'Ello! My name's Mungojerrie. I hope you can undahstand whot I'm sayin'! 'M goin'ta tell ya a story now! It's about me- Mungojerrie. And me sis Rumpelteazer, and me best friend Mistoffelees, and me mate Demeter. Bot mostly 'bout me.

As Fah back as I c'membah, I nevah really knew me Mum. Bot she took good care o' me, so I won't dwell on that too much. The first thing I did, as soon as I could move was escape my box Mum put me in. Then I hid behind an oily rag to eavesdrop on me Mum and some queen I didn't know yet. (I found out later is was Jennyanydots)

"Well, my dear, I'm sure glad you stopped by our junkyard to have your kittens. But I thought you said there was to be two?" Jennyanydots was askin' me Mum.

"Well, there is, bot the second one is late. I can't stay here, bot I would like my kittens to become Jellicles. It is the most safe and respectable tribe, and it is whot they deserve." Me Mum answered, slightly changin+IBk- the subject, I thought.

Jenny nodded. "And so they will, deary."

Whot was a Jellicle? Why was I and me sis (If she evah came) goin' to become some? I pondahed these questions until I came to a simple conclusion: "Oh well. Who Cares?"

"Mungojerrie! Where's that kitten gotten off too? Was the last thing I 'member my mom sayin' to me without yellin'

As soon as my sistah was bo'n me Mum moved on. Jenny and Jelly were supposed ta take ca'r o' me, bot I could take ca'e o' me-self!

Me sistah's name was Rumpelteaza. She looks a lot like me. I liked 'er a lot, she was lots 'o fun! Me and Teaza were best o' friends well, as fah as siblin's can be. I luved her, even so.

I took it 'pon me-self ta watch 'er, and I didn't like it when someone else tried to. 'Cuz she was my sista, and no one else could touch 'er!

As soon as I could talk, I spoke my mind.

"No! Get your bloody paws away from 'er! Whot a'e ya tryin' ta do??" I snapped at Jellylorum.

"Quiet a big mouth for a kitten." She would say, and Jenny would always say, (casually while sewing or knitting) "Watch your language, Mungojerrie."

And then licking my sis's ear, would curl up next to her, and fall asleep. And do it all over in the morning.

Of course I wouldn't really be asleep. 'Cuz I wanted ta hear whot they 'ad ta say.

"Why couldn't that boy be more like Munkustrap?" Jelly would say.

"I don't know." Jenny would answer.

Munkustrap was a kitten older than I was. He was polite, and strong, bot he was a prissy powderpuff! He was a suck-up goody goody. He was bossy, and he thought 'e was all that and fish an' chips.

I would always then decide ta go back ta sleep, this time for real.

This happened almost everyday.

Soon, me sis could talk. We would sit and chit chat 'bout this an' that all the time.

It was durin' one of these conversations one day when

"No, no, no, 'extinction is whot happens when you get sprayed by a skunk, Teaza. You don't die when you get sprayed by a skunk."

"Really, Mungo? Alright, I understand now."

Just then that brown-noser Munkustrap ran up to us.

"Why, 'ello Munky" I said.

"Hello Mungojerrie. Don't call me Munky."

"Hiyas, Munkustrap!" my sis said, flutterin' her eye lashes. She 'as a bit of a crush on Munky Boy, I guess.

"Hello Miss Rumpelteazer."

"Oh, just call me Teaza, Munkustrap!" she said giggling.

"Whot can we do f'r ya?" I interrupted.

"Well," he huffed, "We just found this tiny black and white kitten, I thought you could make a name for yourself, Mungojerrie, and find him a home."

With that, we walked towards the direction Munky pointed. Well, I did. Then I turned around, and dragged me sis along.

"Oh, bot Mungo! I was havin' a nice conversation with Munkustrap!"

I didn't ca'e. Then I saw, the black and white Munky Boy was talkin' 'bout.

