Author's Notes: Okay this is sorta this takes place between Macavity's Revenge, where Mistoffelees is first found by Skimbleshanks, to the sequel which is this!
Victoria groaned as she rolled out of her wicker basket. She stretched slowly and gazed at the sun.
"Finally your up." Mistoffelees said with a chuckle.
"How long have I been asleep?" Victoria said with a yawn. Her catnaps seemed to be getting longer each day.
"Well for a catnap, Garfield could do no better." He said as he rubbed her flank, which was gradually getting wider. Mistoffelees however said nothing, out of politeness. Just then their pet Amy entered the room. She threw her school books in a pile and flung herself into a recliner.
"Hey Diane, Jacob." She said with an exhausted sigh. Victoria decided to snuggle up to her, and leaped into her lap. Which was harder than normal, she noticed. Amy gave an oof as Victoria landed in her lap. "Geez, Diane, you’ve put on a lot of weight." She said as she placed Victoria back on the ground. Victoria pouted then walked over to a mirror.
She examined herself carefully, she stomach had grown very rounded, and she had noticed an increased appetite . She turned in circles and examined herself from all angles. Mistoffelees came up behind her as soon as she finished, and stood by her.
"Do you think I’m fat Misty?" She asked, a frown coming over her face.
"I wouldn’t know. Your still beautiful to me." He said with a husky purr.
"I don’t know, and that’s not an answer and you know it." She said with a pout.
" Well you have been gaining a little weight. Maybe we should go see Jelly or Jenny, they’d know more about this than I would." Mistoffelees said as he jumped up to the window. It was still bright out, and there weren’t any clouds threatening a downpour.
"Yeah, but first let’s eat." Victoria said as she headed back to the kitchen.
Macavity slowly pulled himself out of the pit that he’d been trapped in for days. His left paw was badly mangled, and it hurt to lean against it. He looked to the sun, and around the junkyard, there was no Jellicles about. Slowly Macavity limped back to his lair, vowing revenge on the black and white tom that had wrecked his plans twice.
Mistoffelees had long since moved in with Victoria, the love of his life, in her plush home in Kennsington Square. Yet today, he just wanted to haunt his old haunt. That and Victoria had wanted to see Jellyorum alone. His small house still stood, although it was coated with a thick coat of dust. The clock had long since given out, and all except a writing desk and two chairs were left of his furniture. He'd let the Jellicle's in the junkyard take what they please, asking them only to leave the desk and the chairs. The Jellicles didn't mind at all, since they had little use for chairs or desks. He sighed as he sat peacefully down into the ladder back chair, built for a small doll, and perfect for his petite form. He used this place now as more of a study, than a home. Although he hadn't been around lately, he and Victoria in their nuptial bliss. Carefully he opened the top drawer, and pulled out a ragged book. The pages were yellowed, and the cover was dog-eared, but it contained so much of his life, his personal thoughts. Transfixed on the neatly scrawled writing on the front page, his mind traveled back to the past...
Munkustrap head whipped around as he heard a shriek. His first thought was Macavity as he sped to the sound. As he arrived on the scene he found a snickering Alonzo and Tumblebrutus, and a terrified Mistoffelees backed into the corner. The three hadn't noticed him, and Munkustrap decided to stay hidden, just to see how it panned out.
"Fraidy Cat! Fraidy Cat! What are you afraid of Misto? Think Macavity's gonna get ya? We we're younger than you and we ain't afraid of him!" Alonzo and Tumblebrutus chanted, as they came in closer to the tiny ball that was Mistoffelees. Munkustrap decided that now was the time to make his appearance. Striding in he shouted:
"Alonzo, Tumblebrutus what are you doing?" His voice was not filled with rage, but more of a shout for attention. Both of them jumped and whipped around to Munkustrap, sheepish looks on their faces.
"Uh...We were just playing with Mistoffelees." Tumblebrutus said with an unsure grin, and Alonzo nodded in agreement.
"Then what was that shriek I heard?" Munkustrap said with a glare, daring them to lie again. Alonzo and Tumblebrutus hung their heads as they realized that they were caught. "I thought so, why are you so hard on Mistoffelees, hmmm?"
"'Cuz..." Tumblebrutus said, drawing a blank.
