After they had delivered the “mayor’s” message to the construction manager, they had hid out in his bushes and waited for him to receive it. When he did, he had gone inside and they followed him in. He had called his boss and told him that the “mayor” didn’t want them to knock down the junkyard and that he should stop immediately. From listening in on the other extension, Bombalurina had heard that the boss had pushed the construction day up two days. Then, satisfied, the two cats had scampered away to a tree in the park to discuss this new information.

Demeter laughed. “I can’t believe the poor guy actually thought that the mayor wrote that letter.” She sounded very relieved.

“This is great!” cheered Bombalurina. “Now we have two and a half whole days to decide how we’re gonna stop the construction from happening!”

Demeter stopped laughing. “We should go and tell the others the great news!”

“Yeah,” agreed Bombalurina. “Let’s go!”

They expertly climbed out of the tree and dashed off in the direction of the junkyard.

* * * “I can still feel that stupid Pollicle’s hot breath in my face,” complained Mungojerrie. And he could. That mangy mutt had been breathing in his face the whole time, and now Mungojerrie’s face felt like it was burning.

They had all given up on finding the ultimate junkyard, and decided to search some more tomorrow. Right now they were all headed back to their junkyard.

“Well,” said Rum Tum Tugger, shrugging. “Scratch that junkyard.”

“Hey, come on Misto, spill,” urged Alonzo. “Where did you send the Pollicles off to?”

Mistoffelees laughed. “I sent them on a well-deserved vacation to… Japan!” Tugger and Alonzo broke out into fits of laughter.

“Hey, I don’t get it,” said Alonzo in between laughs. “If you sent the dogs to a tropical island or whatever, why can’t we take that junkyard?”

“’Cuz there could be more than just those two, you idiot,” said Tugger, stating the obvious.

“Actually, there were three,” corrected Mistoffelees.

“Whatever.”

Mungojerrie was about to say something about how Mistoffelees didn’t have to correct everyone when they were wrong, when he heard Munkustrap sigh. Mungojerrie stopped walking alongside the others, and stopped and looked at Munkustrap. “What’s wrong, Munku?” he asked.

Munkustrap sighed again. “It’s… oh, it’s everything. I feel like whatever happens is my responsibility. And if we don’t find a junkyard in time, if it just so happens that Demeter and Bombalurina aren’t successful, then… where would we be without our junkyard? What would happen to the Jellicles?”

“Don’t worry,” assured Mungojerrie. “I’m sure Bomb and Demi are fine. And if they don’t succeed, I’m also sure we’ll find another junkyard… somewhere.”

“Hey dudes! You coming or what?” called Tugger. “We’re at our junkyard already!”

“Be right there!” shouted Mungojerrie back to him. Then to Munkustrap, “Hey Munku? Just remember I’m always ‘ere for ya, okay?”

Munkustrap nodded. They both ran to catch up to the small group at the front entrance of the junkyard. Their junkyard.

* * * Demeter shaded her eyes against the sun. She and Bombalurina were almost back to the junkyard. In fact, they were no more than twenty, thirty feet away from it. Demeter could just make out five figures duck underneath the secret entranceway…

“Oh!” she cried out. “Bomb, it’s Munkustrap! And Mistoffelees, and Mungojerrie, and Alonzo, and… and Tugger!”

Bombalurina turned her head to the direction Demeter was pointing. “Yeah! Yeah, you’re right!” she said excitedly. “Hey!” she called over to the toms. “Hey you guys, over here! It’s us, Bomb and Demeter!”

Demeter heard a muffled “Huh?” and a “What?” then she heard Munkustrap clearly shout, “Hi! Why don’t you come over here and tell us how you did?”

“Okay!” yelled Demeter back to him. Then she said to Bombalurina, “Come on, let’s run!”

Bombalurina smiled. The two queens ran side by side as quickly as they could to the waiting toms. Mungojerrie was sticking his head out of the entrance and smiling at Bombalurina and Demeter. Alonzo and Mistoffelees were nowhere to be seen. Demeter figured that they were already inside the junkyard. Tugger looked like he was about to go inside before the two queens arrived. Munkustrap was standing dutifully at the back of the line.

