Merry Christmas!
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Travie paced up and down Bombalurin’a alleywawy. She hadn’t heard from Mistoffelees since he left to perform in America after Thanksgiving, and she was beginning to worry. She was sweating a lot, even though it was snowing and the wind was blowing a little.
“Deck the halls! Wa-hoo!” Matty bounced in the alleyway full of glee, throwing holly everywhere.
“Matty, your’e suppose to hang it,” Travie told her unenthusiatically.
“Oh, right, I knew that. Anyway, we still haven’t found Alonzo or Mezoa.”
“Or Misto!”
Matty rolled her eyes. “He’s in Los Vegas, I swear!”
“With all those sexy females?!”
“Yeah. So what?” Matty acted liked she had no clue what Travie meant by it. Travie didn’t answer.
“What if he runs away with one of them?”
“He won’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Cos there’s no where to run…no where to hide!”
“Matropolis, be serious!” Matty cocked an eyebrow. “Okay, well just just try.”
“Why? I’m in da phat wid a ‘PH’ season! Christmas is in da house, man!” Now Travie cocked an eyebrow. “Okay, don’t you trust your man?”
“Sure, but—“
“Then’s there is nothing to worry about! He’ll be back by Christmas—I promise.”
Travie sighed. “Okay. Will you help me put up a tree then?”
“Sure.”
After spending an hour on putting up the tree, they had to decorate it.
“Light first,” Traive said. “Always.”
“Garland.”
“Lights!”
“Look here, playgirl, I say garland!”
“But it’s always lights first!”
“So if you put on candles first would you do that?”
“What are you talking about?
”
“Do you want to do this alone?”
“Not really. But lights are first!”
“Garland! We put garland on first.”
“We put on lights first!”
“Fine, then you can put on the lights by yourself.”
“Fine.” Travie wound it around the small tree, no bigger than a Chanakuh bush, but they kept falling off. Without even realizing, Matty got up and helped her put them up. Travie stopped when they were done, and glanced over to Matty.
“Oops,” Matty smiled a little.
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Seven Kittens
Mistoffelees pulled his seventh kitten out of his magical hat. The crowd roared. He took a bow and gathered the little colorful tabby kittens around him. They all took a bow and walked off stage, with an encore screaming them in the ear. But there was no time.
“Misto, where’s my pay?” the reddish kitten asked. “You promised that—“
“I know, Jeffey, but it’s almost Christmas and I need to be home for Christmas…”
“Misto. I know that. So do I, and I can’t go back emptyhanded.” Misto sighed.
“Look Jeffey, I can give you a third of your pay now, but I have nine siblingsg waiting for me and a girlfriend—“
“You have a girlfriend?” the kittens all turned to him from the backstage cardtable.
“Well, yes, actually, I do.”
“Who?”
“Travie. Travisina Gray.”
“We seen her ‘fore. She’s hot! Give us her, and you’re off the hook!”
“No way. You can tie me to a bulldozer and roll me to an oblivion, but there is no other way to take her away.”
“We just might have to.”
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Still No Sign
Matty had a hung Pouncival from the doorway that led into the alleyway by his tail. Along with him were his two new accomplices, Misto Jr. and Tugger Jr.
“You can not keep us up here forever,” Misto Jr. said.
“Can’t I?” Matty said with a sly grin.
The tree was up, and the only thing was missing was Misto. Well, that’s what Travie said.
“I better get home to look for Alonzo and Mezoa, Misto…” she smiled and thought up something evil.
“…and his new girlfriend.” Travie growled a little and Matty scampered out the shack door.
But Matty hadn’t realize how serious Travie was about Misto being there with her for Christmas. He was the most meaningful cat in her life, and she wanted to be with him. But how could she blame Matropolis, a cat who had neer learned striking true love?
She sighed. There first Christmas together. Hopefully. But where was he? He should have returned by now. After what Matty said though, she trusted him more. She knew that Misto would never try any funny stuff or play with her heart. That was just not his style.
She hung her fireplace in over the fireplace with caree; in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. But she knew there was no Santa Claus by now. Still, she believed there was and believed there wasn’t. It was too much of a trial to wonder whether he existed, so she either pertended to believe or just tricked her mind. She wasn’t sure.
As she did so, Matty had finished her gingerbread cookies. They were so cute, she thought. There little kitten and puppy faces made from the best dough in the world. But then when she wrapped them in little baggies, she came to the baggie that read, “ALONZO.” Her dear brother. Where could he be? And what of Mezoa? Exactly. None. Would they make it home for Christmas. After all, Christmas always end at a happy one, but what if this didn’t? She began to quiver at the thought of Christmas without them.
