile, then walked over to nuzzle him. She was starting to get used to other cats now. Munkustrap said he’d see the twins later, and went to introduce Patch to some of the other Jellicles. He noticed Mistoffelees was playing with a bug near them, so he walked to where he was. Mistoffelees stopped playing with the bug when Munkustrap appeared.
“ Aren’t you a little too old to be playing with bugs, Misto?” Munkustrap asked the younger tom, smiling. Misto glared at Munkustrap then noticed Patchabie standing behind him.
“ And just who are you hiding Munku?” Mistoffelees asked walking to where Patchabie stood behind the large tabby. “ Well, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen your pretty face around here before,” he said softly, she smiled at him. “ Is she a Jellicle Munku?”
“ No, she just moved into Cassie’s old house.”
“ Oh, what’s your name?” Misto asked her.
“ Patchabie, and yours?” she asked, liking how polite he was to her.
“ My friends call me Misto, but my real name is Mr. Mistoffelees. How old are you?”
“3 years, why?”
“ That’s how old I am, exactly!” Misto cried out happily.
“ He’s a magician Patch, don’t listen to him,” Munku said. “ And just what do you mean by that?” Mistoffelees asked, frowning at him.
“ Nothing, geez, don’t get your whiskers in a bunch. I was only kidding,” Munku said taken aback.
“ Hmmph,” Misto grunted.
“ Don’t worry Misto, I’d like to get to know you better. I’ve never met a magical cat before,” Patchabie said rubbing her head under his black chin, but not in the way to let him think she was attracted to him, just a friendly rub. Mistoffelees smiled down at her.
“ Come on Patch, let’s introduce you to some of the other cats around here,” Munkustrap said walking away from Misto. Once they were gone Misto went back to his bug, only to find it gone. He said some not nice kitty words under his breath, then crept into a hole in some junk to be alone.
Sootaput, Jemima and Victoria were all wrestling around when Munkustrap came upon them. Victoria nearly crashed into Munkustrap as she was running, but dug her claws into the dirt floor to stop herself.
“ Hi Munku,” she said from where she stopped in front of him. The other two joined her.
“ Girls, I would like you to meet Patchabie,” Munkustrap said as he turned his head to the cat at his flank. The girls looked at the older cat and smiled.
“ Hi, I’m Victoria,” Victoria said, then got up and nuzzled against Patchabie’s chest.
“ I’m Jemima,” Jemima told her coming to sit behind Victoria.
“ And I’m the newest Jellicle cat, Sootaput,” Sooty said proudly, jumping onto Munkustrap’s back to look down at the older cat.
“ Nice to meet all of you,” Patch said as she nuzzled her head with Sootaput’s.
“ She’s pretty,” Jemima purred to Munkustrap, glad that she wasn’t the only calico now.
“ Yeah, where’d you find her?” Sootaput asked making no move to get down from where she sat on Munkustrap.
“ She just moved into Cassandra’s old place,” Munkustrap said as Alonzo, came out from the shadows to join them. A sad look on his face.
“ Yeah, you took my Cassi’s place,” he pouted.
“ Alonzo, and Cassandra were together,” Victoria informed Patchabie.
“ So, I didn’t catch your name,” Alonzo said, then picked Sootaput up in his mouth, who gave him a hiss, then set her down in front of him.
“ Patchabie,” she said, looking sympathetically at the large black and white tom, she had just moved away from her brother’s and sisters.
“ I know what you’re going through Alonzo, I just got separated from my brothers and sisters, who I spent all my life living with.” Alonzo nodded his head in agreement. He also knew what it was like being separated from family.
“ Hey, I’m going to take you to meet our leader,” Munkustrap said looking down to Patch, who gave him a little grin. “ You guys want to come?” Munku asked the group of cats before him. They all nodded, and so they were off to Old Deuteronomy’s home, (it was still too early in the morning for him to be at the vicarage wall.)
Once the six cats reached their leaders house, they could hear his masters talking, but they didn’t hesitate to go through the cat door. When the masters saw the cats, the lady called out,
“ Smokey, some of your kitty friends are here to see you!” Jemima looked to Munkustrap and mouthed, ‘Smokey?’ Munkustrap shrugged, then they all sat down, and waited for their leader to get up from his bed by the fireplace. The lady then came up to the Jellicles and picked Sootaput up.
