Munkustrap was out on his rounds when he found Jemima curled up on a box in a corner of the junkyard, weeping her eyes out. It didn’t take him long to see the bruises on her body and the lingering scent of Mungojerrie on her. “Jemima? What happened?”
Jemima didn’t respond. She just sobbed. Munkustrap’s eyes traveled over her sweaty fur, her bruised skin, and her curled-up position. It didn’t take him long to understand exactly what had happened. “Jemima, was it Mungojerrie?” he asked, needing to confirm his suspicions. Jemima nodded slowly. Her tear-stained face lifted to gaze into Munkustrap’s gray, tabby face.
Munkustrap’s eyes showed pure anger. “That’s the last straw!” he snarled. “He knows better! I’ve put up with his crying and his yelling and his tantrums, but he can’t hurt another Jellicle, especially in this way.” He hugged Jemima gently. “Jem, Old Deuteronomy and I will banish him forever. We won’t let him hurt you again.”
Jemima shook her head. “No,” she gulped, struggling to turn off the tears, though it was in vain. “No, don’t banish him, please Munkustrap.”
“Why not?” Munkustrap asked, but his voice was gentle.
“I… I knew what I was doing. It was my fault.” Jemima was crying bitterly by now. Her tears rained off her face, over her whiskers, and onto the ground like falling dew.
Munkustrap pulled the young queen to him and stroked her shoulders comfortingly. “Jem, we can’t let him get away with this.”
Jemima began to sob, burying her pale face in Munkustrap’s chest. “Munkustrap, please don’t.”
Munkustrap rubbed her back gently with a soft paw. “Jemima, listen to me. We can’t just let Mungojerrie go scot-free. He’s got to learn he can’t treat others this way.”
“Let me talk to him, Munkustrap,” Jemima pleaded, scrubbing at her eyes with the back of her soggy paw. “Please? Let me talk to him first.”
Munkustrap shook his head. “No, Jemima. You stay here. I won’t have you get hurt again.”
“I want to go!” Jemima insisted. “And you’ll have to tie me up if you won’t let me go!” Her eyes glittered.
Munkustrap sighed. “Very well, Jemima. Come on. If the scent gets cold, we’ll never find him. We better find him before he does something drastic.” He helped the trembling queen to her feet and took her paw. Together, they raced out of the junkyard.
Jerrie collapsed in an alley in a gloomy part of town. He could hardly see through his tears. He was weak and trembling, and he couldn’t think straight. How could he have done that? Especially to Jemima? Jemima was his friend! He had never hurt her before! Never! Now he had gone and that to her. And it wasn’t just something he could take back. She had still been pure and innocent, but he had violated her and destroyed that innocence he had always admired in her.
He couldn’t do this any longer. What was worse than killing your sister and raping your friend? What would he do next? Hurt another innocent cat? He couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t! He had to end it now, before someone else got hurt. He could be with Teazer again and not hurt anyone else. He looked around wildly, searching the piles of trash nearby. But, through his teary eyes, he couldn’t see straight. He slowly unsheathed his own claws and pressed them to his own wrist. But he couldn’t do it. He tried to put them to his throat, but he was trembling too hard. He was too scared to kill himself with his own claws.
Jerrie dried his eyes to look around sensibly. He batted the trash around until he found what he wanted: a long, jagged shard of clear glass from a broken window. The serrated, cruel edge glinted in the dim, evening light, tantalizingly perfect.
Jerrie raised the razor-edged glass and touched it to his wrist. Time to end it all. He swallowed hard as his eyes filled with tears. A lump formed in his throat, and his body quivered in fear. What was it like to die? Did it hurt? Was it scary? Would he feel himself dying, or would it be quick and painless? He didn’t know, and that frightened him. He gulped and squeezed his eyes shut. The edge of the knife hesitated, then slowly drew itself across his wrist, spilling hot, sticky blood down his arm.