She shook it. That was ridiculous. Or was it?
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A Pure Will and a Caring Heart and a Strong Breath
Mistoffelees handed Jeffery all his money. The little kitten put away his knife and untied Misto from the bed post. “Thank-you, Mr. Mistoffelees, for your time, but I do believe this is not enough.”
“I’m sorry, Jeffery, but that is all I have!” Misto hated himself for fearing a kitten.
“Mr. Mistoffelees, I believe you have more.”
“Only a few dollars—to buy Travisina a Christmas gift.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he said sweetly, “IF YOU DON’T GIVE ME THE DAMN MONEY!”
Misto handed over his very last cent. His powers had temporarily vanished, due to lack of nutrients. Therefore, there was nothing he could do but his and throw a fit, but it was worth nothing to seven armed kittens.
“Now, if you’ll just tell me where this Travisina lives, we’ll take her and return your money.”
“Never!”
“Well! In that case, we shall take the money and hold you hostage til you get the rest.”
“But I can’t! You took my last dime! I’m broke!”
“Then you’re S.O.L.”
“You can’t do this! I have to go home for Christmas!”
“You can. If you tell me where to find this Travisina queen.”
“You’ll have to kill me first!”
“Probably.”
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Some Christmas’s You Can’t Forget
Munkustrap paced back and forth. He had begun to worry about the three missing Jellicles: Mistoffelees, Mezoa and Alonzo. It was getting late for them to return before the blizzard they were going to have in less than two days. They knew they were. Munkustrap could sense it with all his whiskers. Demeter was no more help, for she was as worried as one cane get. But for once, Munkustrap could not calm her down.
“Dear, what if they don’t make it home for the Christmas Dinner and all…”
“Demeter, they will. I hope.”
Munkustrap when back to tend to his sons, who were throwing fits of anger every which way. Demeter sat alone by the fireplace, knitting a collar quietly. Jemima tip-toed in silently and crawled on her lap.
Demeter smiled. “Jemmie, aren’t you getting a bit big for this?”
“No.” Jemima curled up next to her though, so she could knit, as she had always done in the winter. Jemima was over a year-old now, but she didn’t want to believe it. She liked the quiet, cozy nights she had spent with Demeter, speaking softly in front of crackling flames. She had loved it. She still did.
“Demeter?”
“Yes Jemima?”
“Do you think that my brothers will return in time? Do you think they will return at all?”
Demi wanted to comfort the kitten, but she didn’t want to lie. It didn’t take her long to realize she couldn’t have both. “I don’t know, honey. I really don’t know.”
Demeter thought back on the previous winters that had been so cold and dreary. After she moved from living with Bombalurina, since Bombaluring became pregnant with Travie, she spent the nights alone in her burrow beneath the ground. Jemima had always stopped by to warm her, and she wondered how she could ever live without Jemima.
But time flew and days changed. Jemima grew quickly and spent less time with her. Munkustrap fell in love with her, and she spent more time with him. Soon, they had kittens and Jemima was nearly forgotten. But who could forget a child with a warm smile and an even warmer heart? No one.
That was why this night, three night before Christmas Eve, was so special. It reminded her of great things. Most of all, Jemima.
“Demeter?”
“Yes Jemima?
As if reading Demeter’s mind, she asked, “Did you ever forget me?”
“Not a once, my dear. I could never forget you.”
“Not even for a minute?”
“Not even for a second.” Jemima smiled.
“Wow.”
“Why, did you forget me?”
“No Demeter, of course not. It’s just…I thought that you’d forget me cos I stopped visiting. I thought you’d think I didn’t care.”
“Jemmie, that’s ridiculous. Come now though, you better get home. Alon—I mean your family will be worried about you.”
“Okay.” Jemima trudged into the cold snow. Demeter watched her head to the ground and to the shack. Demeter wished so that she had Jemima for her own.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Lights Out
Every light on the west side of London went out with a poof.
“Yeah!” Electra, Pouncival, Matty, Travie, Sillabub and Cliffy slapped each other high fives.
The humans had robbed the junkyard again. They had attempted to take the big wheel, the one that the Jellicle Choice was lifted upon ever year, but it was too hevy, thank goodness. Instead, they tore apart Tugger’s flat, which lie far above the junkyard. So the kittens were paying htem back.
They had went to the London power plant and tied all the cicuits into one. That one they dipped in cat pee, and all the lights poofed out.
