Every Morning There's A Heartache Hangin' Over Matropolis' Two Bunk-Bed
Most stuff in this story in parentheses is a line taken from a song from the following: "Born to Make You Happy"-Britney Spears, "From the Bottom of My Borken Heart"-Britney Spears, "E-mail My Heart"-Britney Spears, and "Every Morning"-Sugar Ray. And this story is told from Matropolis' viewpoint.
I looked out the window of our three room shack. I saw nothing, as usual. After all, no one was around on Sundays. They were all home because their families had gone to Church. On the other paw, there was my family, cats with no home, along with Travie, who was unfortunately grounded for whatever the reason.
Misto, Jemima, Sillabub, Cliffy, Boxer and Chewie were with their human families, so it was only me, Alonzo and Mezoa. We weren’t the only ones in the junkyard—The rats were using my bunk to have a slumber party. So I couldn’t even go to sleep. I'm too nice for my own good.
I had to admit it. I missed Ricky. A lot. He had been gone for about a month. Maybe a bit less. I dreamed of him running across the junkyard to me, every day. But nothing. Everyday was the same. My life meant practically nothing without Ricky. My life seemed so blah now that their was no Ricky in it. Of course Travie and Pouncival were the best friends you could possibly have.
But something was missing.
Actually, lots of things were missing. Actually, lots of cats. Admetus gave up being the commander to search the world for true love. I thought he was kind of weird anyway, but that’s weird. Plato and Etcetra and their kittens were suggesting leaving the tribe to search for new world. That was absolutely ridiculous, because they knew they could never return. Once they were gone, they were gone forever, because it was pronounced abandonment of the tribe when you retreated, and betrayal of family. Just the same, it was their choice. And then their was Tugger, depressed that ‘the chicks aren’t digging him”. Well, after a while, stuff happens. When kittens grow up you have to move on. There was another generation of kittens now, but they were much to young for Tugger. So he was considering releasement from the tribe.
And last, Jellylorum was gone. She signed the application for releasement. She was released into the Heaviside Layer. She could not stand life without Gus, so she basically committed suicide. But not really. She just left. The end.
But after all this, there was some new Jellicles, Lone, Sunny, Timber, and Bericaide. Pearl, Emerald, Ruby and Onyx, were family of Cassandra. They were not nice folks. Not nice folks at all.
I wished that Ricky could be a Jellicle. I wish that he could be in this wonderful junkyard, only to make it most beautiful. Just as I thought my life was ruined, a very unfamiliar cat sauntered in the junkyard.
He looked around the junkyard, and I silently slinked out the door.
I think he saw me right away, because he prepared to pounce. “STOP!” He jumped. I looked up to his face. He was pretty cute. Obviously around Pouncival or Tumblebrutus’ age, with golden-colored fur, spiked in straight spikes on top of his head, kinda like Ricky’s. His eyes glowed bright green. “Looking for someone?”
“Yeah,” he said, relaxing. “The Jellicle Tribe.”
“You here.”
“Oh. I’m Markus…I want to join the Jellicle Tribe.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah…my Mom was just hit by a car a couple weeks ago in Oxford, and I need someplace to stay.”
“In which case you’ve come to the right place; we’ll have to talk to Munkustrap. He’s the Jellicle Leader.”
“What’s your name?” Markus asked.
“Matropolis. Better known as Matty.”
“That’s a cool name. What’s it mean?”
“Mat comes from Rat, ‘tropolis’ comes from tropical.”
“Cool.”
As I led him to see Munksutrap, something in his eyes struck my fancy. I almost forgot Ricky. His collar had short, sharp spikes on it. He walked tall and errect, never fearing or meek.
Munkustrap did not like his attitude. Nor his appearance. It didn’t look good. Let me explain.
“What’s your name lad?” Munksutrap asked.
“Markus de Grath.”
“Don’t get smart.” Markus didn’t say a word. “Have you ever been arrested?”
“Yes.”
“For what?” Munkus’ eyes widened.
“Skinning a family mouse alive.” Munkustrap eyed me as if it were my fault.
“Have you ever been jailed in the cat clinker?”
“Yeah. For skinning two family mouses alive.”
“That’s mice, son.”
“Whatever.”
“Sarcasm…”
“But sir!”
“MARKUS! Go with Matty, and let me discuss this with Demy.” Markus straightened his collar cooly and walked over to me.