Demeter skidded to a stop in the dusty ground, almost running into a startled Munkustrap. Bombalurina narrowly avoided crashing into Tugger. “Hey guys,” said Bombalurina.

Munkustrap smiled at Demeter. “So, how did it go?” asked Munkustrap.

Demeter grinned and Bombalurina. “Should we tell them, or wait until we can tell everyone at once?” asked Demeter.

“Tell us what?” said a voice from above.

Demeter looked up. Mistoffelees was standing on the fence, balancing dangerously. But he didn’t seem the least bit worried that he might fall. “Tell us what?” he repeated.

“First of all,” said Bombalurina, “How did you get up there?” She cocked her head at him questioningly.

Mistoffelees laughed. “That’s for me to know, and for you to never find out.”

“How did I know he was going to say that,” grumbled Bombalurina.

Demeter smiled. “Oh, let’s just tell them now.”

“Okay.” Bombalurina nodded. “Do you… do you want to do the honors?”

“Fine with me,” said Demeter. She turned back to Munkustrap. “We… were successful,” she said vaguely.

“And?”

“We got the construction pushed up to a whole two and a half days!” exclaimed Demeter.

“Great!” said Munkustrap, grinning. “The others are all still in hiding, although Skimble had to leave because he was late for the train, so why don’t we go in there to tell them?”

* * * Victoria lazily rolled a green and blue marble over to a bored-looking Jemima. Jemima sighed and shoved the marble away. “What is it, Jem?” asked Victoria.

Jemima rolled over on her back. “I dunno… I’m just worried about what’s going to happen to our junkyard.” She laughed softly. “And I’m also desperately bored…”

“Well, I can fix that problem,” said Victoria, determined. “C’mon.”

Jemima looked up. “Where are you going?”

Victoria cocked her head in the direction of a shadowy place that only she had ever ventured. “Just come here,” she ordered. “I’ll show you.”

“Um… okay,” Jemima said uncertainly. She rose to her feet and walked slowly over to her friend. “So… what’s so great about over here?”

Victoria laughed. “I’ll just have to show you where ‘here’ is. Just… just follow me and DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING.” She gestured to an old wooden fence someone had dumped in the secret hiding place a long time ago. “Here is in there.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind,” said Victoria quickly, knowing that she might be confusing the poor calico. “The place I want to show you is in there.”

“In there?” echoed Jemima. “But that’s a fence! There’s nothing in the-"

“Yes there is,” said Victoria firmly. “Only I have been in there.” And Mistoffelees, she added to herself. But Jemima didn’t have to know that. The only reason he was in there before was because he had been spying on her for who knows why, and saw her go in there. She made him promise not to tell anyone about it, and he said that he would, as long as she showed him what was in there. Victoria gave in, because she knew that if she said no, he would have gone in anyway when she wasn’t there. So he saw what was inside, told her it was cool and promised not to tell a soul about it. And Victoria trusted him, and so far he hasn’t told anyone.

She pawed at one of the boards in the fence, and it came open slightly. Victoria saw Jemima duck down lower to see what was inside. “Wow,” said Jemima in awe. She smiled a small smile.

Victoria smiled proudly. “Follow me.” She started to go inside when a voice interrupted to the two cats.

“All Jellicles! All Jellicles, to the tire,” called a voice that Victoria suspected was Munkustrap. “The work men aren’t here anymore, so it’s safe. Repeat: all Jellicles to the tire. Important meeting.”

Victoria sighed. “I guess I’ll have to show you some other time.”

Jemima nodded. “Okay. But for now, let’s go see what Misto and Tugger and all them guys did and what Bomb and Demi figured out!” she said excitedly.

They followed the steady stream of Jellicles out the back entrance. “Victoria!” she heard Jellylorum call. “Jemima! Where are you two?”

“Right here!” called Victoria back.

Jellylorum rushed up to the two cats. “There you are!” She nuzzled Victoria. “I was looking all over for you! Where were you?”

“We were, uh, playing,” said Victoria quickly, before Jemima could say anything.

“Okay, that’s fine, but from now on tell me where you’re going off to,” said Jellylorum sternly.