“Jerrie, stop!” came a cry from the ally entrance. Jerrie’s eyes flew open to see Munkustrap silhouetted in the dusky light. A smaller figure was at his side. Jemima! The razor-edged glass skidded sharply, sliding off his wrists, but still resting on his arms. “Jerrie, don’t,” Munkustrap repeated.
Jerrie recoiled with a hiss, already feeling dizzy from the blood spilling from his wrist. “Staiy awaiy fro’ me, Munkustrap!”
“Jerrie, I’m not going to hurt you. Please, put it down.”
“No! Ai won’!” Jerrie said, tears running down his cheeks. But the paw that gripped the glass trembled violently, half from tears, half from dizziness.
“Jerrie, please!” came a different voice, a smaller, sweeter voice. It was Jemima. She slowly stepped forward and held out a petit paw.
Jerrie hissed again, but it was not mean. It was a sad, scared hiss. The stained glass in his paw moved to pointing at the two cats. “Leave me alone!” he cried, his voice turning into a desperate wail. “Wha can’ ya jes leave me alone?”
“Jerrie, listen,” Munkustrap pleaded, stepping closer. Jerrie growled and waved the glass dangerously. Munkustrap retreated back a few steps.
“Jerrie, please. Please, stop!” Jemima said softly, tears streaming down her face.
Jerrie turned to stare at her. “Ya wan’ me dead, Jemima, fer wha’ I di’ ta ya.”
“No I don’t!” Jemima insisted. She took a brave step closer, her paw outstretched towards him. “Jerrie, please listen to me. I forgive you. I do.”
“’Ow ca’ ya fergive a lyin’, wicket tom like me?” Jerrie asked, his eyes misting over with more tears.
“Because I can see beyond that,” Jemima said, moving even closer. “I can see how broken you are. You’re hurt.”
Jerrie’s paw shook so bad he could barely keep his grip on the glass. But he couldn’t let it go. He knew once he let go of it, he wouldn’t be able to pick it back up again. “Jemima, ya don’ know anathin’ abou’ me,” he said softly, dropping his eyes to the dagger of death he held.
“Yes I do!” Jemima insisted. She was less than ten feet away from him now. “I know you are good and kind and caring, but you’re so hurt over Teazer’s death that you can’t find those qualities.”
Jerrie began to sob, Jemima’s words penetrating his soul like a thousand knives. It was as if she had looked inside of him, seen the deepest, darkest corners of his heart.
Jemima was by his side now. She held out her paw, her eyes wide and scared at the site of the blood already staining his fur. “Jerrie, give me that,” she said, indicating the glass shard that was streaked with Jerrie’s blood.
“No, Jemima, Ai can’,” Jerrie said softly. “Ai gotta do this. Ai gotta join Teazer and stop causin’ trouble fer all o’ ya.” He took a firmer grip on the glass and pulled it closer to his wrist again, determined to finish the slash he had begun.
But Jemima’s black paw closed around Jerrie’s wrist, between his flesh and the razor of death. Jerrie looked up at her in surprise. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her sapphire eyes clouded and damp.
Slowly, her other paw rose to Jerrie’s face and brushed away the tears on his cheeks. She brushed them away gently, then rested her soft paw on Jerrie’s pale cheek.
Jerrie lavished in her gentle touch. He closed his eyes a moment. Ai can’ do it, he thought. Ai jes… Ai jes can’ do it. His fingers that had a vice-like clamp on the glass slowly uncurled. It fell from his paw almost in slow motion and hit the ground, breaking into several smaller pieces. He looked down at his paw that had uncurled. Two slices on either side of his palm bled sharply from where his grip had rested. He began to cry again, half from pain, half from fear. He sank into Jemima’s arms, sobbing his heart out. He could still feel the blood pouring from his slashed wrist, his energy draining out with every drop that bled. His legs buckled, and he fell to the ground, curled into a multi-colored ball, weeping and flinching in pain.
Munkustrap started towards him, but Jemima waved him back. She moved to a nearby bag of trash. She found a piece of cloth, which she pulled out and carried over to Jerrie’s side. She knelt down next to him and took his wrist in her paw. She wiped the blood away with her own paw, then wrapped the bandage tightly around the wound. She then slowly lay down next to him and buried her nose in his neck.
