The Guardian Angel
The Guardian Angel
Munkustrap had been gone for too long. Demeter had remembered their big fight a week ago, but they had somehow forgiven each other. Now he was looking for his long lost sister, Meteress.
Demeter was in charge, but she wanted Munkustrap back so she new he was safe. She wanted him back in her arms, so she knew that he would always be there with her, safe and sound.
Macavity dropped by every now and again to see how his daughter, Malisa, was doing with Demeter. She seemed to be doing much better, now that Demeter was always with her. They immediately took to each other, with a bit of unsure awkwardness, due to the fact they had only just been reunited. Malisa became friends with Jemima right when they met. She was getting along wonderfully.
But Macavity wasn’t sure about Demeter. She seemed so lonely, even with Malisa. He knew it was because Munkustrap had gone away. And how dare he even think of such, leaving his wife and daughter alone, unprotected from the world. He knew that Demeter should be with him, because he was always around to protect, be kind, take care of pains… and Munkustrap was not. In Mac’s point of view.
But Demeter was blind to that. She didn’t see that she belonged with Macavity. She didn’t see the love that should boil between the two, that he could take care of Malisa with her, better than Munkustrap could ever do. But there was no say. If Demeter would not love him, he could not make her. He would have to wait until she did.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tumblebrutus sat on the old Ford with Jemima, looking to the stars. He had been thinking about his choice for a long time, and he was sure now that it was the right one. Though Jemima was nuzzled up against him, making him warmer than any, he had to tell her his feelings. He must.
“Jemima…” he began suddenly.
“Yes Tumble?” she asked, not at all interested or noticing how serious his voice was.
“Well… I don’t know how to put it… but… I met another queen.”
“Huh?” Jemima alarmed, lifting her head from his body.
“I met another queen. She’s young and beautiful, less than you, but she’s so sweet, and she’s interested in Sci-Fi and pirate ships like I am… she showed be around the alleyways, introducing me to things I could never see in the junkyard.”
Jemima was dumbstruck. “What are you saying?”
“She seems so right for me. I think we could make something.”
“Tumblebrutus,” she said, using his full name quite angrily. “Are you saying we can’t be together, because some queen that caught your eye looks like you can make up something that’ll seem like love?”
“That’s not what I said. Don’t put words in my mouth. I mean that, maybe we should give other cats a try.”
“But Tumble, I love you!” She almost cried.
“I love you to. But not enough to go on pertending that I don’t want to see other places.”
“Other places? I have friends from here to Greenland!” Jemima exclaimed, tears streaming down her face.
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.”
“Do I?”
“I want to see other people and do other things. We do all the same things.”
“But we love each other, and we enjoy just being together, I thought? I thought that just being next to me made you warm inside like it does me. I’ve never met another cat that has made me feel the way I do.”
“Me neither. But I think there is better.”
“So I’m not good enough for you. I thought what we had was special?”
“It was. But love wears out…”
“Not true love!”
“Did we have true love?” Tumble asked.
“I thought.”
“Well you should see other guys too then. I know you want to.”
“No I don’t!” Jemima flared. “I only want you!”
“Then I’m sorry Jemima. But there is someone out there who I think is more suited for me than you. You tore me away from my friends—“
“But this queen is tearing you away from me! From the earthling race!”
“I haven’t even dated her yet!”
“Fine, Tumblebrutus. But I don’t want you to run back to me with tears running down your whiskers, saying that she hurt you bad.” Of course, that was a lie.
“I won’t.” Tumblebrutus tried to turn away, but he didn’t really want to turn away from Jemima. He loved her. He always had. But now, there seemed to be something more for him out there, with that beautiful queen ahead of him.
Finally, he got the strength to start walking away. And he didn’t look back. He didn’t want to see Jemima’s tears streaming down her pretty petite little face. But most of all, she didn’t want her to see his.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Matty could not sleep that night. Jemima’s crying drowned out everything. She couldn’t handle the pain Jemima was suffering. But she didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t believe Tumble would dump her. After all they’re… love they had. Well, she thought. But maybe Tumble had faked it. Maybe he just wasn’t ready to break her heart. But can you fake love?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mark came to visit Malisa and he brought Demeter a boquet of flowers.
“Why, thank you, Mark, how thoughtful. Might you get Jemima for—“ Mark shook his head. “No? Why not?”
He told her what happened to Jemima.
“No. Tumble wouldn’t—why?”
Mark sighed. “Her first taste of heartbreak, eh?”
Demeter nodded. “Her first real heartbreak. I need to talk to her.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“I know you wouldn’t. But I would. You watch Malisa while I find Jemima to talk to her.”