“ Well, aren’t you a cute little thing,” she said and Sootaput squirmed because she didn’t like to be held. The lady put her down, just as Old Deuteronomy came to sit before the bunch. Munkustrap nodded his head to the door, to let Deuteronomy know that he wanted to talk to him outside. Old Deuteronomy agreed, by standing up and leading the group out to the front lawn. They all settled underneath a big shade tree, except for Sootaput and Jemima, who decided they wanted to watch from above. They sprawled out on a branch each, and watched the other five cats on the ground. Victoria and Alonzo sat next to Deut, while Munkustrap sat next to Patchabie.
“ Hello, my dear,” Old Deuteronomy said to Patchabie, who gave him a big smile. “ My name is Old Deuteronomy, I am the leader of the group, of whom you have already met some of the members. What is your name my child?”
“ Patchabie.”
“ And do you wish to become a Jellicle, Patchabie?”
“ Actually, Munkustrap here came to my house this morning, to welcome me to the neighborhood. He said that I moved into the house, of one of your ex-Jellicle members. What did you say her name was Munku?”
“ Cassandra,” Munkustrap replied.
“ Yeah, Cassandra, and he then asked me if I wanted to see the Junk Yard, and I told him I did. Although, I have no idea what a Jellicle cat is,” Patchabie said truthfully.
So Old Deuteronomy explained to her about the Jellicle Ball that had taken place a couple of months back. Patchabie listened intently, without interrupting, and her eyes grew wide when he told her about the Heavyside Layer. He also told her of the Darkside Core, where Macavity had been trapped, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. After he was finished, he asked her once more if she wanted to be a Jellicle. She nodded her head. It was all that she ever wanted. Munkustrap said that she was old enough, to just join without having to take the test.
“ It’s settled then, we shall have a celebration tonight welcoming you to our group,” Old Deut said.
“ You’re going to love it!” Sootaput called from her spot in the tree. Patchabie walked over to her new leader, and bowed her head to him, to show respect to the cat; whom she already respected. Then lied down in front of him and rubbed heads with him, then she licked his cheek, and would have gone on to groom him, had he not stood up, Alonzo helping him, and said that he hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. She looked up to him and gave him a purr and meow mixed. He smiled back to her, then started to walk to his cat door, Alonzo still helping him.
Once Alonzo saw that his leader was safely inside, he went back to join the group. Jemima had fallen asleep on her branch, and Sootaput had to wake her up, before she climbed to the ground. Jemima yawned, and scratched her claws on the wood, before she got out of the tree to follow the others back to the Junk Yard.
The Junk Yard never seemed so alive as it did that morning. Jellicles everywhere, and hyper ones at that. Munkustrap could hardly stop Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer to introduce Patchabie to them. Electra and Etcetera where worse. He couldn’t stop them from playing at all. Munkustrap sighed, a heavy sigh. He felt that he was losing his connection to the group. No one really even said ‘hi’ to him anymore, except for his love, Demeter. Patchabie rubbed against his side consolingly. He looked to her, and forced a smile, but his eyes were very sad. Excusing himself, he went to find Demeter. Patchabie found Alonzo, and he introduced her to Pouncival and Tumblebrutus. Then they all went to play together, for they found themselves very hyper also.
Munkustrap found Demeter taking a cat-nap with her older sister Bombalurina. Munkustrap sat over his loving Demeter, watching her sleep. Her nose and whiskers twitching now and then. He found himself thinking of what he’d do, if he ever failed to protect her, or any of the Jellicles, but mostly her. Demeter awoke a few moments later, and tried not to wake up Bombalurina, who was tucked into a tight ball next to Demeter, although she was unsuccessful and her sister woke up. Neither of them noticed Munkustrap sitting over them, until Demeter stood up and bumped into him.
“ Hi sweetie,” he said licking the top of her ears. She gave a little yawn, then asked him how long he’d been sitting there.
“ Not too long,” he reassured her. Demeter looked into those sad eyes of his, and she knew right away that he needed someone to talk to. She excused herself from Bombalurina who was grooming herself. Munkustrap and Demeter found a large box, where they could talk. They crawled inside, and lied down. Demeter lied so close to her lover, that they could have been connected.
“ What’s wrong, Munku?” she asked, when he gave a tearful sigh.
“ I’m losing them, Demie. I’m not close to the group like I was before, and I don’t know why,” Munkustrap said as his eyes filled with kitty tears.
