Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer lived in their master's flat in Victoria Grove only every other weekend, near the Jellicle Junkyard. Most of the time, they lived in the Jellicle Junkyard, in one of the chambers. One morning, Mungojerrie woke up and Rumpleteazer wasn't there. He reminded himself to stay calm, and walked around the flat. He finally found her in front of a mirror, staring at herself. "Teazer, why are you up so early?" He asked.
"Jerrie, do you think I look fatter?" Rumpleteazer answered his question with another question. Mungo took his paws and wrapped them around his beloved's waist, licking her ear affectionately.
"I think you look beautiful." Mungo replied. Rumpleteazer rolledher eyes and took out a measuring tape from the lady master's drawer. "Whatis that for?" He asked.
"It's to measure my waist." She took it and walked out of the flat to the Jellicle Junkyard.
She walked down the street, and there was Jemima and Mistoffelees, strolling down the street, paw in paw.
"Why, Misto and Jemmy, who would've thought?" Rumpleteazer teased. Jemima blushed.Misto scratched his ear in embarrassment.
On her way to Jenny's chamber Rumpleteazer talked to Cassandra, Pouncival, and some of the younger kittens. She also talked to Etcetera( Her sister), and Victoria. When she reached Jenny's chamber, shewasn't there. Rumpleteazer sighed and lay down on the rug.
She woke up to the sound of kitten's mews, and motherly murmurs.She looked up and shook her head. How long had she slept?
"Why Rumpleteazer, I didn't know when you would get up. Is there something you need to talk to me about?" Jenny asked.
"Jenny, I think I am getting way too fat. Is there anything you cando?" Teazer asked. She yawned.
"Teazer, have you been tired lately?" Rumpleteazer nodded her head."And you and Jerrie are, ahem... mates, so-"
"What are you coming at, Jenny?" Rumpleteazer asked.
"I think you are going to have a litter." As Rumpleteazer smiled,Jenny said, " I also don't think they will live. You haven't been eating, andyou only have a couple of days or so before they come."
Rumpleteazer gasped. "J-j-j-jenny, what can I do?"
" You will stay with me until the kittens come, Then I think the rest is up to the Heaviside layer. " Jenny replied.
Teazer nodded and began to sob. "I'm sorry, Jenny." As hours went by, her crying grew only worse.
That next morning, Mungojerrie came in. Rumpleteazer could tell by the tears in his eyes that he knew.
"I'm so sorry, Teaz, it's all my fault." Mungojerrie apologized.They stayed together the whole day.
About four days later, Rumpleteazer felt a sharp pain. "Ohhh..."She moaned. Jenny rushed in. She tried to work quickly, but after hours,nothing happened. Jenny pulled Mungojerrie aside. "I know you are scared. I'm scared also. She just went unconscious. This will make her not have any more kittens, if she does live." Jerrie nodded, sniffling. Rumpleteazerbegan to scream, and Jenny ran over to her.
Finally, a yellow and black kitten came out. It was dead. Two more kittens came out, but they were dead. Jerrie observed the scene, crying. He couldn't believe what was happening.
Joy filled the room. Two kittens came out, almost simultaneously,and they were alive! Jerrie's heart busted with gladness. The two cats were so happy. "I think the bigger girl will be Tubbiafam, and the little one Demetra." Teazer said, lovingly.
"I think they are lovely, just like you, Teaz." They licked at each other.
That night, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer woke up to a tiny mew.They rushed into their kitten's basket, and there was Demetra, lying down, not breathing. Tubbiafam nuzzled her, and mewed softly. "Teazer, I think she's d-d-dead." Jerrie whispered.
"NOOOOO!!!!! She's still alive! I have to get Jenny!!!" Rumpleteazer screamed. Jenny rushed in, and she broke the news to Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.
"Teazer, she's dead. She was very weak. At least you named her, we can have a decent funeral. " Jenny said, weeping.
" Flights of angels, send thee to thy rest above the Jellicle moon and have her watch me night and day till we meet again." The cats quoted. Rumpleteazer sobbed as she said the last line. "Until then, goodnight." As the cats left the center of the Junkyard, Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie walked up to Demetra's casket and kissed her gently. " Until then, goodnight..."
The End
Jemima, Misto's mate, ran up with her five kittens. "Misto,darling, it's time for dinner, come back to the chamber. Oh, hi, Munkustrap." Mistoffolees purred and jumped off of the hood.
"See you, Munkus." He called over his shoulder. Munkustrap nodded and headed towards his own chamber, where hispregnant mate was sleeping.
"Demeter, you feeling okay?" He asked, nuzzling her.
" I feel fine, Munkustrap. I'm just tired." Demmy answered. " I went to see Jenny today, and she said I was one of the most healthiest cats she's seen."
"That's good." Munkustrap nodded his approval. "Listen, I'm going to go visit Old Duet, do you need me for anything?" Demmy shook her head. "Okay, I'll see you in a bit, rest up, you hear?"
Demeter laughed. "Yes, master."
As Munkustrap walked over to Old Dueteronomy's chamber, on the Vicarage Wall, met Rumpleteazer, and her kitten, Tubbiafam. She had just recently lost a kitten, and was still depressed. They were both weak. Tubbiafam was traumatized, for she was the one that woke up and found Demetra, her twin, dead.