“Yes mother,” said Victoria quietly.

“Jemima!” cried Jellylorum, as if she just noticed the young calico. “Jenny is searching for you even harder than the people on Skimble’s train have to. You’d better go find your mother, she’ll be even more worried than I was.”

“Okay!” Jemima dashed off to find Jennyanydots.

As soon as Jemima was reunited with Jennyanydots, Jellylorum turned back to Victoria. “Where is that sister of yours?” she asked, sighing.

“Oh, you mean Etcetera?” said Victoria. She quickly scanned the area. She spotted Etcetera over by Jemima and Electra, talking. Jennyanydots was trying to keep the kittens on walking out the back entrance of the secret hideout. “She’s over there!” Victoria pointed.

Jellylorum sighed again, this time with relief. “I suppose I could let her talk with Electra and Jemima for a while.”

“Uh! Not fair!” protested Victoria. “If she gets to talk with them, why can’t I?”

Jellylorum groaned, then laughed. “Fine, fine. You’re only a kitten so long. Go and have your fun.”

“You mean it?”

“I sure do,” answered Jellylorum.

“Thanks!” Victoria smiled brightly. “Thank you so much!” She ran off in the direction of her friends.

* * * “Really?” squealed Jemima. “He really said that?” She and her sister, Electra, and her friend, Etcetera, were doing the usual thing kittens did. They were talking and giggling about… stuff.

Etcetera nodded eagerly. “Yes! I asked him myself!”

“And then what did Mistoffelees say?” pressed Electra.

“What about Mistoffelees?” said a voice from behind the three kittens.

They whirled around. Victoria was standing in front of them, looking curious. She cocked her head at them quizzically. “Are you guys talking about Mistoffelees?” she asked.

Jemima glanced at Etcetera and Electra. Actually, they were talking about Mistoffelees, but they couldn’t tell Victoria. “What are we gonna do, she knows!” she whispered urgently to her sister, Electra. Electra gave her a look that said, Make something up, we can’t let her know the truth.

“Uh… um…” Jemima stammered. “We were…”

“We were just talking about what a cute couple you guys make,” said Etcetera quickly.

Victoria laughed. “Thanks for your optimistic views, guys, but I doubt he even notices me.”

“Are you kidding?” laughed Electra. “He told me himself”—

“No!” hissed Jemima so only Electra could hear her. She nudged Electra, causing her almost to fall over.

“Hey!” cried Electra.

“You guys, be quiet,” warned Etcetera.

“Okay, what’s going on?” demanded Victoria. “Why are you guys talking about Mistoffelees and I can’t know?”

“Uh…” The three kittens exchanged glances.

Victoria glared at them. “Fine! If that’s how you want to be…” She didn’t finish her sentence. She just turned and stamped away.

Uh oh, thought Jemima. That did not go too well.

“What are we gonna do?” said Etcetera. “Victoria’s mad at us now, and it’s all because we wanted to surprise her with the fact that Mistoffelees actually does like”-

“Shush!” whispered Jemima. “Here comes Cassandra, and you know how much she loves to eavesdrop on us.” They were all quiet.

Suddenly Jennyanydots was saying in a loud voice, “Come along now, we have to go see what this meeting is all about.” She started guiding the kittens out the back door and over to the tire.

Jemima looked longingly at her best friend Victoria, who was walking all alone and looking dejected. She felt a pang of guilt. We should have told her, she thought sadly.

* * * Mistoffelees smiled at the thought of the good news the Jellicles were about to hear. He just loved telling people good news, because it made them happy, and that made him happy. And this was about as good as the news could get, unless the news was that the construction on the junkyard was cancelled completely.

He and Mungojerrie, Alonzo, Bombalurina, Tugger, Demeter, and Munkustrap were waiting on the big tire to announce to the whole tribe that they had two more days to think of something to save the junkyard. Why, even Old Deuteronomy was there to announce it. I guess Old D must like telling good news as much as I do, thought Mistoffelees to himself, smiling.