Jerrie stopped crying in surprise as Jemima bandaged his wound, then lay down and placed her face against his neck. He stared at her a moment, then slowly slid his arm around her and pulled her closer. Munkustrap gave him a small warning growl. “Jerrie…”
“Ai ain’ gonna ‘urt ‘er!” Jerrie defended. He pulled Jemima to him and hugged her. Jemima hugged him back tightly, her face still buried in his fur. Jerrie savored her grip a moment before slowly tilting her face towards his. She was crying softly, but she still looked so beautiful to him. She gazed up at him, her tear-streaked face solemn.
“Jemima, Ai…” Jerrie swallowed. “Ai’m sorree. Fer evrathin’ Ai di’. Ai… Ai know Ai can’ chainge it, bu’… bu’ Ai ‘ope ya fergive me.”
“Of course I do,” Jemima said softly.
“Ai know Ai wa’ wrong, an’… if ya wan’ me ta leave an’ no’ botha ya agin… Ai’ll go.”
“No, Jerrie, please don’t go,” Jemima pleaded. “I want you to stay.”
Jerrie nodded gravely. “Ai… Ai won’ go. Bu’… bu’, Jem, Ai feel so awful! Ai’s neva done tha’ befer. Ta anaone. An’ Ai know ya were… ya were still innocent. Ai ‘ad no roight ta taike tha’ purity awaiy fro’ ya.” Jerrie looked ready to cry again.
So did Jemima. “Jerrie… I… I have to confess something,” Jemima said softly. “I… I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time, but I didn’t think you loved me.”
Jerrie stared at Jemima for a full ten seconds. “Ya love me?” he repeated, as if the words were unfamiliar.
Jemima nodded slowly, her eyes locked with his.
A funny feeling came over Jerrie that moment. Did he love Jemima back? Sure, he had always liked her as a friend, but Teazer had always been there, and he had never really been able to love anyone else. But, maybe, just maybe, he loved her back. Perhaps all had needed was to not have Teazer around for a while so he could be free to love someone else.
And he loved Jemima. Her eyes glowed hopefully as she gazed into his face. Slowly she pushed herself up so her face was even with his. She slowly leaned in and gave him a shy, innocent kiss on the lips.
Jerrie purred softly. His heart had never felt so full before. Jemima had entered his heart and looked into every corner except one. The one where he held all his deepest, darkest secrets, hopes, dreams, and desires. Things he had never told anyone, not even Teazer. Jemima had come and filled every empty, raw space.
“Ai… Ai love ya too, Jem,” Jerrie whispered softly, licking her nose gently.
Jemima smiled. “Really?”
Jerrie nodded solemnly. He stroked her cheek gently. Jemima smiled and purred, kissing her palm on his cheek gently.
Munkustrap cleared his throat. “Jemima, Jerrie, I hate to interrupt, but it looks like a storm, and we should get back before it hits.”
Jerrie helped Jemima to her feet, then winced and examined his paw. Blood dripped from the wound and stained Jemima’s already-stained fur. Jerrie bit his lip and moaned. Jemima took his paw in hers and gently wiped the blood away, not minding the scarlet stain it streaked on her black fur. “I’ll fix that when we get back,” she promised.
Jerrie smiled. “Thank ya, Jemima.”
Munkustrap helped Jerrie to his feet. The littler tom was too weak from his recent blood loss to walk by himself, so Munkustrap led him back to the junkyard, Jemima by his side the whole time. The three cats headed for the junkyard. Just as they reached the fence that bordered the junkyard, a clap of thunder and a torrent of rain cascaded over them. The three ran for cover under a nearby car. Jemima shivered and cuddled closer to Jerrie, who curled her close to him.
“Shall I leave you two alone?” Munkustrap asked gently, speaking to Jemima. Jemima nodded. “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” He gave Jerrie the look.
“Yes, Munkustrap, we’ll be fine,” Jemima said softly.