Watching a stick of lightning fork across the sky, Travie thought of Misto most of all. His graceful paws tingling, a stem popping above his thumb, and soon a boquet of roses in front of his bashful face. She smiled at the memory of his face. She missed him very much, and now worried. Not about his cheating on her, Matty made it quite clear that Misto wouldn’t, but worried about if he was stranded. Perhaps a blizzard had hit where he was, or his powers had failed, or he couldn’t teleport, or catch any transportation. She attempted to delete the thoughts, but she couldn’t rid of them. Christmas inched closer day by day, hour by hour, and every minute his eyes didn’t sparkle in hers she became more scared for him.
“Travie? Travie. Travie!” Electra’s voice woke her up from her thoughts. “Man, you were out!”
“Huh?”
“You just toppled right off the trampoline dude,” Pouncival told her, when she realized she was flat on her back.
“You totally went out,” Electra went on. “Like a light.” Thunder rumbled not far away and a piece of blue shattered across the sky.
“Well, we best be gettin' home,” Sillabub thought out loud quietly, looking at the sky, then back to her friends helping Travie up.
“Come on Matty,” Pouncival yanked at her tail, but she didn’t flinch. She just gazed at the darkening sky. “Matty!” Pouncival whined. Still there was no response. “We’ll leave without you,” Pouncival threatened, his pawsteps getting farther away. But Matty didn’t seem to care. She only watched the sky. An innocent tear trickled down her face.
“Matty, what’s wrong?” Pouncival came back closer.
Matty wiped away the tear and stodd taller. “Where’s Alonzo? And Mezoa. And Misto?” she asked Pouncival like a child lost in the darkness.
“Matty, you know that we don’t know…”
“I know! That’s it! We don’t know! That’s what’s wrong! And you know what’s worse? Who’s out there looking for them? No one! Why not? Don’t they care?” Matty felt as though her head would burst and she would cry like she never had before.
“Matty, we’re trying. I swear to you, cats look for them everyday, but that’s all they can do. It’s Christmas season, and there’s a lot going on. Cats have other things…”
“Well if I could get outta school I’d devote the rest of my days to finding them, until I did. And I would.”
“Matty, they’er gonna be okay,” Sillabub soothed, gently coming closer. But Pouncival caught her in his hug first. She hugged his truly and sincerely, her tears drenching his fur. Then she lifted herself.
“I’m sorry. We should go.”
“It’s okay Matty. They’ll be okay. Misto’s fine. He’s in Las Vegas. Alonzo and Mezoa probably went to a different tribe for awhile…they’ll be back. Please trust me.”
“I do.” But the more Matty listened to Pouncival comforting thoughts, the more she doubted them.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Mistoffelees prayed to God for Travisina and his family as good as he could. His body was tied to the wall at this point in time. “Don’t worry for me Travie, Matty. Or Boxer, Quaxo, Sillabub, Jemima…”
He trailed off wondering if they had found Mezoa and Alonzo. “Don’t worry my mates and kin. I’ll be home for Christmas. I promise. But he was no longer sure if that was a promise he could keep.
“Why hello my little jerk-off,” Jeffery grinned as he walked in the room. In the dawn light Misto could now see that Jeffery was not a kitten, but a miniature cat, and so were his associates. They had all put him on. Tricked him into this. To paying his every last cent, and his girlfriend, afraid to know what they could possibly want with her.
“You shouldn’t make fun of yourself,” Misto growled sarcastically. Jeffery kicked Misto’s side. Misto nearly yowled, but he would give no satisfaction. He merely yowled inside for a moment, then returned his view on his enemy.
“Oh please, I can see your pain right through you.” But Misto bared no tears nor noise. “Mistoffelees, I heard you pray to God. That’s not what you should do. I want you to follow my rules, got it?”
“It’s nice to want isn’t it?” Misto almost grinned.
“I don’t like that remark!” Jeffery kicked him again. Misto showed no pain. “There will be no praying, for it will do you no good. Becauseyou are trapped here. You won’t be home for Christmas. And don’t expect a miracle, but miracles don’t happen here.” Jeffery strut away.
“Jeffery!” he whipped around. “I don’t expect a miracle. I expect Christmas Magic!” Jeffery snorted and kept along his way. And after he said it Mistoffelees realized he did.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Stockings Lined All In a Row
Matty hung her stocking next to Jemima’s, which was next to Sillabub’s to Cliffy’s to Chewie’s to Boxer’s to Quaxo’s…
But no Mezoa. No Alonzo. She really worried where they could be. And no Mistoffelees. She had promised he was in Las Vegas, as she had been sure he was. But that had been two weeks since he’d left, he really should have returned.