“Alright…” he agreed without argument, but he felt that this time not even Demeter’s maternal care could fix what had been broken.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Macavity looked into a pool of clouded red water, ashamed of the past. Ashamed of everyday. Ashamed of who he was and how he lived. Ashamed. It was a word that described everything that had to do with him. There was no love in his life, no daughter, no wife, no life at all. Just a cheap, dark hole. How Demeter and Malisa would brighten it right now. But there was no hope.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Jemima stared at Matty. “You didn’t have to sleep here. You could have went to your own flat,” she told her sister.
“But our flat has no heat, and it’s still winter,” Matty said calmly.
Jemima sighed. “Did I keep you awake?”
“No, of course not.”
“It’s just that, after so long, I though Tumble and I had real love… you know, something special.”
“Jem, I’d like to say I know how you feel, but I don’t. I mean, there was Ricky, but there was no love. As much as I hate to believe it, he never loved me. But we won’t look at my problems. The point is… why don’t we go talk to Pouncival?”
“Pouncival?” Jemima looked through her tears.
“He can help,” Matty said. “Trust me.”
Jemima nodded. Matty put her arm around her and they walked out of the junkyard.
Matty cracked open the door to Pouncival’s basement. She saw nothing so she let herself in.
A fork flew right across the room and stuck into the wall next to her head.
Then another.
And another.
“Pouncival?” Matty called, dodging flying forks. “What are you—AHHHHH!”
Pouncival looked up. “Oh, sorry, didn’t here you guys just barge in.”
“Sorry… I don’t do knocking…” Matty said. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? WHAT’S WRONG??? TUMBLEBRUTUS DUMPED JEMIMA!”
“He’s not stable yet…” Matty whispered to Jemmie.
“I can’t believe it. He said he loved Jemima. He said he cared for her and no other. He said he wanted to be the father of her kittens!”
Jemmie gasped.
Pouncival smacked his head and hit the prongs of his fork he was holding. “Ow…”
“It’s okay, Pounci,” Matty comforted. “We still have our insanity.”
Pouncival cracked a smile as did Jemima.
Matty sighed. This was not going to be easy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“So where’s Jemima?” Demeter asked Alonzo.
“Jemima went with Matropolis somewhere… Pouncival’s, I think.”
“You didn’t even monitor it?” Demeter exclaimed.
“Jemima’s a big girl now. She doesn’t need her big brother dragging her along or asking where she’s off to, especially when she’s pissed off.”
“Okay, Alonzo. You are so…”
“Don’t you think that’s a little drastic?”
“What? I didn’t say anything!”
“You were going to.”
“What? What was I going to say?”
“You were gonna say I was irresponsible.”
“No, I—“
“Demeter. Please. I’ve known you for too long.”
Demeter looked into Alonzo’s eyes.
He was grinning like a fool, he knew, but he couldn’t help it. Something about his last statement struck him funny.
She was holding back her laughter. She didn’t want to sound like a giggling schoolgirl. But what did it matter? She had known Alonzo forever. Why was now any different?
“Oh… well, then, I’ll just leave.”
“No,” Alonzo almost ordered, taking her arm. “Don’t go. Stay awhile.”
Stay awhile? Why did Alonzo want her to stay awhile?”
Sillabub and Mezoa peeked around the corner.
“Did you see what I seed?”
Mezoa rolled his eyes. “It’s: ‘Did you see what I saw?’ Duh!”
“Whatever. The point is, did you see it!”
“Yes!”
“That look of sinister evil from Alonzo!?” Sillabub exclaimed.
“Huh?” Mezoa looked at her. Then he smacked his forehead. “You moron, I’m talking about that look Alonzo gave Demeter and how Demeter looked into his eyes.”
“They did what?”
“Come on.” Mezoa grabbed her paw and dragged her out the back door, which was really a broken window.
“Mezoa, what kind of look could Demeter get from Alonzo? And look into his eyes? That’s easy…”
“Sillabub, you are so clueless… I’m talking about a look of love.”
Silla gasped. “How dare you think such a thing! Alonzo falling in love with Demeter!”
“Sill-a-bub,” he groaned. “I’m not trying to point that Alonzo is falling in love with Demeter, I believe he fell in love with her in the past.”
“What are you talking about? Why wouldn’t he say anything?”
“Because Demeter’s mated! She has a mate! Munkustrap!”
“Exactly. So then why Demeter look into his love with your “lovely passion” stuff?”
“Maybe she is falling in love with him now.”
“Mez, you are so stupid. That doesn’t make any sense.”
“Go back in your egg.”
Silla rolled her eyes. “Okay, so let’s say Alonzo is really in love with her. What would it matter now? He knows he can’t have her.”
“Don’t you ever read the news? Demeter’s mate is away. She’s vulnerable. If Alonzo can get to her before Munkustrap comes back, they can be mates and Munkus would be dropped out of the picture.”