"'Ello! My name is Mungojerrie, and this is me sis Rumpelteaza. Bot don't call us that. You can call us Mungo and Teaza. Speakin' of you" who a'e you?"

This new cat was black and white, with no collar, and blue eyes.

"Mistoffelees." He said simply, with no 'laberation 'er anything 't all.

"Tell me 'bout yourself, Mistoffelees." I asked him.

His ears and tail kind of lowered, and finally said I had an owner, but I was so small they thought I would die, so they threw me out."

"Whe'e did ya live, hun?" Teaza asked him.

"29th street."

"Wow." She said. "We're all t' way on 85th! Whot you doin' IBg-ere? Wouldn+IBk-t you be with another tribe?+IB0-

Once again, he kind of got lower, like he was about to punce on somethin+IBk-, and said +IBw-They didn+IBk-t want me because I+IBk-m a freak+ICYgHQ-

My eyes widened with interest. +IBw-Whot? A freak? Why? You don+IBk-t look very freakish.+IB0-

+IBw-I shoot electricity out of my fingers+ICY- and can do things that are against the laws of science+ICYgHQ-

+IBw-Wow!+IB0- me sis and me both said. +IBw-That+IBk-s not freakish!+IB0- I said +IBw-No! That+IBk-s amazing!+IB0- Teaza added.

Another older kitten+ICY- Rum Tum Tugger+ICY- was listening. +IBw-Yeah! For once, these idiots are right! You must be a magical cat like in the stories Skimbleshankes tells! You deserve respect!+IB0- Tugger looked at us. +IBw-We+IBk-ll call him +IBg-Mister+IBk- Mistoffelees+IB0- he said cooley.

Tugger was a cat all the queens were like in luv with. Even me sis. He was a main coon with a lion like main. He thought +IBg-bout +IBg-imself a lot.I didn+IBk-t particularly like +IBg-im, bot I didn+IBk-t go flashin+IBk- around me true feelin+IBk-s.

Then +IBg-e were gone. He walzed off some wheres.

I understood why Munky thought I should get Misto a home the next day. This richy rich human took us in. They lived in a place called Victoria Grove. So now me an+IBk- Teaza had a home.

It were nice. Lots o+IBk- things ta break.

Well it took me a week, bot someone not as rich took Misto in. She was a girl named Grace. She gave +IBg-im a bow tie.

Now Misto an+IBk- me were best o+IBk- friends. His self confidence was a lot higher, and he disliked Tugger even more than I did. Bot whot+IBk-s important is Tugger started it. He called Misto a walkin+IBk- Christmas tree, and Misto blew up. So now they engage in exchangin+IBk- insults an+IBk- zingers.

I help too. It+IBk-s fun.

I was out explorin+IBk- one time, when I ran into this weird cave. Soon, I ran into someone who took me inside.

Inside, the+IBk-e was this cat who said he was startin+IBk- an empire and needed agents. He said he heard I was +IBg-sneaky+IBk- and wanted me to join right in.

+IBw-Sure!+IB0- I says +IBw-It might be fun!+IB0-

+IBg-Is name were Macavity.

When I got +IBg-ome, me sis and Misto were waitin+IBk-. +IBw-Whe+IBk-e ya been? I been worried, bro!+IB0- Teaza said.

+IBw-Oh, nothing. I just joined a cat named Macavity!+IB0- I answered. Maybe it was just me, bot thw whole junkyard gasped.

Soon, almost the whole tribe was sourroundin+IBk- me, even the Jellicle leader +IBg-imself!

All the +IBg-mportant Jellicles all went ta the side and were mummblin+IBk- +IBg-bout me. Bot why?

+IBw-Misto?+IB0- I muttered softly. Soon, +IBg-e was at my side. +IBw-Whot+ICY- Whot+IBk-s goin+IBk- on?+IB0- Mistoffelees shrugged. +IBw-I+IBk-ll find out for you+IB0- Then +IBg-e disappeared.