Stockings had been a tradition since he was a kitten, Alonzo told her. When he was an only kitten in the junkyard his guardian had been Skimbleshanks, and they had always hung his stocking above the fireplace for Santa to leave his gifts for him. But Matty knew now that there was no Santa, that he was but a figure. Still Sillabub was very conscerned.
“Matty, I’m telling you there is a Santa Claus.”
“Have you ever seen him?”
“Well, no…”
“Or heard him?”
“Not exactly…”
“Then what is your point? There is no Santa Claus?”
“Just because you can not see or hear him, nor is there no logical explanation for him, does not mean he doesn’t exist.”
“How do you find that so?” Matty asked skeptically, putting a seventh tac in Quaxo’s heavy-duty wool stocking that kept falling down.
“Have you ever seen the Heaviside Layer?”
“No. So what?”
“And yet you know it exists.”
“But that’s different!” Matty protested.
“Is it?” And that was it. Matty had no other points she could use for the disagreement. She just knew he didn’t exist, and that was that.
For that particular moment, her mind had been taken from the thought of her three missing siblings, and when she thought of it again, the worse it seemed. For tonight was suppose to be the night of the big storm…and tomorrow was Christmas Eve.
“Merry Christmas!” Mark exclaimed as he flung open the door. Sillabub and Matropolis jumped a mile.
“You too,” Matty replied with a grin. He grinned back, knowing he had scared half of Hell out of her.
“I came to bring your Christmas present. I want you to open it now.”
“Mark, you know I can’t do that. I want to, but I can’t. It’s untraditional.”
“Huh?”
“It’s tradition that {Matty began to recite from something Munksutrap had many times explained}, ‘one gift is to be opened Christmas Eve and one only, the rest on Christmas Day and no other.’” Mark sighed.
“Well, here anyway. Open it on Christmas then.” He handed it to her and she place it under their wimpy tree. Sillabub just smiled and gave Mark a gift.
“Don’t open till Christmas,” she said bashfully. Matty could see she liked Mark.
“Okay. Well, I best be gone.” Mark sighed. “Victor’s got this new ‘curfew’ thing going on.”
“But we got a game tonight!” Matty protested.
“I’ll be there.” His warm smile made Matty have no oppugn whatsoever.
“How so?”
Mark didn’t answer, only tipped his elf hat and was on his way. Matty let out a long sigh.
“He wants me,” Jemima said surely.
“Huh? I don’t know…”
“He does. He wants me bad! More than I want him for sure!”
“Yeah. Heh.”
“What! I’ll bet you Mark’s Christmas gift that he likes me more.”
“Okay. How’ll you prove it?”
“My gift will be better.”
Matty nodded her head, as if it wasn’t obvious that Mark liked her. Still, she was determined to stay humble. “Okay.” And with that, Sillabub skipped out the door.
And though no one at all was in the shack, she thought, I knew a cat once that taught me about bets like this. Bets that one makes even if there’s less than a fifty chance of her wins. And he said, that even if the bet seems unreal to stay humble, for if your ego lifts higher than your self-confidence, as sure as the sun’ll come up tomorrow, they’ll win the impossible bet. So Matty stayed humble, even through the obvious.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Gotta Have the Game or We’ll Die From Shame
Mistoffelees was indeed tied to the wall in the stone backstage chamber, but tomorrow there would be soemone else needing to use the stage. That meant he would be moved, to probably even a more uncomfortable place.
So in these past days and hours, he had attempted in coming up with a plan. He could not think of anything that would free him, but there had to be something. At last, he thought of his friends and family, and Matropolis and her friends popped up first. He thought of how he missed them and remembered them waving good-bye before he left, walking into the darkness for the Kitty Klub.
THE KITTY KLUB!!! THAT WAS IT!!! THE MAJOR KITTEN GAMBLING CENTRE!!!
He’d trick Jeffery into a bet, and he’d make sure he won, and when he did, he’d be set free. It’d be hard, but he had to do it. Gambling on Christmas was probably a sin, but without Travie he might as well go to Hell. Plus, it wasn’t yet Christmas. He had time. But he needed help. From someone he knew wouldn’t get the whole Jellicle Tribe here, who was willing to take the the risk of life. But anyone he told would bring the tribe along, even if he told told that one not to. Except…Macavity. But could he trust the Mystery Cat? What would Mac want form him in return? No, too risky. He’d have to do it alone.
“Mistoffelees, we’ve decided to let you free.” Mistoffelees was stunned for a moment. “For your girlfriend.”
Mistoffelees growled. “Why do you want her?” There was no reply. He was about ready to rage and thrash, but he stayed calm. “Jeffery, what do you say about a bet?”
Jeffery cocked an eyebrow. “A bet?”