“That’s horrible!” Sillabub exclaimed. “You really think Alonzo would do that?”
“Yes.”
“But I thought he wanted Bombalurina?”
“Sillabub! Keep up with the times!” Mezoa was getting annoyed. “Bomby is old news to him. She really was only a perfect figure. Every tom’s dream. But something he knew he could never have.”
“Oh…” It was all beginning to make sense in Sillabub’s mind. From Alonzo attempting to trick Demeter into being his mate, tripping Munksutrap out of the picture, and Bombalurina being “only a perfect figure,” but also a mother to three children. It was all so confusing. “I guess you’re right,” she said at last.
“Of course I’m right.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rum Tum Tugger was not amused. He looked the charade up and down , but could not guess it. He was getting very tired of Charades, but it was the only game they could think of. “I don’t know, Mungojerrie. What is it?”
“You!” Jerrie laughed.
“Yeah!” Teazer went on in a fit of giggles. “You couldn’t tell when he got a nose bleed from high altitude?”
“Funny, funny.”
“It was pretty funny,” Boxer admitted.
“Shut-up. I’ll knock the color right out of you.”
Boxer hissed. “What have you to say? I’m dating your Bombalurina!”
“She’s not mine. And she’s just playing you. Just like she does everyone.”
“She might be having another litter. Our litter.”
“That’s absurd!” Tugger roared.
“We have to stop playing Charades…” Teazer said.
“Now, now, Tugger. Don’t wanna get too up like that,” Mungojerrie said, trying to pull him back down.
“What does it matter?” Boxer laughed off his silent threat.
Tugger couldn’t answer. He wanted to tell the reason. But he couldn’t. They would just laugh him off. They wouldn’t think him serious. He just turned away in no reply.
“Alright, who’s next?” Teazer asked cheerfully, trying to change the subject.
“I’m going home,” Boxer said. “I don’t need to take this abuse from him.”
“That’s right, you can get it somehwhere else!” Tugger yelled back.
Boxer snorted and walked out.
“Jerk.”
“Tugger, maybe we should talk about this…”
“Jerrie, just go away.”
The notorious tom looked to his sister and shrugged. “Okay.” The calico twins left The Rum Tum Tugger soaking in his own tears.
Bombalurina couldn’t be in love with Boxer. Though he said that Bombalurina was not his own and that he always had his kitten girls, he knew he was lying. One by one the kittens were finding they’re mates as most cats did, and they’re were few left for him. And all along he knew he had more out there besides the kittens. But he had ignored the fact to keeping his reputation as the Curious Cat, and he was stuck with no one.
He was there alone in Pouncival’s basement. After his flat had been destroyed, taking away everything precious to him, he was left with nothing but his friends, not even those, maybe, he wasn’t sure.
There was no life left for him. No family. No home. No friends. No mate.
He was alone.
Totally alone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Macavity pitched a rock across his throne room. He couldn’t believe his rotten luck.
Fifteen minutes earlier, Quardo had rushed in the throne room without permission.
“Quardo, what are you doing?” Macavity had asked.
“Macavity, master! Demeter has been found far from Munkustrap’s home and his own presence!”
Macavity had been very excited. “And…?”
“And we found her in Alonzo’s presence.”
“Alonzo? The black and white spotted tom.”
“Yes. They seem to be slowly falling in love.”
“No! I have to get her away before they take each other!”
“But you can’t steal her away. You said so yourself.”
“Yes. But I must get her. Somehow…”
“But she won’t go with Alonzo. She’s so close with Munkustrap. They seem to love each other very much.”
“They do,” Macavity had replied glumly.
“Maybe you have a chance. Maybe you can prove your love to her above Alonzo and Munkustrap’s before her mate returns.”
“Where is Munkustrap?”
Quardo shrugged. “I don’t monitor that. You’ll have to ask Xaviel. He’s
been tracking Munkustrap since he left.”
“Is Xaviel using the Microvision Appendage Flumell and Peulmet created in the lab?”
“I’m quite certain.”
“Good. Go fetch Xaviel for me.”
Quardo had nodded and went to get Xaviel.
And Macavity was waiting for Xaviel to come and tell him where the grey and white tabby was, so he could be certain he was far enough to try and prove his love for Demeter. He didn’t want a fight.
But he was pitching rocks now to relieve his anger. He was making a plan to have Demeter fall in love with him, without forcing her or hurting her. It was not easy. The easiest thing to do would have been to kill Munkustrap and Alonzo at off-guard. But that was wrong to Demeter. Still, it was tempting.
At last he saw Quardo return with Xaviel.
“Where is he?” Macavity leapt from his ragged chair and jump to two feet, grabbing Xaviel by the neck.
“Mnkistrup?” he gasped with the little air he had.
