Chrychaesa relaxed by the large tree near the Jellicle site. She could hardly wait to be able to enter, for the cats had been wanting to keep her out, while Bombalurina planned another of her surprises. Patience, she told herself. You'll soon see what they have been planning.
Skimbleshanks walked out of the site and laughed when he saw Chryssie's eager expression.
"No, not yet lass. He, he, he, we still have a while. I just came out to get a drink. There's hard work going on in there."
"Well then shouldn't I be helping?"
"No, no, no lass, no. The surprise is for you and the kittens. I think you'll appreciate it more then the kittens would, for they wouldn't understand the beauty of it. But they'll see it when they're older."
"Yes they will, but tell me, what are you doing?"
"If I told ye, it wouldn't be a surprise now would it lass?"
"Yes but the curiosity is killing me!"
"Relax lass. Here, I'll get Munkustrap to keep you company, I think that he needs the break as well poor thing." He then took a sip of the water and then headed back into the Jellicle site.
Victoria and Jellylorum were taking care of the kittens, and they had no idea that Chryssie was to stay out as well, so she had time to herself, which was good because it let her get rest and just think for a little while, and wonder and imagine.
Chryssie gazed up into the stars for a little while and wondered things like why they were so dim, or can something or someone become stars or how or why they were there in the first place. Then she moved onto the bigger questions that haunts everyone's minds. Then she saw the handsome tabby walk out of the shadows. Her mind just lit up and she felt a sensation of peace and happiness when she was with him.
"Hello Munkustrap."
"Hello." He said wearily and sat down on the ground with his back to the base of the tree.
"What's the matter?" Chryssie asked with concern then hopped down next to him.
"We are just really busy in there, that's all." He said, and then rested his head against the base.
"Building whatever it is to surprise us?"
"Exactly."
"Well, what have you been building?"
"No you don't." he said and smiled. He looked at her smiling face. She was smiling and laughing at herself. How could she be so curious? I bet she even asked Skimble what was going on. Munkustrap thought, then lazily stretched out.
"So how many people have you asked about this?"
"Oh, Just you and Skimble. I got the same answer from him."
"Really?" He said pretending not to think that Skimble wouldn't tell her anything.
"Yes."
"They are giving you a hard time aren't they?"
"Yep, just because I want to know what's going on in there."
"Well I'll tell you what's going on in there." He then laughed when he saw her eager face.
"Well aren't you going to tell me?" He merely smiled at her. "Come on, Munkustrap, I have been outside the site all day."
"All right, all the cats are building something special in there."
"What is it?"
"I can't tell you that."
"Oh Munkustrap, you're impossible."
"That I am." He said and then stretched his back. Alonzo and Asparagus came out.
"Munkustrap we need your.." Asparagus then saw Chryssie.
"H-h-help. I-I-It's f-f-fallen o-o-over."
"Oh no, not again." Munkustrap said. He then told them "Tell them I'll be right there."
"OK, Hi there Chryssie."
"Hi Alonzo."
"H-h hi C-C-Chryssie."
"Hello Asparagus." She said smiling at his bashfulness. He seemed to turn a little pink under his fur and he then whirled around with Alonzo saying "See I told you that it wouldn't be so bad."
"I know but she's a kit."
"So what?" They then went inside.
"Those two. What a pair." Chryssie said and noticed Munkustrap was standing up.
She then walked up to him and put her arms around him, in a small affectionate hug. He put his arms around her and connected his paws around her shoulder blades and rocked her back and forth.
"NOW Munkustrap!" Alonzo's impatient voice called. Chryssie heard Munkustrap laugh and her released her. Then he walked towards the entrance.
Chryssie sat down on the ground and sighed impatiently. Mistoffelees then walked out and sat down next to her.
"Hello Chryssie."
"Hi there Mistoffelees." She then looked by him and saw Asparagus, Alonzo and Munkustrap in the shadows watching them.
"So what's the matter?"
"I'd only like to.." She raised her voice so the three in the shadows could hear her. "Know What Is Going On In There!" She and Mistoffelees then heard Munkustrap laugh, and Alonzo chuckle. Asparagus was just shaking his head. She then smiled sweetly and continued.
