Sootaput's First Stand II
Mungojerrie lay on his back exposing his throat to the larger cat above him.
“Yes-s s-s-s-ir! A n-n-ew kitt-tt-tten s-s-sir!” he stuttered.
Macavity lay sprawled on a make-shift throne of expensive fabrics and cushions. After his defeat an narrow escape at the Jellicle Ball he’s vowed revenge and sucked his only informant for information.
“Who protects the kitten?” Macavity snarled, sick of the cats stuttering.
“Munkustrap charged Rum Tum Tugger with the kitten’s care!” Mungo cried, tightly closed his eyes.
Macavity’s huge rat hench men chittered and laughed soon after Macavity made his signature maniacal chuckle.
“That ball of fur could more protect a flea in his coat!” he boomed. “Keep watch, Mungojerrie. I will be calling on you again.”
With a wave of his tail the rats took a hold of Mungojerrie and dragged him to the stairs leading out of the basement where Macavity made his home. As soon as the rats let go Mungo leaped up the stairs three at a time and erupted out the kitty door into the street. Quickly he ran back to Victoria Grove to find Rumpelteazer, who waited for him on the roof.
Mungojerrie collapsed next to Rumpel and attempted to calm his heart which threatened to explode. Rumpelteazer purred quietly and rubbed against Jerrie until he was able to breath normally.
“I assume it was a particularly bad session with his Majesty?” Rumpel murred angrily, upset that her Jerrie actually took this treatment.
“He knows...” Mungo whispered. “He knows about the kitten.”
“You know he will do to her what he did to Demeter.” she frowned.
“I know.” he groaned.
Cuaxo leapt from a fence onto the roof and looked at the pair. “Jerrie. Munkustrap wants to talk to you.” he announced, turning quickly, jumping back onto the fence and heading off towards the junk yard.
“Time to face the music.” Jerrie frowned and followed Cuaxo back to the junk yard.
They reached the center of the junkyard where the Jellicle ball was recently held, and Cuaxo left him to sit in front of the tire where Munkustrap sat. Jerrie sat in front of Munkustrap, lowered his head and flattened his ears.
“Mungojerrie. Did you know of Macavity’s plans for the Jellicle Ball?” he asked, a touch of anger in his voice.
“I knew he was planning something but not what, exactly.” Mungo replied.
“Who are you more allied with?! Macavity or the Jellicles? I have been tolerant Jerrie but this has gotten out of paw! I allow you to remain a Jellicle because you are not what Macavity is but you spy on us and put all the Jellicles in danger.”
“I know.” Jerrie mumbled unhappily.
“Plato tells me he saw you running in the building where we believe Macavity lives today.” Munkustrap whipped his tail from side to side drumming a faint beat on the tire. “Tell me what was said.”
Jerrie looked up at Munkustrap with fear in his slitted eyes. “If he finds out I told you he’d kill me!”
“And that is where our problem lies, Jerrie. When you can truthfully tell me what you say to that rat in cats clothing will you be fully accepted as a Jellicle.”
Jerrie looked at the ground and nodded. “I have to go think.” With that he retreated back to Victoria grove to consult Rumpelteazer.
~~~
Munkustrap sighed and shook his head. he hated doing that to Mungojerrie but it was time he chose. Swishing his tail back and forth he thought over his speech.
Something attached itself to Munkustrap’s tail and he pulled his tail in front of himself to find Sootaput clinging to it. He grinned at the kitten who grinned right back.
“Hello little one. What can I do for you?” he asked the kitten who dropped off his tail to sit beside him.
“Play?” Sootaput asked, turning her head to one side.
“I’m a touch busy to play, little one.” he replied.
Tugger appeared over a broken oven and glared at the kitten.
“Sootaput! I told you to stay put!” he hissed.
Munkustrap laughed. “You tried to get a kitten to stay in one place for longer then it wanted too?!” he grinned.
Tugger snorted.
“What kitten?” asked Demeter as she slunk into view, Bombalurina at her side.
“ME!” Sootaput announced proudly.
“Why Rum Tum Tugger!” Bombalurina teased. “Who’s the lucky cat?”
Tugger hissed. “She’s not mine!” he yelled. “Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer found her and Munkustrap is making me take care of her!”
Demeter grinned. “Don’t get your tail in a knot!”
“I did nothing of the sort, Tugger!” Munkustrap scolded his friend. “The kitten took a liking to you and would’ve put up a fight if anyone else tried to take her to Deuteronomy!”
“She’s cute!” Bombalurina remarked.
Tugger snorted. “If you like her so much why don’t you look after her?”
“We’d love too!” Demeter smiled at Sootaput. “You go do what you do do, and we’ll look after Sootaput.”
Tugger stalked off through the junk yard as Demeter and Bombalurina sat down near the kitten.
“So what have you learned today?” Demeter asked quietly as Munkustrap disappeared.
“Butterflies. Needle-point. Jellicle Ball!” the kitten replied.
Bombalurina giggled. “You poor thing! I’m guessing your in need of a play session after so much brain work!”
Demeter got ready to pounce as Sootaput hissed playfully at the larger cats. With a happy Murr the game was on!
~~~
“He’s making you choose?” Rumpelteazer asked quietly.
“Yes, but how do I? I either get thrown out of the Jellicles or get torn up by Macavity’s claws!” he replied.
“He’s right, you know. You put all of us in danger.”