Demeter nuzzled against his muscular chest. She had never seen her tom so upset.
“ Oh, honey, you’re not losing them. They are just keeping to themselves, like you and I do,” Demeter said, and Munku sniffled. “ You don’t believe me do you?”
“ I do, it’s just that, I feel like I’m failing at being the leader that I’m going to be when Old Deuteronomy leaves. If I don’t earn their trust, that I’m not going to let them down now, how are they going to trust me not to let them down later?” He said as a tiny kitty tear slid down the side of his muzzle. Demeter licked it away. She knew the Jellicles trusted her love, she just had to make sure he knew that.
“ Munkustrap, hello are you in there?” Patchabie said from outside. Although, she didn’t dare peek her head in the box. Munkustrap crawled out of the box, and Demeter followed. “ Ah, there you are,” Patchabie said then noticed Demeter, “ Hi I’m Patchabie.” Demeter gave the younger female cat her usual warm welcome, by rubbing against her. Patchabie gave her one back.
“ She’s our newest Jellicle. She lives in the house where Cassandra used to,” Munkustrap said smiling at the two.
“ So, have you met everyone yet?” Demeter asked.
“ No, that’s why I came to get Munkustrap, to see if he could introduce me to the others I haven’t met yet.”
“ Well, who all have you met?” Demeter asked.
“ Let me see, I’ve met Old Deuteronomy, the twins, Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie. Jemima, Sootaput, and Victoria. Alonzo, Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, and you,” Patchabie said giving the older female a sweet smile.
“ Well that leaves quite a bit of Jellicles left.” Munkustrap sighed.
“ How about I introduce her to Jenny, Jelly, Tugger, and my sister?” Demeter suggested. Munkustrap nodded his head, and watched the females leave, who started giggling about Tugger. He needed time to think, and now he was going to get it.
Demeter found Bombalurina just where she left her a few moments earlier, and she was still grooming herself. She looked up when she heard someone approaching, though. She gave her sister a quick smile, then asked,
“ Who’s this attractive little thing?” Bombalurina asked still smiling.
“ My name’s Patchabie, and your Bombalurina, right?” she asked looking to Demeter who gave her a reassuring nod, to let Patch know she was right. Bombalurina gave Patch the same kind of welcome that her sister had given her earlier, and once again Patchabie gave one back.
“ She’s the newest member of our group,” Demeter informed Bombalurina.
“ She’s cute Dem, let’s keep her around us, and teach her all we know,” Bom suggested. Demeter agreed, but she knew it was up to Patch to decide. “ Has she met Tugger yet?”
“ No, I was going to save him for last. Come on, let’s go show her to Jenny and Jelly.” Bom got up and followed the two younger cats. They found Jellylorum and Jennyanydots engaged in a conversation when the three young cats approached them.
“ Excuse us, Jelly, Jenny,” Demeter said interrupting their talk.
“ Yes my dear,” Jenny asked.
“ We’d like you to meet Patchabie, she’s our newest member,” Bombalurina said as Patch came from behind her.
“ Well hello!” Jelly said motioning for her to join them on the mattress where they lay. She jumped up, to land beside Jellylorum and rubbed her head on her side. Then she went to Jennyanydots, and rubbed heads with her.
“ My, aren’t you an attractive little thing,” Jenny said getting a good look at her face. “ Is it me or do you have one yellow eye and one green eye?”
“ I do, I don’t know why, I just do,” Patchabie said. “ What are you’re names again. I’m sorry, I’ve met so many cats today.
“ I’m Jennyanydots,” the golden yellow tabby with orange spots and stripes said.
“ And I’m Jellylorum,” the white, brown and black cat said.
“ Well we’d love to stay, but she still has a lot of cats to meet,” Demeter said placing her front paws on the mattress.
“ Come back to see us when you’re done,” Jelly said.
“ I will,” Patch said, after she’d jumped off the mattress. Now it was time for her to meet the Tugger. Bombalurina and Demeter looked at each other and shook their heads; she had no idea what she was about to meet next.
Bombalurina and Demeter couldn’t find Tugger in the Junk Yard anywhere. They spotted Exotica, lying in the afternoon sun, on the top of the old VW Beetle. All three cats jumped up to join the dark brown cat.
“ Hi Exotica, have you seen Tugger?” Bom asked the almost black cat, whose lighter brown stomach was facing the sun’s rays.
“ No, can’t say that I have. Why?” she asked without opening her eyes.