After +IBg-bout 10 minutes, Misto came back, and he had a worried maybe even sad expression on +IBg-is face.

+IBw-Mungo+ICY- they don+IBk-t think you should be a Jellicle anymore+ICYgHQ-

My world seemed ta spin. I felt sick. +IBw-Bot+ICY- why?+IB0- I bit a tear back.

+IBw-Because Macavity wants to destroy us; The Jellicles.+IB0- He answered.

+IBw-NO!+IB0- I exclaimed. I didn+IBk-t know! How was I supposed ta know? Whot +IBg-bout my sista? Who would keep watch on +IBg-er? Whot about Misto? Who would keep +IBg-im out o+IBk- trouble?

Misto must have noticed my shortage of breath. +IBw-Don+IBk-t worry+ICYgHQ- I could see he was cryin+IBk- too, so I didn+IBk-t feel so bad about cryin+IBk- me-self. +IBw-They+IBk-re still deciding..+IB0- he continued.

Aftah almost thirty +IBg-ole minutes, Munky Boy came up ta me, puttin+IBk- +IBg-is paws on me shoulders. +IBw-They+IBk-re putting you on probation.+IB0- He told me. +IBw-Because you have your sister, and many friends, and besides, I don+IBk-t think you knew. You+IBk-ll remain a Jellicle. We can+IBk-t stop you from becoming one of Macavity+IBk-s agents, but if you betray us you+IBk-re going to have to leave.+IB0-

+IBw-Y-yes+ICY- sir.+IB0- I answered.

Whot good news that was! Me neck was saved!

I continued ta do things for Macavity, like stealin+IBk- or breakin+IBk- things. Cuz as Munky Boy said, they couldn+IBk-t stop me. I drew the line on murdah though. I would nevah go into that.

+IBw-Right aftah I pull this gig, Misto, we+IBk-ll hang out t+IBk-night at the Old Ford, okay?+IB0- I told me friend.

+IBw-Right.+IB0-

So I went off to me gig. +IBg-Twas an easy one.

When I got back, though, Misto wasn+IBk-t the+IBk-e.

I looked all ovah fo+IBk- +IBg-im, bot he was no whe+IBk-e ta be found. Finally, I was so worried, and so desprate, I lowered myself to asking Munky Boy.

+IBwgGQ-ave you seen Misto?+IB0-

Bot +IBg-e just shook +IBg-is head. +IBw-Don+IBk-t you know? Mistoffelees would be somewhere near the mattress.+IB0-

I stared at +IBg-im. +IBw-Whot? The kitten+IBk-s hang out?+IB0-

Munky nodded.

Now, you see, back behind the mattress, the fou+IBk- kitten queens (minus me sis +IBg-cuz she+IBk-s always with me, +IBg-o Munky, +IBg-o somewheres) hang out. Etcetera, Electra, Victoria, and Jemima.

+IBw-Bot why would Misto be the+IBk-e?+IB0-

Munky laughed. +IBw-You sure don+IBk-t know your best friend! Why, Victoria of course!+IB0-

+IBw-Veektoria?+IB0-

Without +IBg-nothah word, I went off in that direction, the back way.

And the+IBk-e +IBg-e was! Gazing at Veektoria! Behind a buch just watchin+IBk- +IBg-er!

I poked +IBg-im. +IBw-Mistoffelees?+IB0- I whispered.

He jumped +IBg-bout six feet, then +IBg-e turned red. +IBw-Um+ICY- hi Mungo!+IB0- he studdered.

I played it coo+IBk-. +IBw- +IBg-Ello Misto.+IB0- I paused, and helped him up. +IBw-I thought we were gonna meet at the Old Ford.+IB0-

Misto raises his eye brows, as if sayin+IBk- +IBw-oh shoot+ICYgHQ-

+IBw-Heh+ICY- I forgot.+IB0-

+IBw-Yeah, su+IBk-e+IB0- I sighed. +IBw-Misto, it+IBk-s time you an+IBk- me had a little chit chat. It+IBk-s about growin+IBk- up.+IB0-

Misto nodded.

