By: Jemima
Chapter 1
The Jellicle Ball was soon coming to an end. Grizabella had been the Chosen One. Old Dueteronomy sat and watched, as the rest of the Cats and kittens slowly moved away from the junkyard; weary from the night's many activities. He was worn out himself. Next year, perhaps, he might turn the duties over to Munkustrap, his favorite grandson and the leader of the Cats. Old Deuteronomy peered over the horizon to see Skimbleshanks wander off to the railroad station. The Rum Tum Tugger was bouncing back home with Etcetera following at a close distance. Old Deuteronomy had to chuckle; the two of them never seemed to run out of energy. Victoria and Jemima decided to spend the night at the junkyard; their homes were too far off and they were too tired. They bid Mistoffelees a fond farewell as he sauntered off into the distance; how far he went, Old Deuteronomy couldn't tell.
The night was dark, and clouds covered the Jellicle Moon now that the Jellicle Ball was over. Old Deuteronomy got up to leave the junkyard. Jemima and Victoria would be safe there; Admetus and Alonzo had made the junkyard their home for a while. They would protect it if need be. As the four Cats drifted off onto sleep, they were not aware that someone was slowly approaching the junkyard.
Chapter 2
It was Mistoffelees. He had come back with a troubled mind. He wasn't sure what it was, but he felt as though something important would happen at the junkyard again. Mistoffelees sat alone in a corner and tried to gather up his lost magical powers. After all, it wasn't an easy thing to bring Old Deuteronomy back from Macavity's clutches. Macavity! Was that what he was distraught about? No, it couldn't be...could it? Mistoffelees lay in his corner, distressed. What was the matter with him? He shook his head. as if to make the feeling go away, but it stayed.
Meanwhile, Jemima had woken. The excitement of attending her first Jellicle Ball hadn't yet worn off. Failing to notice the sleeping Cats around her, she hummed quietly to herself, the songs they had sung at the Ball. What fun she'd had! A warm feeling came over her as she silently relived all the things they did and the new friends she'd made. Her thoughts were broken by a deep sigh somewhere across the junkyard. Alerted and slightly apprehensive, she woke Victoria up. The sleepy white kitten became wakeful as soon as Jemima told her what happened. Admetus and Alonzo, both in a deep sleep, were only a few feet away from them and therefore could not have been the culprits. They knew of no other Jellicle Cats who were sleeping at the junkyard tonight. Macavity? Could it be that he had come back for revenge?
Chapter 3
Mistoffelees, convinced that he was being overly pensive, finally got up from his corner and began to leave the junkyard. Suddenly, he whirled sure that he'd heard something unfamiliar. His ears perked up as footsteps approached. Jemima and Victoria, all the while huddled together and unsure of what to do, quickly woke Admetus and Alonzo up. The two kittens had heard the footsteps as well and were surprised when Mistoffelees suddenly came into view. Jemima was about to call out to him, but something made her stop. Mistoffelees was acting unusually strange; so unlike the cheerful, optimistic Cat she knew him to be. His face wore a thoughtful frown and his eyes...They were dark and almost...sad.
The footsteps continued and an unknown shadow fell upon the junkyard ground. As quick as a flash, Mistoffelees disappeared into his corner again. It was almost as though he knew what was going to happen. Mistoffelees turned his face towards a tire, trying to obscure the sheer sounds of his breathing. No, the figure would not see him here. "Misty?" a strangely familiar voice called out. Misty...he hadn't been called that in years. Not since he was a mere kitten. Not since...Oh no...no...Mistoffelees thought...No, it can't be! As the figure moved around the junkyard uncertainly, years of memories flooded Mistoffelees' mind...
Chapter 4
Admetus and Alonzo, all the while ready to confront the stranger, suddenly sat down again. No, it wasn't their time. A brief recollection flashed through Alonzo's mind. In all the years he'd known Mistoffelees, he'd never once heard the latter speak of his past. Except once when Mistoffelees had let is slip...He'd spoken of his parents; how his father had died...and hid mother...Alonzo had felt at the time that Mistoffelees was going to take him into his confidence, but no, he'd put a smile back on his face and left. Alonzo sighed quietly to himself. This was Mistoffelees moment...