"So will you tell me, Mistoffelees."
"Oh you remember what happened to the curious cat."
"Oh please I have heard too many times."
"Then stop asking. Really, if you found something to do then the time will pass quickly."
"Yes but what is there to do?"
"Oh, you'll think of something. But I have to go back to work." He then stood off, and walked to the other three. Then the four of them walked off.
Chryssie then stood by the lake and then sniffed the air. She counted to three and ducked as two forms went springing just where her back had been and splashed into the lake. Then the wet faces of Tumblebrutus and Pouncival came on shore.
"That wasn't supposed to happen Chryssie!" Pouncival indignantly said as he tried to dry himself.
"Oh, poor things." Chryssie said and then showed them how to shake themselves to wring out all the extra water. It might have been a pollicle way but at least it was faster, easier and they could always fix the fur.
"It was Pouncival's idea." Tumblebrutus said quickly.
"Oh was it?" Chryssie asked.
"Well he helped come up with it!" Pouncival told her.
"Did not!" Tumblebrutus cried.
"Did too!" Pouncival shot back.
"Guys, guys please, I'm not angry, in fact, I think it was very funny. Pouncival had a nicer form going into the water, but Tumblebrutus made the more graceful landing." Seeing they were not in the humored mood she said as a comfort.
"Don't worry, before long, my two tigers will be able to push Macavity himself into the lake."
"Really?"
"Wow!"
"I wonder what his face will be."
"Well my two fine gentlecats. Take my advice and run before you can find out OK?"
"All right Chryssie." They said. Munkustrap leaned over and saw Tumblebrutus and Pouncival, sopping wet and Chryssie perfectly dry.
"What happened over here? Chryssie?" He said and got a reprimanding look on his face.
"What Munkustrap? I didn't do anything except duck and crack a few dumb jokes."
"Right. We tried to jump her and she well ducked us." Tumblebrutus said.
"Oh I see. I had heard a tumult and I thought that one of you was fighting with another."
"Nope. They were just voicing their displeasure at the bath that they were not prepared for."
Munkustrap gave her a look like "That's enough now."
The kittens glared at her for a minute or two before crawling up to Munkustrap. Chryssie followed them. At the top she gave Munkustrap an assuring smile and whispered "Don't worry. I'll be good if they will." She then lay down at the foot of the tree again and just lay there.
Munkustrap then followed the kittens to where the rest of them were. She could hear Jennyanydots yell "What happened to them?!"
Soon Munkustrap appeared again. "I'm sorry I had to out you through that."
"Next time, don't duck."
"Aww." Munkustrap then patted her back and then went back to work.
Chryssie then put her head on her paws and just thought about what had happened. She felt a little body snuggle up to her knees. She lifted her head and saw Pouncival just sitting there in thought.
"What's up Pounce-Man?"
"Oh, I'm just sorry I got you in trouble with Munkustrap. Are you two going to break up?" Chryssie then burst out laughing. Pouncival looked at her confused.
"Did I say something funny?"
"No, I just love the innocence. We aren't going to break up. In fact, I didn't know we were together actually. But thank you for your apology, it was very sweet."
"You're welcome."
Skimble then came out again and said "Chryssie, it's ready. Aah, Pouncival. Just the lad I wanted to see. Run and tell the others that it's ready and they could come in. Chryssie, Munkustrap wants you to wait for him. He'll meet you by the entrance."
"All right Skimble." Chryssie got up, and waited by the entrance that Skimble pointed out.
"Oh, hi there Chryssie!"
"Oh, Jemima! Wow! What a costume, what are you?"
"I'm a sampan."
"A what?"
"A sampan. It's a Siamese cat."
"Oh. I see."
"I really think you're going to enjoy this Chryssie."
"I hope so."
"Oh, got to get ready, I'll see you later."
"OK." Jemima then scurried off.
"Cassandra? What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for Munkustrap."
"Why?"
"I think that he might want to spend time with a REAL cat."
"Real cat, what do you mean real cat?"
"Just what I said, dear."
"Well then, I suppose that you are here just to make sure that Munkustrap gets here to escort me in."