Munkustrap was doing a head count to make sure everyone was there. That’s a lot of Jellicles, laughed Mistoffelees in his head. Well, minus Skimble of course. Skimbleshanks, Mistoffelees’ best friend, had to leave early because he was late for his train. So Mistoffelees went ahead and told him the news, and he was overjoyed. He could imagine how happy the other Jellicles would be if Skimble was so excited. Then again, Skimble always seemed excited about everything.

“Okay, that’s everybody,” Mistoffelees heard Munkustrap mumble. “We can start now.” He turned to Mistoffelees. “Would you like to tell everyone what we found?”

Mistoffelees nodded eagerly. “Great! You know how much I”—

“I know, I know,” said Munkustrap, laughing. “I know how much you love to tell good news.”

They had all decided that the first junkyard that they checked out the other day would be fine if all failed. It was a pretty decent size, and had plenty of hiding places and a wide-open space for the Jellicles Ball. Plus, it was easily accessible for all of the Jellicles, with the exception of Skimble. He was always traveling on the train so much, sometimes it was hard for him to make it to the Jellicles Ball. But no matter what, he was always there.

The only downside to the junkyard they had picked was that… well… it just wasn’t their junkyard. Their junkyard was being torn down. And if they couldn’t stop it, then it wouldn’t be their junkyard anymore. Their junkyard would be the one that he, Munkustrap, Alonzo, Mungojerrie, and Tugger picked out. But that was the only bad thing about it.

“May I have your attention everyone,” said Munkustrap in a loud, important voice. “I have assembled you all here to update you on what’s happening in this junkyard. I believe you all have a right to know what’s going on, so we’re here to tell you that. First of all, here’s Mistoffelees to update you on our search for a new junkyard.”

Mistoffelees smiled and stepped up beside Munkustrap on the tire. “As you know,” he said, “Munkustrap, Mungojerrie, Rum Tum Tugger, Alonzo, and myself have been on a quest for a new junkyard. We have been successful in finding one. There is a pretty large junkyard, maybe even larger than this one, just south from here. It has more than plenty of room for all of you, and lots of room for more, if we ever feel like accepting new Jellicles. We could show it to all of you if you like.” He stepped back and joined Alonzo over on the far side of the tire.

“Thank you Misto,” Munkustrap said. “Now, Bombalurina and Demeter would like to share something with all of you.” He nodded to them to step forward.

“Demeter and myself have gone to the mayor’s office to write a letter to the manager of the construction,” Bombalurina said proudly. “We delivered it to the manager, and…” She motioned for Demeter to finish the rest of the good news.

“And,” said Demeter, smiling. “The construction has been pushed up to two more days!”

All the Jellicles cheered and some of the kittens jumped up and down with excitement. All except Victoria who, Mistoffelees noticed, was sitting all by herself looking miserable.

Mistoffelees frowned. That wasn’t the Victoria he knew. Victoria was usually happy and cheerful. He’d have to find out what was wrong with her. Maybe he could cheer her up.

Then he saw Victoria back away, trying to look unnoticed, into the secret place she had shown Mistoffelees not too long ago. Okay, something’s definitely wrong, thought Mistoffelees worriedly. It wasn’t like her to skip out on important meeting like these. He wasn’t going to wait until later to ask her, he was going to go now.

He glanced over at the others on the tire with him. He was going to tell them where he was going. He saw Tugger whispering something into Mungojerrie’s ear, and Mungojerrie smiled and almost laughed. When Tugger noticed Mistoffelees staring at them, he quickly turned away.

Mistoffelees cocked his head questioningly. Is Tugger still mad at me for calling him a bore at the Ball? he wondered. I was only teasing. He should know that! Or… does he not trust me? Mistoffelees and Tugger hadn’t always gotten along together, but they were always there for each other. And now Tugger was turning on him?

Feeling totally confused, Mistoffelees crept away without anyone noticing him. I don’t get it, he thought to himself. Nobody is even noticing I’m leaving! Does nobody care at all? Then he shook his head and leaped off the tire in the direction of Victoria’s hiding place. Maybe I’m just overreacting. At least, I hope I am.

* * * Victoria ran off to the sanctuary of her secret place. Nobody will find me here, she thought. She ducked through the rotting entrance and stepped into her secret lair.