“Yeah. If I win, you let me go and I’ll get the cash for you, and if you win… you let me free and—get my girlfriend.” Misto was ashamed for betting his girlfriend, so he knew this bet must be one he could win.
Jeffery grinned. “I”ll make the bet.” Misto went into shock. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. “Mistoffelees, how old am I?”
He did. Misto had no clue. He had always assumed he was a kitten, but it was quite obvious now that he was not.
“Not fair! Do you want the money or not?”
“Not anymore. I want your girlfriend.”
Misto sighed. “Three?” He could only guess.
Jeffery looked shocked. “Well…two out of three.”
“I make the bet then…how many horns does a male reindeer have?”
“Two! That was useless.”
“None.”
“Two.”
“How much more you wanna bet?” Misto seemed so sure of himself, Jeffery started to doubt himself. “None. Reindeers don’t have horns. They have antlers.” Jeffery frowened and then grinned. Then he walked away. “I’ll never tell you anything if you don’t release me!” Jeffery ignored him.
Well, that had been pointless. He had no choice. He had to call for help. From Macavity.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Christmas Seperation
Demeter watched out the window, hoping that one if not all of the missing cats appeared in the snow. But it began to snow harder, and she was beginning to think that they wouldn’t make it for Christmas. She wasn’t so sure that they would come back at all. Her kittens were currently with Jennyanydots, as Munksutrap had found that they were “getting a wrong impression” from his and Demeter’s behavior. She missed them, but what she couldn’t admit was that she missed Jemima mist of all, and she was even Demeter’s kitten. She didn’t want to say it, but she only had wanted one kitten. Not as many as she had now. Just one. And that one was Jemima.
The kittens had even found that much fondness in her, their own mother, or any of the Jellicles. They liked to sit alone with just each other, and talk about things that Demeter did not know. She wished she washat was wrong, but soemthing was not right. As their mother, she should share her time with them, and she didn’t, because they did not wish to spend time with her. She herself liked to spend item with no one but Munksutrap and Jemima, sometimes Electra, Matty and Travie, but mostly Munksutrap and Jemima.
At last, she wondered what Munskutrap would think if she said she would like to adopt Jemima. On Christmas. Jemima was still a kitten, at adoption age, only 13 months, one month older than Matty. She knew Jemima would like it, getting out of the already crowded shack…but would her family? And what about Munkustrap and the kittens? But she knew she must ask. It was her duty as a Jellicle.
“Demi, I’m home!” Munksutrap’s voice came from the hallway in the cat mansion.
Demeter made a dash to the door. She threw her paws around him and licked his face, covered with mud. “Yuck. What happened to you?”
“Ugh. Pouncival slipped in a puddle with Matty on his shoulders and got mud all over me. I tell you, those two are the perfect duo…”
Demeter grinned. “Yeah. Right. Matty isn’t anymore attracted to Pouncival than you are to Bombalurina. I hope.” He kissed her on the cheek and walked on.
“You wouldn’t believe who I met on my way home this evening. An old friend of yours.”
“Oh? I have old friends?” Demeter laughed.
“More like an old flame.” Demeter laughed a bit more.
“Oh, who then?”
“Macavity.”
“Oh.” Demeter blushed a little.
“Yes. He asked me how you were doing?”
“He did?” Demeter looked up. The Hidden Paw asked you, without biting you, how I was doing?”
“Yes. I was quite surprised how polite he was. I told him you were fine, and he said to say hi to you for him.”
“And did you?”
Munskutrap smiled. “Macavity says hi.”
“But Munskutrap, everything’s not okay.”
“It isn’t? Is it me? If it is, I can change. I will.”
“Munkus dear, it’s not you. It’s the kittens. They don’t seem pleased with this family. They seem… apart.”
“I know Demi. And I’ve already fixed that. They’re going to go live with Carbucketty in Scotland’s Jellicle Tribe.”
“What!? You’re what?”
“I’m sorry. But it’s the best for them, and they can’t wait to go. I’m sure they’ll be the best.”
“They’ll be here for—“
“No. They’re stoling away tomorrow morning.”
“But that’s Christmas Eve!”
“They have to. But they’re heading there with a Pollicle tonight, because the storm is starting.”
“But the Pollicle…”
“His family’s in Scotland. It’ll be fine.”
Demeter slumped in an easy chair. “It’s all happening so quickly.”
“I know. It’s okay. Just hang in there. It’ll all be okay.”
By then, Demeter no longer had the guts to ask about Jemima.
“Demeter. Wouldn’t you coem sit by the fire with me?” Munksutrap asked her warmly, his face growing blush.