A silent tear streaked down Mistoffelees' face. Misty...the nickname his mother had given him. After his father had died, his mother had felt disillusioned...The Cats in the Tribe had given her so much support and encouragement, yet...She'd decide to leave the Tribe. In fact, she was the one who enticed Grizabella away with stories of the outside world; most of which were made up, as Grizabella would find out later. Mistoffelees had been passed to his uncle, Bustopher Jones, to be taken care of. Bustopher had always been a great uncle, but it just wasn't the same. As he grew up, Mistoffelees slowly pushed the sad memories to the back of his mind and put himself in the mindset that he'd always be cheerful, that he'd never let anything get him down. It had worked so well...until now.
Chapter 5
"Misty?" Again the voice came. "Misty, it's me..." Mistoffelees swallowed hard as the voice trailed off. No...he wasn't ready for this. Obviously, disappointed, the figure walked dejectedly into the dark of the night. Despite the fact that only one of them had some idea of what had just transpired, the four Cats sensed Mistoffelees' anguish. Jemima cautiously made her way over to Mistoffelees; the other Cats close behind. Deep in thought, Mistoffelees did not hear or see them approach. Suddenly he felt Jemima's paw on him.
He spun around to find four concerned faces gazing at him. As the Cats rallied around Mistoffelees, he knew it was time to tell them of his unspoken past. The Cats listened attentively as Mistoffelees poured out his heart to them. He let out a deep sigh when his story was done. He tried to smile at them as it to undermine the seriousness of his past, but he couldn't, not anymore. These were truly his friends, he knew now; they made him confront his fears. No longer would his smiles be facades to hide his true feelings. As the realization of this sunk in, a real smile broke upon his face.
Chapter 6
The Jellicle Moon disappeared as the sun rose over the horizon. Mistoffelees gave his friends a nod to let them know he'd be all right. With that, Mistoffelees went on his way. Victoria was close to tears as Mistoffelees vanished down the road. The Cats felt helpless and gloomy. "We can't just sit here and do nothing..." Admetus mumbled desolately. It wasn't lang after he said this that they heard the same footsteps from the night before. Instinctively, the Cats hid in the safety of the junkyard pipes. The footsteps came closer and the figure came into full view. No doubt, this was whom they had seen and heard last night.
In the sunlight, they could observe her in greater detail. Her movements and appearance were reminiscent of Grizabella's. Her coat was dusty and her face haggard. Was this what happened to all the Jellicles who left the Tribe? In a soft whisper, she called out to Mistoffelees. The Cats could discern the evident pain in her eyes; she was looking for forgiveness. Finally gathering up enough courage, Alonzo stepped out of the pipe and into her line of sight. She squinted at him; her eyesight was obviously failing. "Misty? Is that you?" Alonzo shook his head sadly and beckoned the other Cats out of the pipe. Alonzo introduced himself and the other Cats and learned that this old Cat, Callista, wanted to come back to the Tribe. But first, she had to find her long lost son.
Chapter 7
Mistoffelees felt considerably better now that he had let everything out. It might take a while to get over it, but he would; of that he felt sure. Spying Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser digging through the unguarded trash cans behind their house, he went over to talk to them. Rumpleteaser immediately stopped her burrowing and sat down with Mistoffelees while Mungojerrie, well, he was much too engrossed in his daily excavations. Despite Rumpleteaser's engaging stories, Mistoffelees just couldn't keep his mind on the conversation. Suddenly, Rumpleteaser stopped mid sentence. She gestured to Mistoffelees to look behind him. Rumpleteaser got up, pulled Mungojerrie out of his trash can, and went inside. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she knew it involved Mistoffelees, and Mistoffelees alone.
Mistoffelees turned around and gasped in disbelief. Standing in front of him was Callista. She wasn't half as beautiful as he remembered her to be; her coat was torn and her eyes were full of sorrow. "Misty..." she breathed. Mistoffelees stood rooted to the spot, torn between filial piety and pride. For so long he'd yearned for the day he would be able to see his mother again; yet, now that she was here, he felt hurt and angry that she'd ever left in the first place. He turned away. "Misty, I..." Callista whispered, "I'm...sorry." Mistoffelees felt his eyes start to sting with tears as he turned to face her again. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Finally, he managed to force out an audible sound. "Mama..." Callista's initial expression of longing turned to pure joy as soon as the word came out of Mistoffelees' mouth. Callista's former beauty was evident now; her face lit up and all life seemed to return into her eyes. His dark eyes sparkling with tears, Mistoffelees slowly stood up and walked over to his mother's side.
***The End***