"Because he's afraid of everything! Just pounce on him and he shrieks bloody murder, afraid of cans rustling too!" Alonzo said, unable to hold his tongue.
"That still doesn't give you a reason to pick on him, Alonzo. Now you two run off and cause a ruckus somewhere else." Munkustrap said dismissing them. The two young toms ran off, revealing a huddled and shaking Mistoffelees. He carefully padded over to Mistoffelees, keeping within his line of sight, not wanting to frighten him again. When Munkustrap finally reached the point where he was right in front of Mistoffelees, only then did Mistoffelees' eyes flick up. His body looked so young, and yet his eyes looked so old. Mistoffelees obviously was in one of his states again, and Munkustrap knew that he didn't recognize him. Slowly he lifted Mistoffelees into his arms. The small kitten shivered and held tightly to his shoulders. Munkustrap as protector of the kittens, knew of Mistoffelees past. He pitied the kitten, having to grow up so fast. Slowly he walked into Jurry's tent, and awoke the snoozing siamese. Jurry took one look at the bundle in Munkustrap's arms, and knew immediately what happened. He took the tiny kitten, who barely weighed anything, and set him on a cot, and covered him with a blanket. Mistoffelees twitched, and seemed to mutter something silently. Jurry sighed at the small form, it was the third time that week that the same thing had happened. Mistoffelees just didn't seem to be recovering from the trauma of Macavity's lair. He didn't talk about it, and no one could blame him, but there was no release. He looked up at Munkustrap, who had the same pitying look in his eyes.
"Something has got to be done." Munkustrap said solemnly.
"I know. I can't get him to talk about at all. He acts like it never happened, like he was just born and raised here the whole time. And that isn't healthy, he's just denying it, and bottling it up. He needs release."
"How can we get him to release it?" Munkustrap said as he shook his head at the mumbling and tossing.
"Well, he'll be going to Jelly's school next week, maybe..."
"No! I'm s...s...s...sorry Ma...Macavity! I di...di...didn't m...mean to dr...drop the pen...cil, I...I'll, g...g...go b...b...back t...to wr...writing, n...n...now, p...please, don't h...hu....hurt me...e?" Came the wail. Jurry ran over to the screaming form, and shook him forcefully, causing his head to jerk back and forth.
Mistoffelees was awake within an instant, and sat straight up, his blue eyes glancing around nervously. His lip began to tremble, it had been so real this time. He felt hot tears stream down his face as he felt Jurry's arms slip around his shoulders, and his gentle shushes in his ear, as he rocked back and forth.
After a few moments, Mistoffelees breathing slowed, and his eyes closed again. Jurry gently laid him back on the cot, and stroked gently his cheek.
"Does he do that often?" Munkustrap whispered softly.
"Yes, almost every night. A form of night terrors I guess." Jurry said with a sigh. "So what happened this time that caused him to go into shock?" Jurry said with a sigh, as he flopped into a tiny ladder back chair that Mistoffelees had taken a liking to.
"Alonzo and Tumblebrutus..." Munkustrap started, but was cut off by Jurry's exasperated sigh.
"Those two again! If I recall, they were the ones who caused it the last two times this week, and I'm not even going to go into last week. Those two are so arrogant, I've heard them boast they aren't afraid of Macavity, but I guess that is kitten foolery." Jurry shook his head disdainfully. The room was incased in the lonely silence and Mistoffelees heavy breathing. Then Jurry had an idea. "Writing!" He whispered with exclamation.
"What?" Munkustrap said whispering, wondering if Jurry had lost his mind.
"Writing! He mentioned writing! Maybe a diary of some sorts that he could use to release it all." Jurry said excitedly.
"But maybe it was just part of his dream, Jurry." Munkustrap counteracted.
"No, he's a bright boy, reads in here all the time. I'll have to ask him tomorrow. Well you'd better be getting back to the foyer, and keeping an eye on the kittens. Thanks for bringing him back." Jurry said as he ushered Munkustrap out the door. Jurry slept by Mistoffelees that night, his mind a buzz with hope for Mistoffelees recovery.
As it turned out, Mistoffelees could write. He wouldn't tell how he learned it, or why he trembled when he wrote, but he could write.
