Toms & Queens
Now, in Cuba, Cassandra and Tugger are having a wonderful time. Though, Tugger is starting to regret giving Cassandra Bacardi…
"These are delicious! What did you call them?" Cassandra muttered.
"Dulce de Leche. It means ‘sweet of milk’."
"Dulce de Leche. What’s in it -besides milk?"
"Oh, sugar and- a sort of native flavoring."
"What’s the name of the flavoring.."
"Bacardi.." Tugger said, both expectantly and reluctantly.
"Doesn’t Bacardi have alcohol in it?" Cassandra said, more tipsy then before.
"Only enough to act as a preservative."
"You know- this would be a wonderful way to get children to drink milk!" Cassandra yelled, and stood up. "TWO MORE DULCE DE LECHES!" She fell backwards, as Tugger caught her, she turned around, and kissed him.
"Are you all right?" He asked, a bit frightened.
"AM I ALL RIGHT! Ask me how do I feel, ask me now that we’re cozy and clinging. Well sir all I can say is if I were a bell I’d be ringing! From the moment we kissed tonight! That’s the way I’ve just got to behave boy! If I were a lamp I’d light! And if I were banner I’d wave! Ask me how do I feel, little me with my quiet upbringing! Well sir all I can say is if I were a gate I’d be swinging! And if I were a watch I’d start, popping my spring!" She paraded around the table, Tugger looking at her in amused shock. "Or if I were a bell I’d go ding, dong, ding, dong, ding! Ask me how do I feel, from this chemistry lesson I’m learning! Well sir all I can say is if I were a bridge I’d be burning! Ask me how to describe this whole beautiful thing! Well, if I were a bell I’d go Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong! DING!" She fell back into his lap. They sat there in silence for a while, before Tugger said.
"I think we’d better hurry if we want to catch the plane back to New York."
"I don’t want to go back to New York."
"I’m taking you back."
"You’re no gentlemen!"
"Look, a queen like you shouldn’t be mixed up with a tom like me. It’s no good. I’m no good." Cassandra puts her arms around him, and leans towards him, he pushes her away. "You know why I took you to Havana? I made a bet! That’s how you bet me in the first place. I made a bet."
"How else would a queen get to meet a gambler?"
"I got to think what’s best for you."
"ooh, you talk just like a missionary!"
A while later, they were walking down Broadway.
"Thank you for taking me back," Cassandra said drearily. "I must have behaved very badly."
"No, you were fine."
Hyper walked by, followed by some Hot Box Queens, all draped with wedding utensils.
"Oh golly, I don’t know how I’ll get home with all this stuff! Tugger? Hello!"
"How are you Miss Hyper?"
"Oh, fine Tugger. Look, the girls just gave me a kitchen shower!"
"That’s wonderful Hyper! You know Miss Cassandra."
"How do you do?"
"Glad to meet you. You know Tugger, we’re eloping tomorrow night, right after the hot box - Munkustrap and I."
"Good luck." Tugger said skeptically.
"Thank you Tugger, Gee, I feel just like a housewife already!"
Hyper and her girls walked off, Tugger and Cassandra exchanged glances.
"Miss Hyper certainly seems happy."
"She’s in love."
"Yeah. I guess so."
"What time is it?"
"I don’t know. Four o’clock?"
"I’ve never been up this late before."
"How do you like it?"
"It’s so peaceful, and wonderful."
"You’re finding out something I’ve known for quite a while." He paused, and sighed. "Obediah."
"Obediah? What’s that?"
"Obediah Masterson, that’s my real name. I’ve never told it to anyone before."
Cassandra looked up at him, and they embraced. Tugger smiled.
"I’ve never been in love before, now all at once it’s you, it’s you forever more. I’ve never been in love before, I thought my heart was safe, I thought I knew the score." He looked down slightly.
"But this is wine, that’s all to strange and strong, I’m full of foolish song, and out my song must pour," Cassandra took Tugger’s paws, and they continued.
"So please forgive this helpless haze I’m in, I’ve never really been, in love before."
They kissed, and while still kissing, they heard the sound of the Mission band, slightly drowsy, but unmistakable. They turned around.
"Uncle!" Cassandra said, seeing Bustopher, "I thought you’d be asleep."
"Hello, Cassandra dear. Good morning brother Tugger."
"Good morning."
"We stayed out all night, and guess what?"
"The streets were full of gamblers.." Tugger said softly.
"Exactly! It was wonderful!…. Where have you been Cassandra?"
"I’ve been to Cuba," Cassandra said, slightly drifting back into her ‘tipsiness.
"You’re even more tired then I am."
At that point, as all the Mission band turned to watch, a gambler ran across the street, blowing a whistle, he ran straight into the mission!
"C’mon guys! The Felines are comin’!" The tom shouted. All of the sudden, an eruption of gamblers burst out of the mission.
"What the heck is this!" Tugger said, outraged, but confused. "What’s going on inside the mission?"
Munkustrap ran by, Tugger grabbed his arm.
"Munkustrap, what is this?"
"Bingo!" Munkustrap pulled free of Tugger, and ran away.
"Wait a minute! I’m loosing ten lbs!" Big McCavity screamed, running after Munkustrap.
"Someone must have tipped them off!" Skimbleshanks said as he neared the group. "I’ve seen a lot of strange things in my life time, but this is the first time, I’ve ever seen, a floating catnip game, going full blast in a mission!" He yelled and stormed away.
"CATNIP GAME!" Cassandra screamed.
"Cassandra, you know I h-had nothing to do with this, don’t you? Cassandra!"
"This wouldn’t have happened if I wouldn’t have…. I never should have gone with you, it was wrong!"
"No it wasn’t, you went to help the mission."
"Did I?"
"Will I see you tomorrow?" Tugger said, walking up behind Cassandra who had turned away from him.
"Everyone is welcome at the mission."
"That’s not what I mean."
"It’s no good Tugger, you said it yourself - it’s no good."
"Why not? What kind of queen are you anyway!"
"I’m a mission queen!" Cassandra, the mission band, and Bustopher stormed into the Mission, leaving Tugger to stare bewilderedly. He soon turned and walked away.
Ooh bother, just when Tugger and Cassandra FINALY fall in love, the catnip game has to go and screw it up! And if Munkustrap is there...... where's Hyper?