There was a small hole in the roof of her hiding place. Sunlight streamed through it and left a sunny spot right in the center. Victoria could hear Munkustrap faintly through that crack.

Her hiding place was literally in the big tire. Well, half-and-half. Half of Victoria’s hiding place was behind the big tire, and the other half circled around inside the tire and ended in the center. She had dragged a pretty hand-woven rug and set it down on the ground. There was a wooden chair with only three legs sitting in the corner. And the place was stacked wall-to-wall with beautiful paintings. Victoria sighed and curled up quietly onto the rug.

“Hello?” said a voice behind her.

“Huh?” Victoria jumped up and whirled around. Mistoffelees was poking his head in the entrance and smiling at Victoria. She glared at him hard. Then her gaze softened as she said softly, “What are you doing here?”

Mistoffelees’ smile disappeared. “I wanted to know if you were okay. I saw you sneak away from the meeting and I figured something was wrong with you.” His eyes wandered around the room. “Can I… come in?” he asked politely.

“Oh!” cried Victoria. “Oh yeah, go ahead.” Mistoffelees dodged his way around the rotting wood and walked over to Victoria. “Are you okay?” he asked her. “You seem kind of… sad.”

Victoria sighed heavily. “You could put it that way. Just common girl stuff, all my friends are keeping secrets from me.” At that she saw Mistoffelees’ eyes widen. He gave her a strange smile. “Are you okay?” questioned Victoria. “You aren’t really acting like yourself.” The Mistoffelees she was used to was always ready to tell a joke or amuse her with small tricks. He was acting strangely quiet.

“Oh, just common guy stuff, all my friends are keeping secrets from me,” laughed Mistoffelees. But at the same time he looked a little dejected, the same way Victoria felt.

“You too?” asked Victoria, surprised. “Who?”

Mistoffelees avoided her eyes. “I just saw Mungo and Tugger whispering and they looked like they weren’t planning on including me. I guess I kind of overreacted just a little.”

Victoria looked at him sympathetically. “It’s okay. I guess maybe I overreacted too,” she confessed. “Come on. Let’s go back outside and see what else Munkustrap has to say.”

* * * “… so we’re going to have to work as hard as possible to win this battle for our home,” Munkustrap was saying.

Jemima felt a little shiver of excitement. This was it! They were fighting for their junkyard. And they had only three more days. She couldn’t wait to help out!

As if she was reading the kitten’s thoughts, Jennyanydots said loudly, “Jemima and Electra, we’re going home and staying out of this excitement. Let’s go.”

“But mom!” whined Jemima. “I want to help too!”

Jennyanydots gave Jemima a motherly look. “I’m sorry Jem, but I don’t want you to get hurt or anything. You and Electra are just going to stay at the family’s house until this whole mess is straightened out.”

Electra shrugged at her sister and walked obediently to her mother’s side. Jemima sighed. “Okay, I guess,” she mumbled. “But what about you? Are you going to stay with us?” She looked up at Jennyanydots.

“Absolutely not!” sputtered Jennyanydots. “I’m going to stay here and help win our junkyard back!”

Jemima felt a small shimmer of hope. With Jennyanydots gone, maybe she could sneak out and help Demeter and Bombalurina type another fake letter from the “mayor”. “So… we’re going to be alone?” said Jemima slowly. Her mind was already racing with ideas.

“Of course you are NOT going to be left alone!” said Jennyanydots sternly. “Gus is going to watch you,” she stated matter-of-factly.

Even Electra scoffed at this. “That crazy old delusional hallucinator?” Electra cried. “He’ll bore us to death with stories of the theatre!”

“Now, that’s enough of that,” said Jennyanydots. “Gus is going to watch you while I stay here at the junkyard. And that’s that.”

* * * Victoria and Mistoffelees climbed out of Victoria’s hiding place just in time to hear Munkustrap assigning missions to everybody. Well, except the kittens. Mistoffelees noticed that Victoria seemed a little disappointed when she heard that. After all, she was almost a teen. Jellylorum came rushing over to them and whisked Victoria away with Etcetera. “I gotta keep my little ones safe,” Jellylorum explained in a hurry. “Gus will take care of her fine, you’ll see.” She winked at Mistoffelees.

