Later that night, the rain still poured down in heavy sheets. Mungojerrie’s tears fell silently like the rain upon his pillow, soaking it, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t think beyond, “Teaza’s dead, an’ Ai killed ‘er.”
As he stared out into the deserted junkyard, a strong desire to see his sister welled within his heart. He slowly got to his feet and wandered off towards Coricopat and Tantomile’s tunnel. He wondered… he wondered what he would find. His beautiful sister. He remembered the few horrible moments, seeing her beautiful coat streaked with red, her face contorted in the scream of his name, her final word. Her neck twisted at the hideous death angle. He felt the tears mingle with the rain on his pale cheeks. The rain soaked his fur, but he did not notice.
He reached the tunnel, then hesitated. Dared he go in? Dare he see his sister again? Dare he see her dead? He almost turned back, but the thought of never seeing her again drove him on.
He found her in the tunnel, her body wrapped in white death shrouds. With a growl of anger he tore them away from her. He fell to his knees next to her and studied her still frame. Her fur had obviously been cleaned lovingly, but the red stains still remained on her shining fur. Her eyes lay closed, her lips closed, looking so peaceful, as if sleeping. Death had not yet taken the rosy blush from her lips or cheeks. But, yet, as he gazed at her, he realized how small and helpless she looked. That was probably why she was always near him. That, and the fact that they loved each other so much.
Jerrie gazed longingly at her a moment, then collapsed next to her, holding her limply to his chest, sobbing into her white stomach. He sobbed, not knowing how he had enough tears left to cry anymore, as he had been crying all afternoon. But he cried.
“Oh, Teaza,” he sobbed into her fur. “Whyja hafta die? Wha couln’t ya taike me wit’ ya? Ai deserved ta die, no’ ya! Ai’m the one ‘ho forced ya ou’ thare. Ya din’t wanna, bu’ Ai maide ya! Wha di’ Ai? Wha? Na yer dead cause o’ me!”
Jerrie screamed his self-accusations into her fur, his tears growing more and more intense. He stroked her fur, his face buried in her shoulder.
Someone touched his back. Jerrie leaped up with a snarl and whirled around, his eyes flashing, his teeth and claws bared, his fur on end. Munkustrap leaped back. Jerrie hissed angrily and stood in front of Teazer’s body protectively. His poofed-out tail lashed angrily. “Go awaiy!” he snarled.
Munkustrap eyed him warily. “I was just checking up on you.”
“Ai’m fine! Na go awaiy!” Jerrie commanded loudly, wishing the tears weren’t still on his cheeks.
“Jerrie,” Munkustrap said softly. “You’re not fine. I know this was a tremendous loss for you, and I know you feel a bit defensive, but you have to stop this.”
“’Ow do ya know wha’ Ai feel?” Jerrie demanded, his voice like a whip against steel. “Ya don’ know! Ya neva will! No one knows wha’ Ai feel! Stop tryin’ ta unnerstan’ me! Ya’ll neva know! Na leave me ALONE!” He punctuated the last phrase by placing his paws on Munkustrap’s shoulders and shoving him as hard as he could.
Munkustrap staggered backwards and fell on his back. He stared up at the younger tom in shock and surprise. “Jerrie… I…”
Jerrie growled down at him. “Are ya gonna leave me alone, or do Ai gotta beatcha up?”
Munkustrap got to his feet and backed away. “I’ll go, Jerrie, but Old Deuteronomy will expect to see you, and you better act civil. Understand?”
Jerrie nodded. “Go.”
Munkustrap turned to go, then turned back to him. “You’re going to have to accept this some day, Jerrie. Soon. It’s not good for you to act this way.”
“Ya said ya were goin’, so go!” Jerrie looked ready to claw him.
Munkustrap turned and walked solidly away. Once he was gone, Jerrie crumpled next to Teazer’s body and continued sobbing.
Jerrie stayed with Teazer til the early morning hours. He listened to the rain die out slowly, and his tears finally stopped. He held Teazer’s body close until he could see the tips of the sun peering over the edge of the horizon. Then, ever so slowly, he uncurled himself from her and laid her down again. He face was pale in the early morning grayness, but, to Jerrie, she looked as beautiful as ever. He leaned over and gave her a final, passionate kiss on the lips. When he finally released it, he felt a lump in his throat. He touched her cheek gently, then pulled the death shroud over her body. Then, with feet heavier than lead and a heart even heavier than that, Jerrie left Teazer’s side, and, with that, a little part of him died too.