“Very well. I’ll be in my box, if you need me.” Munkustrap gave them one last glance, then scampered out into the rain to disappear into the darkness.
Jerrie and Jemima were silent a moment, then turned to each other. “I… I suppose I should go home now,” Jemima said softly.
Jerrie’s heart tugged. She couldn’t go now! Not that he had just found her! “Do ya ‘ave ta?” he asked.
“Well, I probably should go. Out of the rain.” Jemima’s eyes were sad.
Jerrie made a split-second decision. He and Teazer had never shared their box before, but Teazer was gone now. He had no one to share his box with. “Ya ca’ staiy wit’ me,” he offered.
Jemima smiled a bit. “Well… I don’t know… I don’t want to be a bother…”
“O’ course no’!” Jerrie said.
Jemima nodded slowly. “Well, okay.”
The two scrambled out from under the car and headed for Jerrie’s box. Jerrie kept Jemima close by his side to try to protect her from the rain. No one seemed to be around. They were probably at home or curled up in their boxes, out of the rain.
Jerrie flopped in his box, but Jemima hung back. “Wha’s wrong?” Jerrie asked.
Jemima’s ears lay plastered against her head against the rain. “Well, Jerrie, I…”
“Teaza’s no’ ‘ere,” Jerrie said bluntly, patting the blanket next to him.
“Well, I know, but…”
“Are ya scaired o’ me, Jem?” Jerrie asked softly. “Cause o’ wha’ Ai di’?”
Jemima nodded shamefully, her eyes on the ground. She traced circles on the ground with her toe. “I mean… I’m not… not scared of you, but… but when you did it, you hurt me, and scared me, and, well, I don’t really mind if you… do it to me again, but I’m just scared that, if you do, you’re going to hurt me again.” Jemima’s voice sank to a barely audible whisper above the pounding rain.
Jerrie sat up and locked his eyes with her. “Jemima, Ai promise ya, the nex’ time Ai do anathin’ ta ya, it’ll be fer love. Las’ time wa’ because Ai wa’ mad a’ ya, bu’ Ai promise ya Ai will neva do tha’ agin. Ai love ya.”
Jemima smiled. She was convinced. She slowly moved to Jerrie’s side and lay down. She began to shiver. She was soaked to the bone. Jerrie slid a soft blanket around Jemima’s shivering shoulders. He pulled her close to his warm chest and licked the rain from her face. Jemima smiled and relaxed in his grip, giggling as his tongue brushed over her eyes and whiskers. She began to purr and closed her eyes. Jerrie purred in her ear as he washed her face.
Jemima rolled over onto her back stared up at Jerrie, her eyes glowing happily. Jerrie smiled and nuzzled Jemima’s muzzle with his soft nose. Jemima slowly pulled Jerrie down on top of her, her eyes hopeful.
Jerrie pushed off of her quickly. “No, Jem, Ai can’. Ai already ‘urt ya befer. Ai don’ wanna ‘urt ya agin. Ai can’ violate ya twice.”
Jemima scrubbed at her eyes with a tiny fist. “But I want you to!” she mewed. “I want to know you love me!”
Jerrie shook his head. “Ai love ya, Jem, which is wha Ai won’ ‘urt ya agin.” He kissed her lips gently. “Bu’ Ai do love ya. Wit’ all me ‘eart. No’ fer wha’ Ai ca’ git from ya, bu’ cause yer sweet an’ kin’ an’ cairin’.”
Jemima smiled and hugged him. “Thank you, Jerrie. Now I know you love me.”
Jerrie purred and pulled Jemima closer against his chest. “Oh, Jem, Ai love ya. Ai jes coul’ neva believe it, cause Teaza wa’ alwaiys wit’ me, and Ai though’ she needed all me love. Bu’ Ai wa’ wrong.”
Jemima licked his muzzle softly. “I wanted to tell you, Jerrie, but I was too young, and I couldn’t figure out how to say it. And I didn’t want to break the relationship between you and Teazer.”
Jerrie kissed her nose. “Yer sweet, Jem.”