“Uh… sure,” said Mistoffelees.

“But mom,” protested Victoria. “I’m almost a teen now. Can’t I help save the junkyard?”

“Key word: Almost. You are not yet a teen, you are still a kitten,” Jellylorum reminded her. “That means you are still under the protection of me. Now, let’s go.” She led the two kittens in the direction of their home.

“Count yourself lucky,” said Gus. He had walked up behind Mistoffelees. Mistoffelees turned around and stared into the face of the grinning, old cat. “You get to hang around here and have fun while I’m pulling babysitting duty.”

Mistoffelees laughed. “Come on, it can’t be that bad. Besides, it’s just another opportunity to tell someone your stories in the theatre.”

Gus brightened. “Oh, yeah! I can tell them all about Firefrofiddle and… and I’ll bet there’s at least one of the seventy speeches I know by heart that I haven’t told them yet. Well, I have to go now Mistoffelees. Good luck.”

“You too!” joked Mistoffelees. Gus laughed and shook his head, and jogged to catch up with Jellylorum and the kittens.

Mistoffelees turned his attention back to Munkustrap, who was giving the rest of the Jellicles their instructions. All of the Jellicles were going to help, and nobody was going to be left out. He had already sent Demeter and Bombalurina off to check the mayor’s mail and write another fake letter. Now he was telling everyone else what to do.

Munkustrap looked around. “Hmm… let me see… Anyone who hasn’t been assigned anything please raise your paw.” Dozens of paws shot up, Mistoffelees’ included. “Okay… Tugger and Mungojerrie!” he called.

“Yeah?” rang out Tugger’s voice.

“You guys can paint a sign that says ‘danger’ and hang it up outside the junkyard,” said Munkustrap. “It’ll keep people from coming in here.”

“Paint?” squawked Tugger. He was shaking his head vigorously. “I can not paint!”

“Gimme a break,” Mistoffelees heard Munkustrap mutter. “I’m making this up as I go along!”

“Aw, come on Tugger,” said Mungojerrie. “How hard could paintin’ possibly be? You just take a brush an’ some paint…” He pantomimed a painting action. “Me an’ Rumple’s pets are always paintin’.”

“Uh… let’s see… Rumpleteazer, why don’t you go check on Demeter and Bomb?” suggested Munkustrap. “Tell Demeter to take you to her pets’ house where you can print up a bunch of flyers telling people to protest against the mayor knocking down junkyards. Pass them around the neighborhood.”

“And how do you expect me to do that? Go around knocking on peoples’ doors and say, ‘Can you please help save our junkyard?’” said Rumpleteazer. She stared at Munkustrap expectantly.

Munkustrap laughed. “No… roll up the flyers and stick them in peoples’ door handles.”

“Okey-dokey.” Rumpleteazer ran off in the direction of the mayor’s office.

“Mistoffelees,” said Munkustrap. “You can… you can… Hmm. What can you do?”

“How about I go get those alley cats we met earlier?” Mistoffelees suggested, trying to save Munkustrap. He could tell his friend had been under a lot of stress lately, and was trying to help.

Munkustrap smiled. “Yes. Why don’t you go do that?”

Mistoffelees grinned. “How is it I always know what you’re going to say next?” said Mistoffelees. Munkustrap chuckled and Mistoffelees ran out of the junkyard and began the trek to the other side of town.

* * * “Weren’t we just here?” whispered Demeter. She grinned. Bombalurina grinned back. They were outside the mayor’s office, waiting for someone to go inside the doors. It seemed as if they had been there for hours, and nobody had gone inside yet. A few people had gone out, yes, but they could only sneak in if someone wanted to go in.

Demeter yawned. “How long have we been here?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” said Bombalurina. “I don’t have a watch or anything you know.”

“Well excuuuuuse me,” said Demeter in mock-sincerity.

Bombalurina sighed. “I have a feeling we’re going to be here for a while.” She focused her attention on a tall man who was walking out the building. The automatic doors swooshed open to let him through, then sealed shut as he walked away from him. His shoes tapped against the concrete as he walked over to his car. He hopped in, started up the car, and drove away. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so bored in my life,” stated Demeter. She picked at a stubby green plant with her claw and suppressed another yawn.