"That wasn't funny."
"What? Was I making a joke? Oh, well I missed it."
Cassandra then started to hiss at Chryssie, and she slipped into the shadows. Chryssie watched after her.
She then felt a gentle paw on her shoulder and looked into Munkustrap's eyes. She relaxed.
"What's wrong?"
"Cassandra was just here, wanting you to spend time with a real cat."
"Well then, lets not disappoint her." He said and took Chryssie's paw and led her inside. It was pitch dark, and the only thing to guide her was Munkustrap's paw and the direction in which he was leading her. He then pulled her down where they sat together.
"Where's Demeter?"
"Unfortunately her family wanted to take her somewhere and she said that if you asked for her, she sends her regrets."
"Oh, I wish she were here. She'd probably be as dead in anticipation as I am."
Munkustrap laughed and said as he stroked her back.
"Don't worry, it will start soon." Chryssie leaned against Munkustrap and settled down for the wait. Then the stage lit up in a flash of light and music started. A barge rose up out of the floor and on it were various cats. They started singing
"Growltiger was a bravo cat who traveled on a barge. In fact he was the roughest cat who ever roamed at large."
Chryssie noticed that there were no females in sight. Admetus sang a solo
"From Gravesend up to Oxford he pursued his evil aims, rejoicing in the title of.."
He then jumped away as a horrible looking cat sang in a rich masculine baritone
"The Terror of the Thames!" and he gave an evil laugh which sent Chryssie into a shiver.
She couldn't disguise it. Munkustrap felt her shiver and he put an arm around her shoulders to calm her. She was still intent on what was going on.
Alonzo sang "His manner and appearance did not calculate to please, his coat was torn and seedy, it was baggy at the knees!"
Mistoffelees sang "One ear was somewhat missing, no need to tell you why, and he scowled on a hostile world from one forbidding eye."
Growltiger let loose another laugh that made Chryssie lean a little closer. The three cats sang "The cottagers of Rotherhithe knew something of his fame. At Hammersmith and Putney people shuddered at his name. They would fortify the hen-house, lock up the silly goose when the rumor ran along the shore: Growltiger's on the loose!"
Growltiger then laughed again. Chryssie leaned closer to Munkustrap. She then realized that she must be putting tremendous pressure on him and she eased off.
Alonzo sang, "Woe to the weak canary that fluttered from it's cage!"
Admetus sang, "Woe to the pampered Pekinese that faced Growltiger's rage!"
Mistoffelees sang,"Woe to the bristly Bandicoot who lurked on foreign ships and woe to any cat with whom Growltiger came to grips!"
Then they all sang again,"But most to cats of foreign race, his hatred had been vowed! To cats of foreign name and race no quarter was allowed!"
Then female heads popped up out of nowhere and sang in harmony.
"The Persian and the Siamese regarded him with fear." The females stopped singing and the cats finished "Because it was a Siamese had mauled his missing ear."
Then the music turned symphony like and the mood was more romantic then fearful. Chryssie concentrated on what the cats were singing.
"Now on a peaceful summer night all nature seemed at play." The girls sang with the guys "The tender moon was shining bright, the barge on Molsey lay. All in the balmy moonlight it lay rocking on the tide, and Growltiger was disposed to show his sentimental side."
Chryssie then heard a single female voice and saw Jennyanydots with a feathered garment on sing a single incomprehensible word. Growltiger then repeated it. The guys then sang, "In the forepeak of the vessel, Growltiger stood alone."
Growltiger sang "Concentrating my attention on the lady Griddlebone. And my raffish crew were sleeping in their barrels and their bunks."
Then all the females dressed as Siamese sampans sang "As the Siamese came creeping in their sampans and their junks."
Jennyanydots then performed her solo. "Growltiger had no eye or ear for aught but Griddlebone."
Chryssie leaned her head against Munkustrap's shoulder. Growltiger sang, "And the lady seemed enraptured by my manly baritone." Chryssie felt Munkustrap's cheek leaning against her head. The two characters sang together
"Disposed to relaxation and awaiting no surprise," and the Sampan girls sang
"But the moonlight shone reflected from a thousand bright blue eyes. And closer still and closer, the Sampans circled 'round and yet from all the enemy there was not heard a sound. The foe was armed with toasting forks and cruel carving knives, and the lover's sang their last duet in danger of their lives."