+IBwgJg-And by Jellicle law, once a tom falls in luv, he+IBk-s a teen, and no longer a kitten.+IB0-

+IBw-I know that. Everybody knows that.+IB0-

+IBw-Well, you just said yourself you+IBk-re a teen then!+IB0-

+IBw-What? I didn+IBk-t say that!+IB0-

+IBw-I can see it in your eyes! You+IBk-re in luv with Miss Veektoria, aren+IBk-t ya?+IB0-

Misto+IBk-s jaw dropped. +IBw-No.+IB0-

+IBw-Bot that+IBk-s okay! Way ta go, dude!+IB0-

I could not believe it! Mw own buddy Mistoffelees was growin+IBk- up! Hmmmm.

+IBw-So, tell me Veek+IBk-s reaction.+IB0- I said to Misto, a few days later.

+IBw-Her+ICY- reaction? To what?+IB0- he replied.

+IBw-Why, to you tellin+IBk- +IBg-er +IBg-ow your feel! Whot else?+IB0-

Misto+IBk-s face turned even whiter than usual. +IBw-Um+ICY- I haven+IBk-t exactly told her+ICYgHQ-

I can +IBg-sure ya that me eyes fell wide open. +IBw-Whot? You +IBg-avn+IBk-t? Why not?+IB0-

Misto shrugged. +IBw-I dunno.+IB0-

+IBw-Well, this just figures! You a+IBk-h such a wuss, Misto! If I likes a queen I would do out and say so, because I+IBk-m a tom cat!+IB0- I snapped. I knew it would be somethin+IBk- I would regret +IBg-twas too late+ICY-

He looked up at me with those blue eyes. +IBw-You really think that, don+IBk-t you?+IB0- he clenched his teeth. +IBw-Because+ICYgHQ-

+IBw-No, I don+IBk-t, I don+IBk-t!+IB0- I rolled my eyes. +IBw-I just don+IBk-t think you could talk ta a girl if it +IBg-twas your sister+ICYgHQ- I said under me breath.

+IBw-WHAT?+IB0-

+IBw-Ah, back off, Shorty!+IB0-

+IBw-SHORTY? YOU SHUT UP YOU NO GOOD PIECE OF EUROTRASH!+IB0-

+IBw-WHOT DID YOU CALL ME?+IB0-

+IBw-You heard me!+IB0-

+IBw-Well, at least I+IBk-m the size of a no+IBk-mal tom! The only one smaller than you in this tribe is Jemima!"

+IBw-Well at least I don+IBk-t work for Macavity!+IB0-

+IBw-You powderpuff sparkly glitter freak!+IB0-

His ears pinned back, and blimey, he was not happy! He jumped on me back, and pulled me hair. I yelled, you know, it hurt! I slammed him into the wall. He grunted. Then he tripped me and I fellin the mud. BotI got 'im in a head lock, and 'eld 'is face in the mud. Bot 'es a better fighter than I looks. Soon, 'e was up on 'is feet again. And 'e punched me in the face! That hurt too. Then I noticed my nose was bleeding. Now that ticked me off. Just beofre I was going to finish 'im off...

+IBw-STOP!+IB0-

I looked up, and standing the+IBk-e with their hands on thei+IBk- hips were Veektoria an' Demeter!

Misto got up, and brushed some of the mud off his coat, and then he saw Veek+ICY- +IBw-Eep! Vicki!+IB0-

+IBw-Oh, Misto, I thought you were a nice guy+ICY- what are you doing in a fight?+IB0- I could tell Veektoria was not +IBg-appy with +IBg-im.

Meanwhile, Demi slapped me. +IBw-Mungo! If you don+IBk-t like Misto, why do you hang out together? huh??"