“Yes.”
“Hiss jis owr Germgndy.”
“What?” Macaivty snapped, letting go off his neck. Xaviel drew s few deep breaths.
“He’s just over Germany.”
“Good.” That gave Macavity time to plan.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“We’ve been friends for so long,” Pouncival managed through the tears. “We told each other everything.”
“It’s okay. Tumblebrutus is going through a… phase,” Matropolis tried to think up something quick.
“But I thought we have everything you could have in a couple. I thought we had love that couldn’t be beat.”
“So did I,” Matty agreed. “But I guess not.”
“But you don’t understand—“
“Neither do you,” Matty said. “You don’t know why he left you for some queen
none of us know. And I don’t know if we ever will. But the only way to go on is to confront Tumble and tell him how he’s made you feel, and ask for some explaination.”
“I doubt there is one,” Pouncival mumbled coldly.
“Pouncival,” Matty said. “I’ve known you and Tumble since I was a tiny newborn kitten. And in all the time of known you, Tumble has always helped me with my problems, and he always has a reason for his mistakes. Now there is obviously something up, and we have to help him.”
“Matty’s right,” Pouncival sighed. “Sorry.”
“I guess,” Jemima agreed. “Let’s find him.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tugger was laying at the window seat, glancing out of the basement time and time again, looking for Bombalurina. He was in no position to talk to her, but he just wanted to see her.
Then there was a knock on the door. Tugger flew up in alarm. He fluffed his mane and wiped away his tears, then opened the door (basement window).
Tumblebrutus stood on the window pane in the shivering cold.
“Come in,” Tugger said. “What do you want?” he got back into his Rum Tum Tugger mode, which he wasn’t sure was the real him anymore.
“Tugger, I have a problem.”
“What’s new?”
“This is real,” Tumble said.
“Throw your best.”
“Well, I dumped Jemima.”
“WHAT?!?!?!?! ARE YOU POSSESSED???? ARE YOU NUTS??? HOW COULD YOU?!?!?!?!”
“Wait, lemme finish. It’s because I met this real nice queen and she shares my
interests—“
“TUMBLEBRUTUS??? HAVE YOU GONE GOO-GOO?!?!?!”
“But see—“
“TUMBLE!!! You said you LOVED Jemima!!!”
“I do… but… well… I can’t really explain it. I feel something different…
something new… something that wasn’t there before…”
“Yeah, another girl!”
“No one understands! I still love her, but I think that… it’s just… not right.”
Rum Tum Tugger sighed. “Like there’s more for you than her?”
“Exactly.”
“It’s a lie.”
“I’m not lying!”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You did so.”
“No. I didn’t. I said it’s a lie. I said that your ‘something more out there’ is a lie. Jemima is the only thing that you need.”
“How would you know?”
“Tumble… please, for once, believe me. I’ve dealt with this before… in fact I will have to deal for the rest of my life. I left what matters most to me and said I could come back later if I needed to. But I came back, and it’s too late to have her back.”
“But I won’t have to come back.”
“Of course you don’t think so now. But when you find out that Jemima is the only one—“
“Tugger, I don’t even know why I came.”
“I tried to help you, okay?! So you don’t have to pay with the pain that I do.”
“I won’t!” Tumble stormed out. Tugger fell to the floor with a fresh batch of tears.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Misto,” Trav said with a grin. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” Mistoffelees replied without removing his paws from her eyes.
Trav giggled a little. “Why can’t you tell me?”
“It’s a surprise, I told you that!” They walked a litte further. Travie could surprisingly feel soft grass beneath her feet instead of snow. “Okay—open your eyes.”
Travie opened her eyes.
There before her was a harbor. A harbor of a great river that leaed to the ocean.
“Oh, Misto… it’s beautiful!”
“And you’re going to be on top of it.”
“What?”
“You’re going on a personal cruise—just the two of us.”
“Misto—you’re serious?”
He nodded.
“Misto!” she threw her arms around him and hugged him.
“Wow,” he whispered to himself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mark and Malisa wondered where Demeter had gone. She had been gone for quite sometime, and not too long ago they had seen Jemima and Matropolis cross to Pouncival’s basement.
“Where’d Mommy go?” Malisa asked Mark.
“I don’t know,” he replied honestly.
“I miss her.”
“I hope she’ll be back soon.” Malisa rubbed against Mark and he held her. “I think she’ll be home soon.”
The phone rang. Mark slowly set Malisa alone on the couch as he went to answer it.
“Hello?” he asked.
“Hey, it’s Matty.”
“Hi, Matty.”
“Look, have you seen Tumblebrutus?”
“No. Have you seen Demeter?”
“No.”
Mark sighed. “Demeter left to find Jemima and never came back.”