“ We were going to introduce Patchabie, whom you haven't met either, to him,” Demeter replied sitting down next to the thin cat.
“ A new cat?!” Exotica said rolling over to her side, she loved meeting new cats.
“ Yeah, just became a Jellicle today,” Patch said, thinking that the cat stretched out in front of her was very pretty. Exotica opened her black eyes, and looked at Patchabie.
“ Well, it looks like you’re going to have some competition, huh, Bom?” Exotica said grinning devilishly at the red cat before her.
“ Yeah, and if everyone keeps telling her that, she’s going to get a big head.”
“ Am I really that pretty?” Patch asked.
“ More than you know,” Bom admitted.
“ More than who knows?” Tugger’s voice surprised them all, as he jumped onto the car from behind Exotica.
“ Me,” Patchabie said looking at the lion like cat who sat beside Bombalurina.
“ Woo hoo, hoo, and you are?” Tugger asked, looking Patchabie up and down.
“ Patchabie,” she replied, not liking having herself looked at, the way Tugger was looking at her.
“ Well Patchy, baby, why don’t you come over here and sit next to me, so we can get to know each other better.
“ Yeah, right!” Patch said frowning at the muscular cat, who’s jaw dropped down to the car when she said that. He stood up, gave her a ‘Thuwp’ and left. Bom and Dem both gave Patchabie surprised looks.
“ Who does he think he is. ‘God’s gift’ to female cats?” she said as she flipped her tail angrily back and forth. Exotica, then said,
“ You know what Patch? You are the first female who doesn’t think Tugger is attractive.”
“ Well maybe after hearing what I had to say to him, he’ll cool off,” Patchabie said, and Bom and Dem began to giggle.
“ Come on, let’s take you back to Munku,” Demeter said standing up. “ See you later Xoti.”
“ It was nice meeting you Exotica,” Patchabie said, licking Exotica’s ears.
“ Likewise,” Exotica purred. Patchabie and Bom jumped off the car, and Exotica rolled onto her back again, to let the sun warm her stomach. She soon was asleep.
Munkustrap had fallen asleep in the large box, in which he lay. He began to whimper, and Quaxo, who happened to stop beside the box, heard him. He slipped inside the box, and began to nudge Munkustrap.
“ Munkustrap, hey wake up!”
“ What?” Munkustrap awoke with a gasp. He looked up to find Quaxo staring at him. Munkustrap looked confused.
“ You were having a bad dream,” Quaxo mewed quietly. Munkustrap nodded at the light brown and black cat. “ Are you okay now?” Munkustrap nodded again at the tom. Just then Demeter entered the box.
“ Oh, hi Quaxo,” Demeter said grinning at him. “ There’s someone outside I want you to meet.” Quaxo smiled at her, then left. Once out of the box he was face to face with the striking calico.
“ Oh, um, um, hi,” Quaxo stammered.
“ Hi, I’m Patchabie. Newest Jellicle member, and you?”
“ Huh, oh, I’m Quaxo,” he said smiling sheepishly. She thought he was cute, and rubbed her head on his chest.
“ Boy, I’m rubbing with everyone today,” she thought to herself.
“ So, are you new in town?” Quaxo asked when she began to lick his face.
“ Mmm hmm,” she said with her throat. Then she stopped to study his face. It was a creamy brown like hers, he had a dark grey patch next to his right eye, and somewhat around it, and he had a very light grey, almost white circle around his mouth. The top of his head was mostly black, with a few spots of the same light grey as around his mouth. She then walked a circle around him to look at his body. Just like Munku had done with her earlier that day. He was a light brown like her, only he had black stripes on him.
“ Wow, you are one good looking tom,” she said as she sat down beside him. She had never seen a cat blush before, but she’s certain that’s what he did when she said that. The two cats were unaware that Munkustrap and Demeter were watching them.
Then Patchabie walked over to the box, and noticed that Munku and Demeter had been watching them. She asked if they could hold off on introducing her to the other cats for right now. Munkustrap smiled at her and nodded. She ran back to Quaxo, and playfully raised up on her back feet, and came down on his head. He shook his head, and her paws fell.
Then he jumped onto her, and they began to wrestle. Demeter and Munkustrap laughed at the two, and Demeter asked if Quaxo had ever been with a female cat. Munku said that he didn’t know, and they watched the two cats once more. Quaxo began to chase her, and they took off running around the Junk Yard, laughing and having a wonderful time.