Growltiger then started singing in French. Chryssie noticed Victoria and Plato dancing together.
Chryssie then gasped as Growltiger hit the A then followed by the A#.
She noticed Victoria and Plato dance with no contact while Growltiger was singing. They then came together during the instrumental and when Griddlebone and Growltiger sang together.
Chryssie had tears in her eyes when the two hit the A together and held it, then grow softer, and she loved the sound of Growltiger and Griddlebone inhaling through their teeth then finishing their last duet.
Then The music stopped for a second. Bombalurina then sang,
"Then Genghis gave the signal, to his fierce Mongolian horde, abandoning their Sampans, the Chinks they swarmed aboard. Abandoning their Sampans, their pullaways and junks, they battened down the hatches on the crew within their bunks."
The cats acted out creeping aboard the barge and battening down the hatches.
"Then Griddlebone, she gave a shriek, for she was badly skeered. I'm sorry to admit it, but she quickly disappeared." Jennyanydots shrieked and a Sampan covered her mouth and lead her off-stage.
"She probably escaped with ease, I'm sure she was not drowned." Growltiger sang and then the Sampans surrounded him while singing
"But a serried ring of flashing steel Growltiger did surround."
Then the lead Sampan took out a false sword as did Growltiger and they began to battle. Around and around they ran battling with the swords, and the music started to go into a "circular motion" when the swords started to spin clashing against each other.
Then when the high Trumpet squealed, the sword of Growltiger flew out of his hand and the lead Sampan caught it and then started to prowl around Growltiger with the blades. He threw his original sword to a Sampan who circled Growltiger opposing the leader. The leader kept Growltiger's sword. A gong sounded and the Sampans sang "The ruthless foe pressed forward in stubborn rank on rank, Growltiger to his vast surprise was forced to walk the plank! He who a hundred victims had driven from that drop at the end of all his crimes was forced to go ker-flip ker-flop! Oh there was joy in Wapping when the news flew through the land. At Maidenhead and Henley there was dancing on the strand. Rats were roasted whole in Brentford and Victoria Dock, and a day of Celebration was Commanded in Bangkok!" The cats poised and held the last note until the lights went off.
"Chryssie, tell me. How did you like that?" Munkustrap asked. When he received no answer he asked
"Chryssie?"
"That was so sad Munkustrap! That was just so sad. Poor Growltiger."
"Oh, Chryssie! Don't forget he was a terrible criminal."
"Yes but such a sweet romance. It makes me sad to think that that was that last time that they could be together, and they just had to sing a beautiful duet."
"Oh you poor thing." He said and wrapped her in a hug. They were on their knees facing each other, wrapped up in a hug.
He rocked her back and forth and stroked her head. She liked the feeling of his touch and the softness of his fur. She lifted her head off his shoulder and she looked in the direction of the stage to see if she could find out who played who.
She felt Munkustrap's paw touch her cheek and push it gently towards the direction of his face. She could barely make an outline out.
A car passing by turned the corner and the headlights swept over them. She could see him looking at her and she could feel him pulling her closer.
The light from the headlights was gone and she could only feel him. Then her eyes captured the after sight of the light and used it to see.
She felt his arms lace her back and she put her arms around his shoulders. She then felt his kisses and she prepared herself for the thrilling ride of emotions that would soon be sweeping through her.
Just Munkustrap and her, only feelings could be felt now, for there wasn't anything to see. She only wanted her feelings to engulf her. Nothing else, but the feelings that Munkustrap gave her.
She felt locked in, and she had nowhere to go, that's how she wanted. She wanted the feelings of being trapped into Munkustrap.
Soon his kisses withdrew and their faces stayed close together. She could feel his chest rise and fall, a tad faster then his regular breathing, and she knew that her own breathing had increased.
Lovingly, he kissed her again. She and he both knew that these moments were precious few, and were often interrupted because of some cataclysm and they wouldn't have any or very few opportunities to be with each other after.