“Well, Jem’s right here with us. And we’re looking for Tumble so we can get and explaination out of him,” Matty informed him.
“Can you come over here? Maybe we can talk more about it here.”
“Alright. Will be there in a few minutes.”
Mark said bye and hung up. “Malisa,” he said softly. “Malisa.”
“Uh?”
“We’re going to have some visitors soon.”
“Oh goodie,” she said tiredly. Mark tucked a blanket around her and she silently fell asleep.
He looked out the window for Demeter, but she had not yet come around. He wondered where she could be.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bombalurina had watched Travisina come in the house, scream in complete glee about what Misto had done for her, and then fainted. Bombalurina had smiled in pure happiness.
She wondered where Boxer was. She had started dating him and was no longer sure if she could go on with him. She missed someone very dearly, like she had never missed anyone before. She thought she could just drift in life flirting and having litters with any tom that caught her eye, but now there was someone she wanted more, and was more or less ashamed that her kittens had no father.
Boxer wanted her to have his kittens. And she told him that she would think about it. And she was.
But she was thinking not. She didn’t want to have anymore kittens with just any tom. There was one tim she wished to spend the rest of time with, and it was not Boxer. Furthermore, Travisina, CT, Socketlarose and Beezlebub did not know who their real father was. Bomby was not even certain they were all from the same tom. CT, Socketlarose and Beezlebub were from the same litter, but Travisina had been a litter of one, from whom she did not know, and was not sure she’d ever know.
Which was why she decided Boxer could not be her mate. She didn’t want a tom that she couldn’t always love. She wanted one tom in the world. The only problem was she wasn’t sure if he wanted her. He had his reasons not to.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Mezoa, I can’t see anything!” Sillabub loudly whispered, trying to look over Mezoa’s head. They were peeking through a window.
“There’s nothing to see.”
“Then why are you looking?”
“Because I’m used to this stuff. If anything happens, I’ll tell you.”
“I wanna see!” Sillabub wailed.
“Shh! Do you want them to see us?”
“They won’t see me, so who cares?”
“Ughhh!” Mezoa lifted her on his shoulders. “Now be quiet!”
Alonzo was serving Demeter a glass of milk in a wine glass.
“Where’d he get those?” Silla asked Mezoa.
Mezoa shrugged. “Just watch.”
“So Alonzo,” Demeter began. “Why do you want me here?”
“Just the company, makes me feel better. You know, not so alone?”
“Well, because, I left Mark with Malisa, and—“
“They’ll be fine,” Alonzo asured her. “Now, why don’t you tell me now you and Malisa are doing?”
“Oh, we’re doing quite well, I think.”
No reply.
“Alonzo? Alonzo?”
“Wha—what? Oh, sorry. I was just… looking at the sky…”
“He was not!” Silla hissed a whisper to Mezoa. “He was looking into her eyes!”
“I know, I know. Just watch, you party pooper!”
So they began their watch again.
The two cats chatted and chatted, Alonzo continuously glancing into Demeter’s eyes and Demeter looking him up and down. Mezoa began to fear that he was right—they really were falling in love. And if they were, it wasn’t going to be good for dear little Malisa. Or Munkustrap.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Macavity suddenly got a brilliant idea.
“We have to get Munkustrap back in the junkyard!”
“What?” Drenil looked up from the fixed milk he was erving Macavity, which had all sorts of ‘added preservatives’. “But why…?”
“Because, if Alonzo kisses Demeter, and we have Munkustrap accidently marching in on them, then Alonzo and Demeter won’t stay together, Munkustrap and Demeter won’t stay together, and I have and easier playing field.”
“That’s a good plan, sir, but—“
“I know it is.”
“—But how will we get Munkustrap back in the junkyard?”
“That’s for you and your fellow rats to figure out.”
Drenil sighed. “Yes, sir.”
The white and brown and orange splotched tom went to find Aggneis. She was working in the lab with the Microvision Appendage. He had found a fuzzy picture of Munkustrap coming through. Flumell was working right beside him, trying to focus a better picture.
“Has he found his sister?” Drenil asked.
“No,” Flumell replied. “We’re trying to get a better picture.”
“Well, I have a new project for you.”
Flumell and Aggneis looked up from their work. “What?” Flumell asked.
“Get Munkustrap back in the junkyard.”
“What?!” Aggneis exclaimed. “We’ve been working for over a week not, trailing him all the way to Germany, and now you want us to bring him back.”
“No. Macavity wants you to bring him back.”
“But how?” Flumell asked.
“That’s for you to figure out.” And with that, Drenil turned around and left.
“So what do we do?” Flumell asked Aggneis.
“Well… he’s looking for his sister, Meteress. Where is she?”
“I don’t know!” Flumell snapped. “We never set a microdisc in her fur.”