“Yes you have,” said Bombalurina.

“Huh?”

“I mean, you have been more bored in your life. More bored than we are now. Remember? That one time that the Jellicle Ball got rained out? It rained all night long and we had to stay in the hidden cellar that the oven opens up to. Now that was boring.” Bombalurina felt successful knowing that she had proved Demeter wrong.

“Oh yeah!” Demeter laughed. “Now I remember! That wasn’t so bad, because after a while even Pouncival got bored and he sorta provided us with entertainment without really knowing it. He was pretty funny, trying to do flips in that low cellar thingie.”

“Yeah. That was pretty funny,” said a voice behind them.

Bombalurina and Demeter turned around. Rumpleteazer was standing in a green plant, grinning so hard Bombalurina thought her face was going to crack. “What are you doing here?” said Demeter rudely.

“Munkustrap sent me ‘ere to help you guys,” Rumpleteazer told them. “An’ after that I’m supposed to go with Demeter to her pets’ house and type up a bunch of flyers.”

“Flyers for what?” asked Bombalurina.

“Oh, you know, to tell everyone to protest against what the mayor’s doing to the junkyard without the vote of the people,” stated Rumpleteazer.

Bombalurina nodded. “Sounds good. Okay, you’re with us now.” Demeter seemed to tense up at the sound of this. Bombalurina ignored her. “So… since you’re with us, you gotta wait with us.”

“Wait for what?” asked Rumpleteazer, confused.

“We’re waiting for someone to go inside through those automatic doors so we can sneak in behind them,” said Demeter, proud to know something Rumpleteazer didn’t. “What else did you think we’d be waiting for?”

Bombalurina rolled her eyes. It seems like Demeter and Rumpleteazer had some little competition thing going. They sounded like they couldn’t stand each other. She didn’t know how they were going to be able to work together to pull off the flyer trick.

Rumpleteazer stared blankly at Demeter for a while. Then she burst out laughing.

“What?” demanded Demeter. “What’s so funny?”

That only made Rumpleteazer laugh harder.

“Okay Rumple, pull yourself together,” ordered Bombalurina. “What’s so funny?”

Rumpleteazer stopped laughing. Well, tried to stop laughing. Her sides were shaking like she was trying to cover up her uncontrollable giggling. She paused long enough to gasp out a sentence. “You… you were waiting for somebody to go through the… the… the automatic doors!”

“Yeah,” said Demeter flatly. “It’s the only way in.” “Ha HA!” screamed Rumpleteazer. “Wow, that’s really funny!” She broke down laughing again.

“STOP IT!” yelled Demeter.

Rumpleteazer stopped it.

“Now tell us what’s going on please,” said Demeter more calmly.

“You said you were waiting for someone to go through the automatic doors,” explained Rumpleteazer.

“Yeah?” said Bombalurina. “So?”

“So… couldn’t you just walk up to the automatic doors and they’ll open right up for you?”

Silence.

“Oh,” said Bombalurina. Demeter glared at Rumpleteazer. “Yeah, that is pretty funny once you think about it,” said Bombalurina softly. But she didn’t laugh.

“Now come on,” said Rumpleteazer. “Let’s go through the automatic doors.”

* * * Mungojerrie dragged a bucket of bright red paint over to the Rum Tum Tugger. Tugger was waiting impatiently with a thick paintbrush in his paw and a wooden board in front of him. “Come on, I don’t have all day,” said Tugger in his ‘serious’ voice.

“Yes you do,” said Mungojerrie. He shoved the paint can over to Rum Tum Tugger.

Tugger waved his paw in the air carelessly. “Yeah, but that’s not the point. So… you know how to paint?”

“Ha! Do I know how to paint! Is the sky blue?"

Tugger looked up. “No…” He pointed at the grayish white sky.

“Well, that’s not the point,” said Mungojerrie. “Here. Gimme the brush.” Tugger handed him the brush.

“Hmm… what was it we’re supposed to paint?” said Mungojerrie.

Tugger rolled his eyes. “Danger.”