Demeter nodded happily. But she couldn’t help wonder how the missing cats were.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
The Beginning of the Big Blizzard
Matty and Sillabub peaked out the window, but could see nothing. The wind and snow beat at the window. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and their brothers had no yet returned. Cliffy and Chewie had set out searching for scent, Sillabub and Matty stayed on post. Quaxo moderated the music and baked some fresh smelling Christmas cookies. Boxer even gave up three dates to search for his long-time missing brothers. “I’m not doing it for them,” he had said, “I don’t really like the girls, so I might as well look for them.” But anyone could see that wasn’t true. That Boxer missed them almost as much as the others.
Cliffy and Chewie suddenly burst in the doorway. A heap a snow blew in on the floor. It took both of the dogs to push the door closed.
“It’s freezin’ out there!” Cliffy exclaimed.
“Yeah. We found nothin’,” Chewie declared sadly.
“It’s okay. I don’t think they really want to come back anyway,” Matty said. Sillabub nodded her head in agreement.
Jemima came out of the basement with Alonzo’s favorite Christmass CD, Twisted Christmas. She put it in the the CD player and listened to his favorite song, “There’s Something in the Chimney,” over and over. They all stared as the floor.
“And worst of all, there’s no Santa to bring him back,” Matty sighed. If she had been younger she might have thought that could happen, but she knew it couldn’t. She had to face it. Alonzo and Mezoa didn’t want to come home. They wouldn’t. And Misto, God only knows. For all she knew, he was already dead. But she tried to think of soemthing else.
“DECK THE HALLS!” Elctra burst in the somber shack with boughs of holly in her paws. “Come on guys! Sing along! ‘Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa-la-la-la-la,la-la-la—“
Cillabub slapped her paw over Electra’s mouth. “Shut-up or I’ll deck you.”
“Boy, we’re not in the Christmasy mood are we?”
“NO!” They all said in unison.
“Try to cheer up—“
“I’m trying. Can’t do it,” Sillabub snapped miserably.
“Sorry. Just trying to be nice.”
“Yeah, we know. But the only thing you can give us to cheer us up in Alonzo, Mezoa and Misto,” Cliffy sighed.
“Oh. Okay.” Electra seemed down. She opened the door and walked outside. Before she close it Matty ran over to her.
“And Train’s new CD.” Electra nodded. Matty closed the door and sat back down.
“Where are they?” Jemima asked at last, breaking the silence.
“I don’t know. I wish they’d come back.”
“They don’t care. They don’t miss us.”
“But Misto must at least miss Travie!”
“Maybe not,” Quaxo said, staring blankly into space.
“Yeah,” Matty agreed, no longer ashamed for agreeing. “I wonder if Travie knows.”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Back Off, Hot Shot
“Travie! She’s here!” Bombalurina declared excitedly.
“Cool.” Trav didn’t move. She just sat on her mattress and read the card Rumpelteazer had sent her over and over.
“Oh! Haven’t you grown!” Bombalurina said to CT, one of Travie’s sisters, visiting for Chrsitmas. Socketlarose couldn’t make it, so CT was coming alone. “And so beautiful!”
“Thank-you, Mom! It’s been so long. I hope you don’t mind that I brought your boyfriend.”
“Not at all!”
Travie was very surprised to see Ricky in the doorway.
“You’re going to have to share the back alleyway with Travie.”
“Oh that’s okay. I do so miss little Travisina.”
Little Travisina? CT couldn’t stand her or her friends. Of course she was such a good liar, their mother would never guess.
“Why don’t you go and unpack your things. Are you staying through New Year’s?”
“Of course! I wouldn’t go into the New Millenium without my mother and little sister!” CT bounced towards the back alleyway. Travie growled lowly.
Ricky introduced himself to Bombalurina, who apparently had never met him. Travie could see that Ricky had charmed her mother, the little piece of scum. She remember Matty telling her that right after he had left back to Mexico with his “wife” he was in Hot Toms Magazine looking for a girlfriend.
CT glared at Travie as she walked. “Hey squirt, I want the big mattress, for both Ricky and I.”
“Oh yeah? Why?”
“We’re boyfriend and girlfriend, we need the bigger mattress!”
“And what if my boyfriend comes back from America in time for Christmas?”
“Yeah right—huh? you have a boyfriend? Puh! No one would date a little squirt like you!”
“You can even ask Mom!” CT ignored her.
“Just move.”
“No way. This has been my mattress since I was born. The Rum Tum Tugger gave it to me!”
“So what? He doesn’t like you!”
“We’re friends!”
“Oh please. Just move!” CT repeated.
“Ricky, help me! Don’t act like you don’t know me!”