“Are you sure? Mac said he found her a long time ago, but she wasn’t of his working type, so he set a microdisc on her, then sent her to Hellyard.”
“Where’s that?” Flumell asked.
“I don’t know. It’s the underground prison-school beneath London City Hall, as far as I know,” Aggneis told him.
“Maybe we can program her in and find her then?”
“Let’s try.”
They made some adjustments, then looked in the hundreds of files that were spread in the file room for ‘Meteress’. There she was, finally. Her number was 780097. That just went to show how many microdiscs Mac had planted.
They put in the number, and found her. She was still in the prison-school, locked in a cell near the end.
“So what we need to do,” Aggneis began, “is get her out of there, bring her to Munkustrap and then get them back here quickly.”
Flumell grinned. “Brilliant.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Matty, Jemima and Pouncival showed up at the Vicarage Wall to meet Mark. Mark was waiting outside for them patiently, yet he was jumping with excitement.
“Have you seen Demeter?!?!?!?!” Mark exclaimed.
Matty put her paw on Mark’s shoulder to calm him down. Actually, she only put her paw on his shoulder to feel his warm fur, but no one had to know that.
“We hadn’t seen her ten minutes ago, and we still haven’t.”
“Right. It’s just, I don’t know where she could have gone!”
“We can’t find Tumblebrutus!”
“I know. Do you think they’re together.”
“No,” Pounci said.
“Scratch that idea…”
“We should find them, if you have Malisa,” Matty told him.
“I know. And we should find Tumble so we can see what’s going on.”
“Have you looked in the city?”
“No. Munkus’ll kill me if I don’t have parental guidance.” Jemima nodded.
“I can be your guidance,” Pouncival said. “I count as a teen.”
“Okay. I hope we find them soon… no one seems to know where they are.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Quardo had claimed to be Meteress’ guardian, come to take her home. Meteress knew that Quardo was in no relation, but she couldn’t object. There was no escape yet.
As soon as they were away from the prison-school, Meteress fought him.
“Let me go!” She demanded.
Quardo grabbed her closer and covered her mouth with his paw. “Don’t move… I’m taking you to see Munkustrap.” She raised her eyebrows.
“What?”
“Your brother. And if you keep moving, you’re going to die before you get there.”
She slowed her struggle in hope that he was telling the truth.
Suddenly, she saw the black and white tabby in her sight. She struggled to run to him, screaming as loud as she could with a paw stifling her.
Munkustrap seemed to hear something behind him and he whirled around. When he saw his sister in another cat’s paws, he was immediately enraged. He leapt at Quardo in complete fury, knocking him over. Meteress was freed.
He ran to her and hugged her. “Meteress! I’ve missed you so!”
“So have I…”
They stuck together. Quardo climbed to his feet and dusted himself off. Then he evilly grinned to the siblings embracing. “Okay, suckers, now that I’ve reunited you, it’s time to go home.”
In the blink of an eye, they disappeared from the streets, and into the Jellicle Junkyard.
Back in the junkyard Quardo introduced himself as friend, mentioning nothing of Macavity. He tipped his hat, then was gone.
“What a nice young tom,” Meteress said at last. “And I thought he was going to kill me!”
“Come now… you must see The Rum Tum Tugger.”
“Oh is that his title now?” She laughed joyously.
“Yes. I think so.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“I have an idea!” Matty declared. “Let’s ask Tugger!”
“Like he’d know…” Pouncival grumbled, getting tired of listening to Jemima’s babbling and whimper.
“Maybe he would… I think I saw him comign from there…” Jem managed.
“No you didn’t… you were with us,” Pounci growled.
“Then I felt it.”
“Can we just ask without all this bickering? Maybe is there.”
“Fine.”
So they walked to Tugger’s, Pounci and Jemima still silently fighting with their eyes.
When they arrived at The Rum Tum Tugger’s little abode, there were already visitors. They were Munkustrap and his sister, Meteress.
And Tugger was crying.
They all rushed in.
“What is going on???” Matty demanded.
“It’s Tumble… he’s gone off to some other queen… he’s making a big mistake…”
“You’re telling me,” Jemima added.
“Have you seen Demeter?” Mark asked.
“Isn’t she looking for Jemima?” Tugger asked.
“She is?” Jemima asked.
“Then… she’s at Alonzo’s shack… that’s perty much the only place you’d ever be,” Pouncival put in.
“Wait, wait,” Munkustrap interupted. “My Demeter is missing?”
“Not really missing…” Matty tried to say, so as not to get him all upset.
“SHE’S MISSING???”
Matty nodded.
“Now calm down, my brother,” Meteress said. “We will find your love.”
“We’ll go to Alonzo’s Shack… I’ll bet she’s there…”
“But no one was home when I was there… except for Alonzo,” Matty said, but once she had she wished she hadn’t.