“But how do I say no to Macavity?!” he said despairingly.
“You have to realize that Macavity or not we are with you! You are still a Jellicle cat!”
Mungo rubbed up against Rumpel who gently washed his ears.
“You’d stick by me no matter what, right?” he asked quietly.
Rumpelteazer smiled. “Of course!”
“I have to stand up for myself! I gotta break free! I gotta do it alone though! Promise?”
“Jerrie. I’ll promise you this. I’ll be there when you need me.”
Jerrie sighed while Rumpelteazer purred and tried to make him feel better.
~~~
Sootaput, Bombalurina, and Demeter took a quick cat-nap before Tantomile and Coricopat, the twins showed up. They quietly slunk through the junk yard mimicking each other with every move.
Coricopat to one side, Tantomile to the other they awaited their friends to awaken, curious as to who the kitten was.
Demeter, being a light sleeper awoke first and grinned at the twins. With a poke she awoke Bombalurina who, in turn, accidentally awoke Sootaput with her tail.
“Hello little one.” they said in unison. Sootaput looked from one to the other, mild confusion on her face.
“I’m Coricopat.” he said.
“I’m Tantomile.” she said.
“Sootaput.” she replied.
The twins looked up at Bombalurina and Demeter.
“Tugger takes care of her but he claims she’s not his.” Demeter answered their silent question.
The twins looked abruptly to their left and several silent seconds followed before Rumpelteazer ran, panicked, towards the group of cats.
“Mungojerrie’s gone to face Macavity alone!” she cried, tears in her eyes.
Every cats’ ears perked. Demeter shivered and Bombalurina rubbed against her comfortingly. Coricopat and Tantomile frowned. Sootaput looked at each cat in turn and decided to frown like the twins.
“Please! We must do something!” Rumpel pleaded.
“Find Munkustrap! We have to get Jerrie out of there!” Demeter announced.
Before Sootaput could blink the cats ran off in different directions...leaving her behind.
~~~
Demeter found Munkustrap and several of the male cats near the old cat. Quickly she related her story to them and soon they headed off to the old building where Macavity lived. As they reached the outskirts of the Junk Yard they heard the frightened scream of a kitten.
“Oh, Great Heaviside!” Demeter gasped. “Sootaput!”
~~~
Bombalurina reached the scene first. From on top of a trash pile she viewed the area. Macavity had Sootaput backed into a corner, he and three of his rats quickly closed ranks upon her . Behind Macavity in a heap of bloody wounds and deep cuts lay Mungojerrie, watching the scene he believed he could not prevent.
Sootaput hissed bravely at the cat and his rats, who laughed at her and prepared to pounce.
Seeing no others around, Bombalurina leapt from the top of the pile of trash landing heavily on one of the rats with a hiss. Tantomile and Coricopat erupted from an old moth eaten couch and took down the other rats.
Mungojerrie watched the rats fall while Macavity ignored the rats and continued to go after the kitten.
“We are with you.” Rumpelteazer’s voice rang through his head. “I’ll be there when you need me!”
With an angry roar the already injured Mungojerrie leapt on Macavity. Macavity had believed Jerrie would never attempt to defy him and was caught off guard. Mungo tore at his ears and his back as Macavity tried desperately to dislodge the Jellicle.
Taking the sudden distraction Mistoffelees appeared beside Sootaput and took her to higher ground. Demeter, Munkustrap and many other cats poured from the crevices around Macavity and joined the attack. Tugger jumped on Macavity while Munkustrap removed Mungo from his claws. Rumpelteazer dragged Jerrie out of the way and frantically licked at his face, trying to wake him up.
Sensing his defeat Macavity levitated himself out of harms way and disappeared.
Jerrie opened one eye and looked up at Rumpelteazer. “Soot?” he asked.
“She’s fine.” Mistoffelees announced bringing the kitten forward.
“I tried...” Mungo whimpered. “I tried to...”
“Shhhh...” Rumpelteazer smiled. “You succeeded. You are a Jellicle cat.”
Jerrie smiled a peaceful smile and closed his eyes, the smile never leaving his face.
~~~
Sootaput was a week older and she spent most of her time driving Tugger crazy or learning things from the other Jellicle cats.
Practicing the art of shadow walking Mistoffelees had taught her she came up upon Rumpelteazer walking the twisted paths through the junk yard alone. Sootaput emerged from the shadows and rubbed up against Rumpelteazer’s leg who smiled down at the kitten and continued to walk.
Soon Plato was spotted lying on top of a large pipe that lead to the middle of the largest junk pile there. With a solemn nod he allowed Rumpelteazer and the kitten to proceed. The two Jellicles walked through the dark pipe into the large chamber that served as Coricopat and Tantomile’s home, most of the time. As they emerged they were greeted by Jellylorum who smiled slightly and let them pass.
Faint light from holes in the garbage illuminated the small room as they approached Mungojerrie’s prone form, lying in a bed of torn fabric and sheets.
The two sat in front of the brave cat and lowered their heads. Silently Sootaput relived the moments after her rescue from Macavity. Rumpelteazer’s frantic mewling as the cats had taken Jerrie here in case Macavity tried something...
“Well hello.” came the tired whisper from the bed of scraps.
“Good morning, my Jellicle cat.” Rumpelteazer purred and licked Jerrie’s face.
The end...for now
Email: jellicleball@hotmail.com