“He doesn’t!” CT snapped.
“Oh yes he does. Don’t play dumb!” Ricky was silent.
“Leave him alone. How could he possibly know you?
“You don’t wanna know.” At last, CT and Ricky just took the smaller mattress. “Can’t take that one! It’s Matty’s!”
“She doesn’t even live here!”
“It’s still hers. You’ll have to take the kiddie one.”
“You’re kidding!” CT almost laughed.
“No,” Travie said seriously. The phone rang. Travie picked it up. “Hi Matty. Yeah, CT’s over here. I wish you come over, you need to see her boyfriend. I know, storm’s too bad. Any word from—no? Oh. You’ll tell me if there is though—just asking! Okay. What’d you call for? Oh, well I can’t talk right now. I’m dealing with sisterly problems. CT and her boyfriend are trying to use your mattress for making-out stuff. Okay. Later.” Travie hung the phone up.
“That was MATROPOLIS, Ricky.” He ignored her. Travie only laughed at his game.
CT and Ricky were laying in the kiddie bed, built for one small dog. They looked uncomfortable. Good.
Later that evening, at dinner, CT told Bombalurina that Travie and she were going very well together. Travie was becoming infuriated, as Ricky was glaring at her. She knew that he was trying to avoid the subject that he and Matty had gone out for some time, and probably quite in love.
“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!” Bombalurina exclaimed.
“And Misto, Mezoa and Alonzo still haven’t returned. But they will,” Travie tried to make herself believe it so.”
“Travie, they may not,” Bomby said.
“But keep your chin up!” CT faked a smile.
That night as Travie attempted to fall asleep, CT continuouly tried to drive her nuts. It was working.
“He’s not coming back.”
“Huh?” Travie turned to CT and Ricky’s bunk.
“Mistoffelees. He’s probably with some other girl now.”
“He’s not! He’s just caught in the blizzard.”
“Yeah. Right. And Alonzo and Mezoa, they don’t even miss the Jellicles. Cos you’re all a bunch of bastards.”
Travie tried to ignore her. But she could feel CT smiling in the dark.
“And you know what? Rumpelteazer is practically the biggest slut I’ve run into, and Mungojerrie and nothing but cheater. Travie was heated almost as high as she could go. Dissing her was one thing, but her friends…”
“And Mistoffelees. He’s a backstabbing cheater, who only likes you for—“
“Hsssssss!” Travie hissed and leapt out of bed. She snarled and clawed at CT’s blankets. “You better back off! I don’t appreciate that bad-mouth. Rumpelteazer is the smartest, sweetest cat you could meet. Mungojerrie is funniest—okay, not the most trusting, but he only cheats at cards. And Misto is the sweetest, most trusting, best tom in the world. Did them again and I’lll rip you and Ricky apart.” She backed away.
“Is that a threat?” CT mocked.
“Yeah. And a promise.” Travisina finally fell asleep, dreaming of nothing but Magical Mr. Mistoffelees.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Macavity Gets a Call
Macavity sat in his chambers staring intot he darkness. He had set all his prisoners free, though he did not know why.
He had freed his slaves, and few stayed except Mastark and Adroitis. He was alone, wishing he had Demeter to keep him company. He wished he had not misused her, and she would be his. But now he would have to do without, and spend Christmas alone. Why did he have to be the ‘evil cat’? He didn’t want to. He had been so alone he went berserk the past four years.
Ever since Demeter left. He had murdered stolen, enslaved and tortured, thinking that would heal his wounds. But it only made them deeper. Now he wished he could repent, but no one wanted the Mystery Cat in their life.
Alone.
Alone.
Alone, for all eternity.
Suddenly, a terrible headache hit him in the temple. “Ahhh!” His mind was flooded with a picture of Mr. Mistoffelees trapped against a wall with chains, a small cat poking him with a fire stick. Macavity remembered how he did that to his prisoners. He felt pain for Mistoffelees.
After that image, he remembered Mistoffelees regenerating the light at the Jellicle Ball and rescuing Old
Deuteronomy, who he had captured. So he could lead the Jellicle Tribe himself. He had been wrong.
Another image struck him. Mistoffelees was askign him for help. But could he? How could he? Of course. Mistoffelees powere were weak and his were not. But why should he help Mistoffelees? Misto had turned from his when he was kitten and despised him ever since.
But he had to. Wether he remained good or evil, Mistoffelees needed him. Before he was no longer alive. He knew he could help him with his own powers. He didn’t like Jellicles, he wasn’t a Jellicle and never would be, but Mistoffelees needed him. Macavity was Mistoffelees’ only chance.