The junkyard seemed strangely silent. Jerrie sighed. The whole world seemed gloomy. He headed for his box.
He didn’t make it more than half way, however, before he was stopped by Jemima. She stared up at him. “Jerrie, are you okay?”
“’Ow many times do Ai need ta tell ya ta staiy awaiy fro’ me?” Jerrie demanded.
Jemima didn’t answer. Jerrie started to push past her when she grasped his paw. “Jerrie, please.”
“Please wha’?” Jerrie snarled. He yanked his arm away. “Wha don’ ya go plaiy wit’ yer friens?”
Jemima’s face fell. Tears filled her eyes. She turned and raced away. Jerrie headed for his box.
Jerrie slept nearly all day. He awoke when Alonzo approached him around sunset. “Wha’?” he growled.
“Old Deuteronomy wishes to see you,” Alonzo said gently.
Jerrie sat up and stretched, missing Teazer’s warmth and the way she used to rub his shoulders in the morning. He got to his feet and let Alonzo lead the way.
Old Deuteronomy sat upon the magical tire. Munkustrap stood nearby. Jerrie approached them, his eyes on the ground.
“Hello, Mungojerrie,” Old Deuteronomy said softly. “Munkustrap told me what happened.”
“Yeah,” Jerrie said lamely, not looking up.
“I’m very, very sorry, Jerrie. I’m sure this is a horrible loss for you.”
Jerrie said nothing.
“We will do our very best to help you through this,” Old Deuteronomy continued.
“Jes leave me alone, an’ Ai’ll be fine,” Jerrie mumbled.
Old Deuteronomy nodded knowingly. “I understand, Jerrie.” His voice gentled. “Rumpleteazer’s funeral will be later tonight, if you wish to attend.”
Jerrie nodded slowly. He didn’t want to go. He felt awful enough already. Old Deuteronomy stood up and slowly held out his paw to him. Jerrie slowly took the older tom’s strong, weatherworn hand. Old Deuteronomy squeezed his paw gently. “Just rest up for a while, Jerrie. We’ll help you through this.”
Jerrie nodded again. “Yes sah. Th… thank ya, sah.” His brown eyes filled with tears. He blinked them back sharply and sighed.
Old Deuteronomy touched Jerrie’s shoulder kindheartedly. “It’s okay, son. It’ll be okay.”
Jerrie nodded once again. He needed to get out of there. He needed to be alone. He slowly removed his paw from Old Deuteronomy’s and backed away. Old Deuteronomy’s dark eyes watched him go. Jerrie turned and dashed away, leaving Old Deuteronomy, Munkustrap, and Alonzo in the dust.
That night, Jerrie headed for the magic tire long before the funeral was to happen. He had to see his sister one last time.
She lay upon the tire in the white cloth again. He slowly approached her and stood nearby, just gazing at her. He still couldn’t believe his sweet, loving sister was gone. It just didn’t seem possible. He had assumed, even from the very beginning, that they would be together forever, never apart. Together til they grew old, and they would die together, no pain, no sadness, just together. But it had not happened. In five horrible seconds, his dream, his inspiration, his very life had been taken away from him. Taken away by two headlights and a clap of thunder.
Jerrie slowly pulled the cloth off of her face and gazed down at her. She looked so different now. Small, pale, helpless, burdened down, so unlike her. She had always been strong, getting him out of many scrapes he had blundered into, like the time he had come across a Pollicle by mistake. He had nearly had the stuffings beat out of him til Teazer came to his rescue. She had chased the dog away and cleaned his wounds. She was always so smart too, able to help him and answer all his questions when he had a problem.
And beautiful. He could never forget that. He had always protected her from the toms that had tried to have their way with her. He never let her out of his site.
Even her ever annoying, constant giggling haunted him. She was always giggling over something, and he was constantly shushing her. But he actually enjoyed her laughter. It was so light and carefree, just like her.