Jemima giggled, then closed her eyes and cuddled close to Jerrie. She began to purr. Jerrie wrapped her in a hug and matched his purr with his. But he did not close his eyes.
He stared out into the rain. The last time it had rained like this had been three days ago when Teazer had died. The familiar pitter-patter of rain touched his ears, reminding him of that awful night. He sighed and twitched his nose thoughtfully. Three days ago he had listened to the same rain, stared out into the same empty junkyard, cried from the same two brown eyes, ached with the same dying heart.
But now… his eyes shifted to Jemima who lay by his side, sleeping so peacefully. In the soft moonlight through the misty rain, she looked radiant. Not delicate and defeated and helpless, like she had when he had hurt her, but beautiful, happy, and caring, like she had been not so long ago.
A roll of thunder, so much like the one that had startled Teazer during the storm 3 days ago, split the sky and shattered the silence of the rain. Jemima stirred and rolled over, away from Jerrie, then settled back into sleep. Jerrie smiled to himself and placed the blanket back over her again. He smoothed it down and stroked her soft shoulder. Jemima smiled in her sleep and purred a bit.
Jerrie settled down with a small sigh of both sadness and happiness. Teazer was gone for good. He had to accept that. The Jellicles were there to help him, and they always would be. Especially Jemima. She would always be there for him.
Jerrie hugged Jemima close and closed his eyes to sleep. Just before he drifted off, somewhere, in the place just between dream and awake, he saw his sister, Rumpleteazer. She was smiling.
Epilogue
After the rain ended, Mungojerrie and Jemima were summoned to Old Deuteronomy.
“Mungojerrie,” Old Deuteronomy said gravely. “Munkustrap has told me what you have done to poor, innocent Jemima.” Jerrie flushed and nodded slowly, dropping his eyes to the ground. He squeezed Jemima’s paw.
“Yes, sah. Ai di’, sah. An’ Ai’m sorree.” He gazed remorsefully at the older cat.
“Nonetheless, your attitude and actions are inexcusable. Munkustrap has also told me that Jemima does not wish you banished.”
Jemima nodded and hugged Jerrie tightly. Old Deuteronomy’s dark eyes gazed solemnly at the two. “Mungojerrie, because of your treatment and the fact that Jemima lost her virginity to you, if Jemima agrees, you must become her mate, so as not to dishonor her completely.”
That was his punishment? To mate Jemima if she agreed?
Old D turned to Jemima. “Jemima, can you accept Mungojerrie as your mate? Or would you feel threatened?”
“I… I will mate him,” Jemima said softly, after a moment’s hesitation.
“You are sure that, if Jerrie becomes your mate, you’ll be safe with him?”
“Yes,” Jemima said solemnly.
“Mungojerrie, can you accept Jemima as your mate, loving her in a way that is pleasing and good? If you cannot, we have no choice but the banish you from the Jellicles.”
“Ai… Ai ca’,” Jerrie said, hugging Jemima gently.
“Jemima, that’s acceptable to you?”
“Yes sir.”
“Then, at the next Jellicle Ball, you two shall be joined by the Mystical Divinity and be mated soon after.” Old Deuteronomy smiled a bit, then turned serious again. “But, Mungojerrie, if you hurt Jemima in any way, I will have no choice but to send you away for good. Is that understood?”
“Yes sah.” Jerrie turned to Jemima with a beaming smile and kissed her lips happily. Jemima returned the kiss.
Just a few days later, the Jellicles celebrated the Jellicle Ball. Jemima, along with several other young cats like Electra and Etcetera, was to lose her innocence. But, because she had been violated already, she was not allowed to dance at the Invitation with the others. Though she was disappointed, she loved Jerrie very much. During the duet dance, during the middle of the Ball, the Mystical Divinity touched both Jemima and Mungojerrie, and Jemima became an adult with Mungojerrie.
A few days later, Jemima and Mungojerrie were mated. They loved each other very much, and though Jerrie missed Teazer very much, he never let her take over Jemima’s place in his heart. And Jemima kept him in her heart too, all her life.