Munkustrap got a mixed look of anger, fear, jealousy and mistrust, which was not normal for him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“This is horrible!” Silla whispered.
“I know!” Mezoa hissed back. “But you got to be quiet. If we’re found, not only will we get our asses kicked, but we’ll never find out what happens.
Inch by inch, Alonzo and Demeter were coming closer, closer… and closer yet.
“What if it happens?”
“Silla!” Mezoa hushed her quietly.
Meanwhile, not at all far from the shack, was Pouncival, Jemima, Mark, Malisa, Matty, Munkustrap and Meteress. And they were just about to open the door...
The door flung open; Alonzo and Demeter kissed.
Munkustrap couldn’t speak. His vocal chords were numb or something, because he could not say a word.
Only Matty, as always, was able to sputter something towards her brother. “A-A-A-Alonzo—what the hell are you doing?”
“I… I…” he has immediately drawn back from Demeter when the group had flung open the door, and currently Demeter was in shock horror.
“I… don’t… believe… this…” Munkustrap managed.
“Munkustrap… I didn’t mean too… I was… just looking for Jemima…”
“It looks like you’re looking for Alonzo’s tonsils,” Matty snapped unkindly.
Just then Rum Tum Tugger walked in the open doorway with Tumblebrutus by his side.
“Tumble!” Jemima ran with open arms, but he turned her away.
“No. I didn’t come here to ask for you back. I came here to tell you that… I’m sorry it can’t be… how you want it.”
“Hey man, this is like, a bad time,” Pouncival said.
“No… I’m sorry…”
“You’ll miss me when I’m gone,” Jemima whispered.
“What?” Tumble turned around.
“When I’m not here to bother you any more, you’ll miss me when I’m gone.”
And with that, Jemima turned from Tumble and walked out the door. Tumble just stood dumbfounded, not sure what to make of it all. Munkustrap looked like he was going to cry, Demeter looked shocked, embarrassed and ashamed. Alonzo was obviously searching his mind for an excuse, and couldn’t find a good one. Matty was standing next to Pouncival who was staring at the whole scene in awe, and Matty was glaring at Alonzo in absolute shame.
“Alonzo… how could you? How… why…” was all Matty seemed to be able to manage. And she half expected a good explanation but knew that if there was—and there wasn’t—he couldn’t speak.
Mark hugged Malisa tightly. She looked purely hurt, and why shouldn’t she? Her own mother, caught with a tom that she really didn’t know. Mark stroked her head to try and make her feel better, but it wasn’t working. Tears streamed down her face and Demi’s expression fell.
Just when no one had nothing else to say, they were all going to just walk away from the problem, not sure what would happen. Hoping that when they opened the door they would wake up and none of this ever happened. Or they’d fall off the edge of the earth, and never have to worry about this happening. When Malisa wiped her tears away and bravely walked up to her mother.
“Mommy,” she said. Demi looked at her with tearing eyes. “Don’t you love me?”
Demi was hurt. She wanted to turn away, but couldn’t. Her own daughter didn’t know how much she loved her. Her life hadn’t been complete without her.
“Malisa… of course I love you.”
“Then—then why don’t you tell me?”
“I do.”
“Then tell me. Please.”
Demi rubbed against her daughter. “I love you. Why wouldn’t I?”
“You hurt me, Mommy. You said you’d always be there for me, and for Daddy. And you made him cry.”
Munkustrap looked up. Malisa called him ‘Daddy’? He rushed up and hugged Malisa. Then he looked Demi eye-to-eye. “I love you too, Demeter. But I just want to know…”
“I… I don’t know. I didn’t mean for it too happen… I didn’t, really. I wish it had never happened but…”
“It did. And what is done is done,” Munkustrap finished.
“Is there anyway I can apologize…? Please? I don’t want it to be like this…” Demeter was crying now, and couldn’t stop. “I don’t want to lose you… and Alonzo… I’ve loved him for so long but… not like this.”
“You just did.” Munkustrap gave Demeter a kiss and their dilemma ended.
Alonzo bravely stood in front of Munkustrap. “I’m sorry. I know that it’ll never be the same. But I didn’t mean for this to happen.” And then he turned around and walked towards to his room. “Matty,” he said, without turning, “show them the door, please.”
Munkustrap and Demeter led Meteress out of the shack instantly after saying good-bye to the others, but Mark insisted that Malisa stay with him for awhile. Demeter nodded in a teary agreement.
Pouncival sighed.
“I know, wasn’t that so sad?” Mark asked.
“Yeah, I wish I had my camera. That would made big on the markets. I could see it now—‘Faithful Wife Cheats on Husband with Old Playmate’. Yeah.”
Mark shook his head. “I guess so.”