Quaxo took Patchabie to his little hideout in the Junk Yard, it was a dryer that was missing a door near the exit of the Yard. He had dragged a couple of pillows into it, to make himself a bed. Once inside the dryer, they curled up together, and Quaxo began to groom Patchabie’s face and ears, which made her purr loudly, and knead the pillows.
He stopped for a moment, and asked her if she’d ever been with a male before. She said no, and he replied that he hadn’t been with a female either. They also said that they didn’t want to right now. He resumed his head grooming, and she soon fell asleep with his fore leg around her upper chest, just under her fore legs. He stopped licking her and placed his head on her shoulder, and was soon asleep with her.
“ But Munku, the Jellilcles love you!” Demeter cried.
“ I know, it’s just that I’m so afraid that I’m going to fail you guys, but I’m the most afraid of failing you. I don’t want to lose you Demeter,” Munku said burying his head in her chest.
“ I don’t want to lose you either,” Demeter said, and licked his neck. Suddenly Mistoffelees poked his head into the box, and said,
“ Hey Munku, Deuteronomy is here, and he wants to know where Patchabie is.” Munkustrap quickly got up, and went out of the box.
“ You know where Quaxo’s hideout is right?” Munku asked Misto.
“ Yeah, why is she with Quaxo?” Misto asked making a funny face.
“ Yes, she took a liking to him real quick, and disappeared into the Junk Yard with him.”
“ Quaxo?” Misto asked again very surprised that Quaxo had found someone that liked him.
“ Yes, Misto, Quaxo,” Munku said looking to the direction of the large tire upon which Old Deuteronomy sat waiting for Munkustrap to show up. “ Do me a favor, go get Patch for me,” Munku said, then took off to greet his leader. Mistoffelees didn’t know that Demeter was standing next to him, until she sighed, and said,
“ I’m worried about him, Misto.” Mistoffelees looked at her puzzled.
“ Why?”
“ He thinks that he’s going to fail us, once he becomes our leader.”
“ What?! No way! Did you tell him that he was talking crazy?” Misto scoffed.
“ Yes, but he won’t listen to me, but he’ll listen to Deuteronomy. Our leader will help him out of this. I know he will.” Mistoffelees agreed. Old Deuteronomy was good at situations like this. He told Demeter he’d see her later and went to get Patch.
When Munkustrap reached the magical tire, his eyes welled over with kitty tears as he looked at his benevolent leader, who he loved dearly as a father. He ran up to Deuteronomy, and buried his face in his long fur, and cried like a newborn kitten. Old Deuteronomy was shocked.
“ What’s the matter Munkustrap?” he asked patting the top of his head with his large paw. Munku looked up to his leader, and said in a shaky voice,
“ I don’t think I can follow in your place. I’m afraid I’m going to fail, or not live up to my title.” Old Deuteronomy smiled at Munkustrap, he had gone through the same thing, when he found out he was next in line. He brought his paw up to Munku’s face, and dried his tears away.
“ Munkustrap, I went through the very same thing that you are going through now. Becoming a leader is a scary job, but believe me it gets easier. Besides, I’m not going anywhere for a long time.” Munkustrap began to laugh along with Deuteronomy. Then he nuzzled against his leader until Patchabie and Quaxo showed up.
“ You wanted to see me?” Patchabie asked as she sat on the ground in front of the tire. Quaxo sat next to her.
“ I did. I wanted to ask you something. What was your mother or father’s name?”
“ My mother’s name was Tinseltoot, and my father’s name was, um, grrr,” Patchabie said trying to remember her father’s name “ I don’t remember, I didn’t know my father that well. He was never around.”
“ You said your mother’s name was Tinseltoot, correct?” Deuteronomy asked and Patch nodded her head. “ I thought you looked familiar. Tinseltoot was my sister.” Patchabie’s, Quaxo’s and Munkustrap’s jaws fell.
“ You mean that my little Patchie, has been a Jellicle Cat, ever since she’s been born?” Quaxo said excitedly. Old Deuteronomy smiled and nodded his head. Quaxo leaped for joy, that she was a born Jellicle, just like him. Patchabie, and Quaxo hugged each other the best they could considering they were cats. The celebration went on as scheduled that night, and everyone was happy, (yes even Tugger, though he’d been told off by her) that they had a new Jelllicle in their home.
The End