Jerrie touched her cold cheek gently with a paw, memory after memory crashing upon him. The time they broke the Ming vase. The time they flooded the basement by leaving the window open all night. The time they had scattered marbles all over the stairs. The time they had smashed six sets of china in one day, a new record for them. The time they broke into the jewelry store. The time they had crashed a Jellicle party. Literally. (The tent collapsed.) The time he had saved her from Macavity. The time she saved him from the Jellicles when he tried to rescue her. The time they had stolen Teazer’s Woolworth pearls…
Jerrie pulled the blanket down more. The pearls! Teazer’s pearls lay upon her still breast, unharmed! They had not been broken or even injured by the accident! He could have sworn that they had been broken and scattered across the road when Teazer had been hit, but yet, here they were, not harmed. He felt himself smile just a bit. It had to have been The Mystical Divinity.
Mungojerrie touched the pearls gently with a finger. Rumpleteazer had loved her pearls, which she usually wore in place of a collar. He remembered the time he had stolen them from her, only in play, and how mad she had gotten at him. She had refused to speak for hours, even though he had returned them unscathed, with the humblest apologies.
He stroked the pearls fondly a moment, debating whether or not to keep them. They were such a part of her, yet they held so much memory. He decided to leave her complete. Her pearls made her happy, and it would only bring him grief.
Jerrie heard the other cats approaching and knew he had to go. He leaned over and gave Teazer one last, passionate kiss on her cold lips. A tear rolled down his cheek, off his nose, onto her soft fur. He pulled the blanket over her again, a lump in his throat. “G’bye, Rumpleteaza,” he said softly. He slid a paw over the blanket, smoothing it down tenderly, before slipping back into the deep evening shadows.
The cats entered the area silently, several crying or leaning on their friend’s or mate’s shoulders. Jerrie slid through the shadows to the back of the congregation and leaned against a cardboard box wall, well hidden within the twilight shadows.
Several cats came forward to kiss Rumpleteazer’s forehead before sitting down. Jerrie suppressed a growl. How dare they touch her? He almost came out of hiding, but reminded himself to stay put.
Old Deuteronomy appeared slowly, assisted by Munkustrap. He stood behind Rumpleteazer’s body and raised his paws for quiet.
“My fellow Jellicles, we are gathered here tonight to mourn the loss of our dear friend, Rumpleteazer.” Old Deuteronomy’s dark eyes traveled the crowd, obviously trying to find Mungojerrie. When he did not see him, his face fell a bit. “Rumpleteazer was a wonderful friend and a very sweet queen. She always had a nice word and a smile for everyone. She could not be mean to anyone. She had a good heart.”
“Unlike me,” Jerrie thought to himself. “Ai don’ ‘ave a goo’ ‘eart like Teaza di’.”
“It’s a tragedy upon the junkyard at Rumpleteazer’s untimely death. To live for only a short time though she had so much to give.” Old Deuteronomy’s words brought tears. “Perhaps the Mystical Divinity had other plans. Rumpleteazer’s death may be of some good for all of us. It shows us that death can occur anytime. Even for one so young. We must remember that our time together is short.”
Jerrie scrubbed at the tears on his furry, orange face with a soggy paw.
“And so it is with a heavy heart we commit Rumpleteazer to the Heavyside. May the Mystical Divinity guide her always.”
The tire began to rise, carrying Rumpleteazer and Old Deuteronomy away. Suddenly, in the midst of the crowd, Jemima, one of the youngest Jellicles, got to her feet, her eyes focused on the sky. Tears sparkled on her cheeks as she began to sing.
“Moonlight, turn you face to the moonlight. Let your memory lead you. Open up, enter in. If you find there the meaning of what happiness is, then a new life will begin.”
The haunting melody filled the night air. Jemima’s eyes glowed softly with the distant memory of something deep within herself and everyone.
The words. The words that had meant so much to Teazer at the last Jellicle Ball. She had understood them and loved them as she laid on top of Jerrie under the stars, in almost the exact spot he was standing. Jerrie felt a purr rise in his throat at the memory.
Jemima repeated her song again as the magic tire slowly descended again, Teazer’s body gone, Old Deuteronomy returning. He raised his paws solemnly to dismiss the crowd.
Jerrie could stand it no longer. He turned and dashed away, Jemima’s haunting song still ringing in his ears. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He had to get away. He couldn’t stay here.
Though he thought no one saw him leave, someone did. Someone with a glowing pair of teary, sapphire eyes…