I shrugged and looked at me fight. +IBwgGQ-E+IBk-s my best friend.+IB0-

Demi grabbed Veek+IBk-s arm. +IBw-Come on, Victoria. Let+IBk-s get away from these jerks.+IB0- And they walked off. Aftah they were gone, Misto turned to me.

+IBw-Mungo?+IB0-

+IBw-Yeah?+IB0-

+IBw-I didn+IBk-t mean what I said.+IB0-

+IBw-Me neither, Misto.+IB0-

I nevah really thought of Demi as anything mo+IBk-e than a friend, until the night of the storm.

+IBg-Twas rainin+IBk- really really ha+IBk-d. I+IBk-m pretty sure I saw Misto sneak into a box with Veektoria, and Teaza off with Munkustrap and +IBg-Lonzo.

It was too fah to Victoria Grove. So I just stumbled around alone in the rain.

The+IBk-e in the clearing, I saw Demeter. She looked all cold and wet.

+IBw-Demi?+IB0- I called out. Lightning flashed.

She turned around, and sniffed. +IBw-Well, if it isn+IBk-t the king of the jerks.+IB0- Thunder crashed.

I ignored that remark. +IBw-Why a+IBk-en+IBk-t you with Bombi?+IB0- I asked.

She shivered. +IBw-She+IBk-s with Tugger and Pouncival.+IB0-

+IBw-Well, come on, we+IBk-e goin+IBk- ta find a pipe. You+IBk-ll catch a cold if you stay out in this rain.+IB0- I grabbed her paw, but she pulled back. +IBw-Wait+ICY- you+IBk-re a jerk, Mungojerrie. I can+IBk-t go with you!+IB0-

I sighed. +IBw-I wish you wouldn+IBk-t think like that.+IB0- I held +IBg-er paw, and took +IBg-er to a big pipe. Luckily, no one was in the+IBk-e, so we made ou+IBk-selves at +IBg-ome.

To make a long story short, I soon knew how Misto felt about Veek. I held Demi+IBk-s paw, and it jus+IBk- gave my heart an +IBg-lectrical shock. She was beautiful, and smart, and witty. She didn+IBk-t call me a jerk anymore, neither.

Wowy. It was all ready me first Jellicle Ball! Veek and Misto got the+IBk-e own solo dance ta kick the show off Munky Boy was Old D+IBk-s little helper- still a suck up, I could tell. Tugger got +IBg-is own song, and all the queens except Demi sand fo+IBk- +IBg-im. Bot Misto got a little shot at Tugger too. He called him a terrible bo+IBk-e instead of a curious cat! It was funny as +IBg-ell! Me sis and I also got our own song! We didn+IBk-t make the other Jellicles too happy when we scared +IBg-im off at first, bot that+IBk-s okay. Old D was even kidnapped bot Mistoffelees saved +IBg-im. Misto even told Veek +IBg-ow +IBg-e felt f+IBk-r +IBg-er. Some ol+IBk- queen was choosen ta go to the Heavyside Layer. Actually, it was Veek and Jemima who convinced us to accept her again. Go Veek and Jemmy. That was one of the most exciting nights of me life!

A lot +IBg-as changes since the day me Mum stopped by this junkyard+ICY- me an+IBk- my sis a+IBk-en+IBk-t as close, bot we always stick togethah. She+IBk-s just spendin+IBk- mo+IBk-e time with Munky Boy. Misto and Veek a+IBk-e now mates. I still work for Macavity now and then, though, even though Mac hates Misto. Life is good. Best o+IBk- all, me and Demi a+IBk-h mates! Veek, me, Misto and Demi a+IBk-e all the teens. and Munky is second in command, which just fits, doesn+IBk-t it? I+IBk-m lookin+IBk- forward to my first littah of kittens, too! Due sometime soon. I+IBk-m so +IBg-appy! Well, I gotta go! I think I hear Demi callin+IBk-!

+AH4-Mungojerrie