Munkus looked over to the left, and Bombanya was dancing. She was very graceful.
Munkustrap entered Old Dueteronomy's chamber, and he was taking a nap. "Come in, Come in." Dueteronomy called over to him.
"I just wanted to drop by and say hello. Are you feeling all right?" Munkustrap asked worriedly.
"I'm fine, son. No need to worry, just fine." Duet answered.
"Okay. Well, I wanted also to know when you were going to present the new kittens. Are you going to wait for Demmy's kittens?"
" I shall wait for Demeter's kittens" Dueteronomy declared.
"Thank you. Shall I see you tomorrow?" Munkustrap asked, trying to sound sophisticated. Dueteronomy nodded his head.
Munkustrap padded out the door. He was sure something was wrong.
That evening, Munkustrap and Demeter were sitting in their chamber, talking. "When I was visiting Old Duet, he seemed a lot more quiet and peaceful. I hope he's feeling okay." Munkustrap worried. Demeter rubbed her bulging stomach and yawned. "I think it's time to go to bed." Demmy nodded.
The next morning, Munkustrap woke up to a shrieking bell. He woke Demeter up and walked out. Alonzo was running about screaming, " Old Dueteronomy's dead!"
Munkustrap gasped and ran over to the Vicarage Wall. Quickly, he tiptoed in the door. He couldn't hear the purring of Old Dueteronomy,or the soft snoring. The quietness was making him miserable. He looked on Dueteronomy's bed, and saw him, curled up ina fetal position.Munkustrap waited for his chest to go up, to prove that he really wasn't dead.
Then, something popped into his head. If Old Dueteronomy is dead, then... HE was supposed to be the leader! He couldn't stand it. "I can't do this, I never thought he would die. I can't be the leader!" He thought.He looked around, made sure no one was looking, and jumped over the fence,out of the Junkyard.
A couple of minutes later, Demeter noticed something. "Alonzo,have you seen Munkus?"
"No, not sice this morning." He replied.
Victoria ran up to the pair. "I just saw Munkustrap jump over the fence!"
Demeter looked alarmed. "Out of the Junkyard?" She asked.
"Yes. I was hiding behind a trashcan, and there he was. He looked around, then jumped over the fence!"
"Oh no!" Demeter yelled. "We have to go find him!" She began to run.
"Now wait a minute, Demmy. You stay home, you are in a delicate condition." Jenny said, pointing her finger.
Demeter looked crestfallen. She trudged back to Jenny's chamber.
"Poor thing, her mate is gone, she is due to have kittens any time now, and she can't look for him." Jenny sympathized.
"Jenny, stay with her, we'll find him." Alonzo said. At that moment, Tugger walked up.
"What happened?" He asked smoothly, thwupping.
"Munkus is gone!" Alonzo screamed frantically. Tugger followed himout of the junkyard.
When Jenny went back to her chamber, she saw Demeter, lying on the rug, crying. Jenny felt a pang of sadness for the depressed Queen.
"Don't worry kitten. We'll find him. He couldn't handle being the leader so quickly, and he was frightened by the sudden death of his idol. I'll tell Skimble to help out." Jenny ran out the door, yelling, " Skimble, Skimble darling!"
Out of a trashcan popped Munkustrap's head. The outside world hasn't been that hard on him. As he walked into the alley, Pollicles chased him, snarling like savage beasts. Well, then again, maybe not.
The sun slowly slid down beneath the horizon, and Munkustrap spent his first night alone, in an empty, rotton, smelly shoebox.
Two days later, the Jellicles still couldn't find Munkustrap. Demeter had spent those two days at Jenny's house, hoping and waiting.
One afternoon, on the third day, while Jenny was gone, Demmy decided she couldn't wait and set out to find her beloved. She had never been this far out of the Junkyard. She scared, both for her and her unborn kittens.
She could not have those kittens without him!
Another day went by, and Jenny came home to an empty chamber."Great, we have to look for both Munkus and Demmy." Jenny slapped her hand on her head.
Demmy woke up that next morning, and her stomach started to growl. "Oh!" She thought. "I haven't eaten anything since yesterday's breakfast." She started to look around.
Then her stomach really started to growl, and Demeter looked around in despair. The dark cold alley was not where she was supposed to have her kittens! She gave a mournful wail, and started to pant.
Munkustrap's ears perked up. What was that, his beloved? He ran down to the alley, where his mate was lying in a fetal position. "Oh Demmy, my love, my life! How could I have done this to you!" He licked her trembling paws.
"Munk, the kittens are coming. Please help!" Munkustrap had no clue what to do, and he looked around for Jenny.
Munkustrap had no time to think, because one of the kittens was beginning to push its way out. Munk watched helplessly as the wet,sticky kitten was washed by its loving mother. Then another came out. And another, and another. In all there were five kittens. Four girls and one boy. He shall be the next in line for the Jellicle leader after Munkustrap. The decided to name him Majesty. The girls were to be called Duchesses. They were Dossydonya, Mistylina, Coffylina, and Mistotica.