Mezoa and Sillabub came out from their hiding.
“We saw it all!” Mezoa exclaims. “And Silla found a No-Flash camera in the meantime!”
“Yes!” Pouncival snatched the camera out of Mezoa’s paws.
“You guys!” Mark exclaimed, motioning to Malisa. “This is her mother you’re talking about here.”
“Oh, sorry, Malisa,” Sillabub said, hugging her. “It’s okay, kid. It’ll all be okay.”
“No it won’t,” Alonzo appeared in the doorway.
“Huh?” Matty looked up in puzzlement, but then she saw Alonzo again and her face stoned coldly.
“It isn’t. It won’t be okay till I’m out of her life.”
Matty rolled her eyes and whispered to Pouncival and Mark, “He’s always like this when he loses a girlfriend.”
Alonzo heard her. “But I’m serious this time. I have always loved Demeter, and I know I can’t have her. Staying here will only make her life harder.”
Matty’s angry face turned to one of concern. “Are you saying what I think you are?”
“I’m leaving.”
“NO!” Matty wailed. “You can’t!”
“But I haven’t to.”
“Alonzo, don’t be stupid,” Mezoa said. “That’s ridiculous.”
“No, staying here is ridiculous.”
“But where would you go?” Silla asked. “This is your home—The Jellicle Junkyard—for Jellicles.”
“But I don’t want to do anymore damage than I already have. I can’t just stop loving Demeter, so I’ll just stay away from her.”
“Nooo,” Malisa insisted along with the others. “She wouldn’t like that. She’d miss you.”
“It’s better that way,” Alonzo replied.
They all just stared at him. It sounded like this had been what he was really planning to do—kiss Demi and run away.
No one knew what to say. They didn’t know how to stop him from doing what he wanted to. Maybe he was right, after all. Wasn’t it better if he stayed away from Demeter, to avoid anymore incidents like this?
No. Matty decided this just couldn’t be. She couldn’t let her older brother just walk away from his friends and family because of one mistake. They could make things better. True, things would never be like they once were, but he had to stay. She couldn’t go on without him. Who would pick on her? Who would she tease? Who’s socks would she chew up? Who’s dates would she ruin? And who would insist she liked Mark while she lied—er, insisted she didn’t?
“Alonzo… you can’t go.”
“But I am.”
“No,” Matty said. “Don’t you remember when I was a kitten, and you always told me I couldn’t run from my problems?”
“But this is different,” Alonzo said.
“Don’t you? Remember when Jonathan had a crush on me, but he was on catnip and I just wanted him to stay away from me? But you insisted we solved the problem instead of ran from it?”
“ But Matty…”
“Or, what about when Matty was mad at me?” Pouncival brought up. “And you helped her come to smooth things out instead of avoid me?”
“Or what about when—“
“Okay, I’ll try and stay!” Alonzo interupted Sillabub. “But I don’t wanna hurt anyone else.”
Matty smiled broadly. “Don’t worry. I think you got a Guardian Angel.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Macavity glared at Drenil then grabbed him by his neck. “Why didn’t this worK?” he hissed.
“I don’t know! It wasn’t my plan! The last I ever heard of it was from Flumell and Aggneis!” Macavity dropped him. Drenil rubbed his neck and with releif watched Macavity stalk off to the laboratory.
“FLUMELL!!!! AGGNEIS!!!” The two cats jumped over their file banks at the sound of his voice.
“Macavity… how are you this afternoon…?” Flumell asked nervously, knowing perfectly well the plan hadn’t worked.
“Why didn’t it work?”
“What?” Aggneis pretended to look surprised. “The plan? It didn’t work?”
Mac took a hard blow in Aggneis’s lying face. “Why?”
“I tell you it was perfeectly workable! It must have been soemthing Quardo did,” Flumell said, “he was the one who was suppose to follow it all through!”
Mac turned from them. “Where is Quardo?”
Flumell shrugged. “He was suppose to be bringing Meteress and Munkustrap to when Demeter was kissing Alonzo, but according to the radar, Meteress and Munkustrap and Demeter are all back at the Vicarage Wall.”
Mac got a feirce look in his eyes. “Quardo.”
He found Quardo pertending to sleep under some rags.
“QUARDO!”
“I’m awake, I yam…” He looked up to see an angry-looking Mac, and he looked at his front paws. “It didn’t work, did it?”
“D’you see Demeter standing next to me lovingly.”
Quardo grumbled to himself, “You could’ve just raped her.”
Mac grabbed Quardo by the neck and raised him up. “Don’t ever bring that up ever again.” He dropped Quardo.
As Mac walked away, Quardo sats, dumbfounded. “What? Was it something I said?” Mac continued to walk away, and Quardo shouted, “If you won’t, I will! Hmmph. What a rude guy…”
