The sun shone down on the Junkyard in a pleasant warm fashion that made its inhabitants just want to lie about and do nothing. All around the junkyard, Cats of this particular Jellicle Tribe were engaged in different activities. Rum Tum Tugger was lounging on top of an old TV set. Some kittens, Etcetera, Electra, and Jemima, sat on the ground under the TV, thinking of a way to embarrass him while he slept. Jellylorum was at work on one of her needlepoint pieces, this one portraying two calicos playing under a tree. Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy sat on the old tire discussing issues of the Tribe. Mistoffelees had found a quiet corner and was trying to turn garbage into a gourmet fish filet. Demeter and Bombalurina exchanged beauty tips as Skimbleshanks washed his vest for the upcoming workday on the train. Meanwhile, Bustopher Jones and Gus talked about the theatre and what would need repaired next. Despite all this activity, a sleepy, peacefulness had settled over the tribe. Jennyanydots leaned back in her trunk. It was a perfect day to do absolutely nothing. As she sat surveying the activity, her eyes fell on Munkustrap and then to Rum Tum Tugger. No on would have ever guessed those two were brothers.
"Tugger! Where are you going?" Munkustrap yelled as Rum Tum Tugger dug a hole under the Junkyard fence.
“I’m getting out of here! I’m sick of this Junkyard and all the rules!” Rum Tum Tugger replied.
“But you can’t! The Jellicle Ball is tomorrow! And you have to get initiated!” Munkustrap cried.
“That’s exactly why I’m leaving, Munku. Everybody knows that you’ll be the leader once father dies, so what do I need to hang around for?”
“Lots of things! People like you! All the queens do, at any rate! And... and Mistoffelees likes you!”
“No, he doesn’t! Not after he found out he had those magical powers!”
“But you have to hang around and protect him! Everyone will miss you! Who will keep the Tribe laughing and having fun?”
“I guess you're right...”
“Munku! Tugger! Where are you?” Old Deuteronomy called. Both the toms scampered over to their father.
Jennyanydots smiled, remembering how Munkustrap kept Rum Tum Tugger from leaving the Tribe.
“Darn it!” a voice to her left yelled. She turned to see Mistoffelees muttering to himself after he failed to come up with the fish he wanted.
“Why doesn’t that ever work? Everything else works fine! But that won’t ever work! What’s wrong with it?”
Jennyanydots smiled. His father had been shocked to find he could do magic.
What was even more shocking was who his father had been.
Asparagus dragged the five kittens up to Old Deuteronomy, so he could name them. It was the kittens' first Jellicle Ball, but Asparagus’s last litter of kittens since his wife had died giving birth to them. He tried to get them settled where Old Deuteronomy instructed them to sit, but was having no luck. Jennyanydots saw the trouble he was having and picked up the two
rascals closest to her. One was a tuxedo cat and the other a brown and black mix, like Asparagus. The tuxedo cat struck her eye since neither one of his parents had the same markings. This kitten was definitely unique and his high spirits showed.
“Thanks, Jenny!” Asparagus said as he sat down next to the kittens. “I don’t
know how I would manage without you and Jelly.”
“That’s what we’re here for!” Jennyanydots said with a reassuring smile. She went to go sit with Skimbleshanks, her husband. “I’ll be interested to see what they name that tuxedo kitten.”
Skimbleshanks nodded. “There’s something about it that I haven’t seen since that last conjuring cat in the tribe died, when I was still a kitten.”
Just then, Old Deuteronomy stood up to start the naming ceremony. The kittens were all given fairly undistinguished names like Bill Bailey, Plato, Admetus, and Victoria. This went on until they got to the tuxedo cat. The little kitten bounded up to Old Deuteronomy and stood expectantly.
“Mistoffelees.”
The tribe gasped. “Skimble,” Jennyanydots whispered, “that must mean he has
conjuring powers!”
Mistoffelees reverted back to the fish filet spell after a few moments. When it didn’t work again, Jennyanydots focused her attention elsewhere to avoid hearing his loud cursing.
Bombalurina was just now telling Demeter about the shampoo she had found in the Junkyard.
“It works wonders on your hair.”
“Really?!” Demeter said, enthusiastically. She was definitely paying more attention to what Bombalurina was saying about beauty than she normally would have.
‘Still trying to impress Munkustrap,’ Jennyanydots thought with a smile.
“Oh, come on, Demeter!” Bombalurina said. “Just ask him to dance with you at the Jellicle Ball tonight.”
“I can’t, Bomby. What if he says no?”
The two Queens were supposed to be asleep, saving their energy for the Ball tonight, but neither felt like sleeping.
“Dee, he won’t say no! He’s too gentlemanly!”
“Girls! Get to sleep now!” Lady Griddlebone called. “Or you won’t be able to have anymore sleepovers!”
Jennyanydots looked loving around at all the familiar cats. She loved remembering the days when all of them were kittens. She was starting to see what Grizabella had meant when she talked about her memories at the Jellicle Ball last year. So many memories from the Junkyard, and Jennyanydots wouldn’t give up one of them.
Well...
She settled back onto the cushions in her trunk. A light sleep came over her. Maybe she would reminisce more when another warm, sleepy day came.