“Come on,” he said. I reluctantly followed him out of the junkyard, in the heart of the city. “He doesn’t like me.’ I sighed. I couldn’t lie to Markus and say he did. Because I knew Munkus didn’t like Mark. Suddenly, he brightened up. “Matty? You wanna go do somethin’ fun?”
“Sure.” He grabbed my paw and flopped me on his back and he ran. He handed me some catnip and set off running. We ran in front of cars and flustered the butcher’s chickens. Feathers were everywhere. In no time the cat catcher was chasing us. But we were having tons of fun. The chickens pooped on my paw, Mark showed me how to skin a family mouse alive. Then he showed me soemthing rather peculiar. When he laid on his stomach he had a tatoo. Odd for cat. It just plainly said “BAD CAT”. I giggled a bit.
“What’s so funny?”
“I never saw a cat with a tatoo!”
“A friend showed me how to do it. I can do it to you.”
“No thanks. Another day. Alonzo would probably skin ME alive.”
“Matty. I notticed soemthing about you. You look worried.”
“Yeah, I’m doomed. I’m not suppose to be out this late.
“So? Screw the rules. Forget about em. Just relax.” I did. I looked at the stars. They were gentle. They were soft. But something was missing. Ricky.
When we managed to get back to the junkyard, I knew I was in trouble. Munksutrap and Alonzo were looked down to me.
“I can explain--!”
“Can you?” Alonzo looked at me angrily.
“We got chased by a dog catcher, and attacked my chickens—“
“And abducted my aliens, I suppose?” Munkustrap said sarcastically, with no smile.
“You believe me, don’t you Alonzo?” Alonzo didn’t move.
“What were you doing with a street cat?” Alonzo asked strictly.
“We were making kittens!” I snapped saucily. “We were just playin’. Alonzo didn’t grin. “Alonzo,” I whispered. “Do you remember being a young teen? Do you remember your stupid mistakes? Do you remember your first love/ DO you remember?” Alonzo nodded. Tears welled up in his eyes.
“I remember,” he whispered.
“Well then could you please try to understand what’s going on here?” Alonzo nodded. “Thank-you. Come on Mark.”
The next day, I was kinda off the hook. I had extra chores, but that was all. Mark was working on his fur that morning, because he accidently stabbed Jemima with his ear. “You should start going after Pearl and Ruby with your fur!” I joked.
I swept up our shack while Misto watched me in relaxation. “Why don’t you help her?” Trav asked her boyfriend.
“Because, it’s her punishment,” my older brother answered. Trav didn’t reply. I lifted my head and wiped sweat away. It was befor school, but pretty hot. When I lifted my head, I saw someone walk in the junkyard.
“RICKY!” I announced. I dropped the broom and ran to him. But I stopped dead when I saw his arm around an unfamiliar face.
“Matty,” he whispered. I couldn’t help myself. I ran over and hugged him. Mark ran up and sat on a log. He had his fur spiked again, and Ricky looked at me like ‘who’s he?’
“You came back.”
“I did. To tell you soemthing very important. But first, I missed you very much.”
“So did I!” I beamed. “All I could think of was you, if you’d ever return, if I’d have to love you and never know you, and I now I can show you my love and—“
“Matty. This is Maria. She’s my old girlfriend. And my new wife.” My mouth dropped. My eyes watered. My pulse stopped (for a second).
My heart broke.
I was speechless. What was I to say? My first real love had a wife! He didn’t know what to say either.
“I have to go,” he whispered. Maria turned and walked out of the junkyard. “I love you,” he added with a silent whisper.
“WAIT.From the bottom of my broken heart, there’s just a thing or two I’d like you to know. You were my first love, you were my true love, from the first kiss to the very last rose. From the bottom of the bottom of my broken heart, even though time may find me somebody new. You were first love, you were my real love, I never knew love, until there was you.” Ricky shed a tear and wiped mine away.
“Good-bye.”
He walked away.
Forever.
***********************************************
Mark looked up from the ground and cocked an eyebrow. There were no questions. No answers. He didn’t care. He just knew I was hurt. Hurt bad. And he held me close and licked me and sang, “I don’’t wanna cry a tear for you, so forgive me if I do. If only you were hear tonight, I know we could make it right.”
“Mark? Could you do me a favor?”
“Of course.”
I dropped my head in his lap. “E-mail my heart.”