“Oh yeah!” Mungojerrie dipped the paintbrush into the red paint. He carefully painted a “D” with such accuracy as if he had been born painting. “There!” He stepped back to admire his work.

“Puh-leese,” groaned Tugger. “Enough with the ‘big artist’ whatever. Just paint the sign.”

Then, even more carefully (and more slowly) Mungojerrie delicately painted an “A” and an “N’. He started painting the “G” when he realized something.

“Oops,” said Mungojerrie.

“Oops?” echoed Rum Tum Tugger. “Oops what?”

“Oops. As in a mistake oops. Oops as in I ran out of room on the sign oops. I can’t fit anymore letters.”

Tugger nodded. “That is a pretty bad oops. Um… just paint the rest underneath. People should know what you’re talking about.”

Mungojerrie did what Tugger told him to do and painted the “GER” under the “DAN”. When he was finished he carefully inspected his work of art. The sign now read “DAN” and “GER”.

“Ooh, that so does not look good,” complained Tugger. “Just look at it! It looks like some guy’s name! People are gonna think we’re putting up a sign for a dude named Dan Ger! It looks terrible!”

“Well, you’re the one who told me to paint it that way,” pointed out Mungojerrie. “It looks fine. Anyway, you said people would know what I’m talking about. Let’s just wait for this to dry and we can hang it up.”

* * * “Goodbye children!” called Jennyanydots in her happy voice.

“Goodbye!” echoed Jellylorum. They were walking away from the family’s house.

Victoria watched glumly as the two queens hurried off to the junkyard. She was stuck inside with her sister, Etcetera, and her two friends, Jemima and Electra. And Gus.

The family’s house they were in was Jemima and Electra’s and Jennyanydots’. Their family was away on vacation for the weekend, and Victoria’s weren’t, so they agreed on theirs. They needed Gus to watch over the kittens, and he and two more kittens would be just a little noticeable to the family.

“So, girls,” said Gus as soon as the queens had left. “Would you like to hear one of my stories of the theatre?”

“Um… not today Gus,” answered Victoria.

“Yeah,” said Etcetera. “Maybe later.”

Gus shrugged. “Okay, then what do you want to do?”

“I want to help get our junkyard back!” blurted Jemima.

Gus laughed softly. “I’m sorry. That business is only for the teens and up. When you’re a teen and someone decides to knock down our junkyard again, then maybe you could help.”

Electra yawned rudely. “So… are we just going to sit here bored?” she said.

“No,” said Victoria. “But I can’t think of anything to do.”

“I know!” exclaimed Jemima suddenly. “Let’s play hide and seek!”

“Yeah!” Etcetera nodded eagerly. “Great!”

Jemima smiled slyly. “And Gus is ‘it’!”

“Me?” Gus raised his eyebrows. “Why, it’s been so long since I was a kitten I can’t even remember how to play hide and seek!”

“It’s easy,” insisted Victoria. “We hide, and you find us. The first cat you find is going to be ‘it’ next.”

“But you have to count to… um… a hundred to let us hide first,” continued Electra.

“And then you gotta shout real loud, ‘Ready or not, here I come!’” finished Etcetera.

“Okay,” agreed Gus slowly. He started counting. “One… two… three…”

“First you gotta cover your eyes,” Jemima reminded him.

“Oh!” Gus chuckled. “I’m sorry. Like I said, I can’t even remember how to play.” He covered his eyes with his paws and started counting again. “One… two…”

Electra and Etcetera dashed off into the hallway and up the stairs.

“Follow me!” Jemima whispered urgently to Victoria. Victoria nodded. Jemima silently crept around Gus and snuck towards the front door. “We’re going to help save our junkyard,” she told Victoria.

“You mean… sneak away?”

“Yes, duh, sneak away.” Jemima rolled her eyes.

Victoria glanced over at Gus who was still counting. “Fourteen… fifteen…” he mumbled.

“Well… okay,” said Victoria hesitantly.

Jemima’s eyes brightened. “Great! Let’s go.” She ducked through the pet door and scampered out onto the front lawn.

Victoria followed her, trying to be as quiet as possible. Jemima waited patiently for Victoria. “Come on!” she cried excitedly. The two kittens dashed off to go try and save the day.

* * *

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