That Monday, Mistoffelees sat waiting at the doors of the school room with fear and anticipation waging war in his mind. He started looking at his various supplies that he had tied in an old faded bandana. There was a chalkboard and chalk for math and pencils and a crisp new notebook for writing. He affectionately touched the recycled newspaper cover. He wondered where his teacher was, Jellyorum. He'd only seen around here and there, and she was always nice to him. He shrugged and looked towards the romping kittens. He wanted to play with them, but they never accepted him into their groups. Mistoffelees decided to stare at the rising sun, and try to find calm in it's blissful rays.
Jellyorum raced down the twisted paths of the junkyard. She was going to be late, and who knew what kind of troubles the kittens could get into without her constant supervision. She raced up to the school hoping that they hadn't gotten into trouble already. She was relieved when she saw that they were all playing contentedly. Not noticing the tiny kitten that sat in front of the doorway, she threw open the doors to admit the students, who begrudgingly, entered. They all found their seats among the cans and boxes that stood in organized rows. They all took their seats, and Jelly placed herself behind the desk, and took the attendance. All were accounted for except for Horwath, who was probably playing somewhere near his home. She made a note to make a house call upon his parents. She looked back up after putting away her pencil, and jumped back. She stared, frozen, at the tiny black kitten with the white face and boots. She let loose the breath she hadn't realized that she was holding as she realized who it was.
"Mistoffelees, you scared me there." Jelly breathed. Mistoffelees looked to the ground, and dug one paw into the dirt. Jellyorum patted the kitten on the shoulder gently, careful of the scars that lay beneath the coat that was only now getting it's luster. She knew he got in trouble for appearing spontaneously in front of people. "I'll bet you want a place to sit, don't you?" Mistoffelees focussed his sky blue eyes on hers, and nodded, with a slight smile forming on his face. Jelly took a hold of his hand and looked about the room. There was one seat open, near the front. Pointing it out to Mistoffelees, he immediately walked over and took his seat.
Mistoffelees stared at the crate that served as his desk. Carefully he placed the contents of his bandana in a neat order across the desk. The chalk and board to the left corner, Pencils in the right corner, and notebook in the center. He smiled at the neat order, and the thrill of a new place, a place where he could learn. Still smiling, he looked up to Jellyorum, who stood at the front of the room.
"Good morning class!" Jellyorum said cheerfully. She always found that the kitten's were better when she was happy.
"Good morning, Ms. Jelly!" Answered all the kittens, except Mistoffelees, who was basically confused by the whole procedure.
"Well, class, today we have a new student, come up here Mistoffelees." Jellyorum cooed. Mistoffelees hesitated at first, but he jumped down from his can, and slowly trudged up to the front. He felt the stares on him, and he ducked his head and focussed on the ground. Jellyorum patted him on the shoulder, and Mistoffelees winced abit as she hit one of his scars. Jelly dismissed him back to his seat, which Mistoffelees gratefully sank into. Jellyorum quickly turned her attention to the black board and began demonstrating writing for all the kittens. Mistoffelees gratefully plunged in and began writing as neatly as possible in his book, even though his hands shook while he did it. They then went onto history, which Mistoffelees loved. It was so interesting learning about all the other cats.
As quickly as it had started it was over, and lunch and recess began. And Jellyorum began collecting the notebooks, when she came to the end of the first row she found Mistoffelees furiously writing in his notebook, unaware that almost everyone had left.
"Mistoffelees?" She asked quietly. Mistoffelees head jerked up, and he gave a sheepish smile.
"Yes, Ms. Jelly?" He asked softly, placing his pencil in the right corner of his desk, and the notebook in the center.
"Nothing Mistoffelees. Why don't you go out and play, while I correct your notebook?" Jellyorum replied in a kind voice. Mistoffelees nodded and slid off the stool and walked out the doors into the sunlight.
Jellyorum opened the notebook, curious. She wondered if he was able to keep up with her as the other kittens had. Inside was her whole lecture word for word, as well as the writing practices. The handwriting was very neat, but it looked as if his hands were trembling when he wrote it. However something disturbed her as she reached the last few lines of the page:
Plan 505:
Kidnap Skimbleshanks, cause Midnight Mail to stop, no cat food.
Were the simple words. But what did they mean? Had Mistoffelees intended to kidnap Skimble? Or maybe it was a plan of Macavity's that he had overheard. But then why would he write it? Maybe as a warning? Jelly closed the notebook, and planned on showing it to Munkustrap after school.