Macavity immediately hopped up from the stone floor and slinked out, not sure where he was going. But his instinct would show him.
The London Airport? Where in God’s name was he headed? At last, an image of a casino club hit his brain, and lit up next to it was the words LAS VEGAS.
Las Vegas! That was in America! But that was no concern right now. Macavity had to get there as soon as he could. He stole away in the storage room in the plane. He was haeaded for Las Vegas, America.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Will Rum Tum Tugger Be On CT’s Side Too?
CT stuck her tongue out at Travie. Travie was nearly in tears after the horrible things CT had just called her friend.
“And Cassandra’s a little scumbucket.” Even that made Traive angry.
“Shut-up CT!” Travie yelled. CT laughed.
“And the most humorous part about it is that those three characters you care about so much have left with no return, and you don’t even get it!” CT laughed.
“Leave me the Hell alone!” Travie started to cry. Hard. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Rum Tum Tugger burst in the alleyway (audience goes in an uproar).
“Who’s that?”
“That’s the Rum Tum Tugger,” Travie sniffled.
“Merry Christmas ladies!” He exclaimed (Ricky and Bombalurina were not around at the time, they had
gone out trying to shovel snow).
“Why hello Rum Tum Tugger!” CT greeted.
“Hello!” Tugger whistled. CT faked blushing.
“Hi Tugger,” Travie whimpered. Tugger heard that it was muffled.
“Travie?” He looked away from CT .
Travie looked up. Her eyes were puffy and red from really crying.
“Travie!”
“Oh, she’s fine…” CT began. “She’s just mad because Mom didn’t get her what she wanted for Christmas,” the lie went on.
“Liar!” Travie wiped away her tears. Tugger ignored CT’s explaination.
“Are you okay? What happened?”
“Mezoa and Misto and Alonzo stillaren’t back {sniffle}, and I miss them…”
“Oh Travie, it’s okay. They probably miss you.”
“And CT keeps dissing all the Jellicles really bad.”
“Travie, it’s okay. What? CT’s dissing my buddies?” Tugger stood up and glared at the silent CT. “I don’t
like you.” He sat back down and cuddled with Travie, wiping away her tears. “It’s okay. It’ll all be okay. Misto’s the man. He’ll be back. Alonzo and Mezoa will come back. I hope.” They embraced and let go too soon. “I have to go. I still need to wrap my presents!” Travie giggled.
“Don’t leave me here with the itch!” Travie whispered. Tugger laughed.
“Later Travie. And Merry Christmas!” Tugger waved good-bye to Travie and flipped CT off, then told her Merry Christmas too.
Travie snorted, feeling a little better. “There’s another Tom that wants you,” she said sarcastically.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Macavity to the Rescue
Macavity ran down the streets in Vegas faster than he ever had. It was Chistmas Eve in early morning in America. That meant It was getting later in London. He found the exact casino he saw in his mind. He took a deep breath then ran in, immediately heading backstage.
Sure as the next day was Christmas Mistoffelees was hanging on the wall looking fery uncomfortable and Macavity was shocked with guilt
.
“Macavity!” Mistoffelees exclaimed in a loud whisper. But not in the usual exasperated or worried tone. In more of a ‘Thank-the-Everlasting-Cat’ tone.
In a flash Macavity blast the chains and Mistoffelees was free. They wasted no time, but Jeffery and his followers caught them too quickly.
“I don’t think so gentlmen,” Jeffery said. “I don’t know how you did it Misto, but you did. And now I have you both. I have more power than the both of you just now.”
“Macaivty, you hav emroe power than him!”
“Misto, listen. When I was a young kitten, before my mother died, she told me a valuable thing that I have not nor will I ever forget. She said “Maccy, one day, you’re gonna be in a lot of trouble.’ She knew this sort of stuff. And then she said, ‘you’ll be in a situation where the guy who wants to beat the crap out of you says he has more power than you, just to really tick you off and make you make the first move, so he can take you out. But son, do not overlook this cat, because as sure as you are that you can beat his tail off, you’ll end up dead or severely hurt. So think first’.” Mistoffelees nodded. Macavity was right. That was very valuable.
“And you’re Mama was right. Cos I am gonna kill you,” Jeffery grinned. They were easy game.
“But my Father said never to let anyone push your friends around.” Macavity blasted Jeffery bakwards, hitting his followers like a game of bowling.
“STRIKE!” Misto declared. Wasting not a second more, the ran into the city streets.
The streets were getting darker and the snow was coming down harder. Macavity and Mistoffelees could
barely see. They had to find a place to eat. If misto got enough nutrients, he could teleport them back home.
But most places were closed now. After all, it was Chrsitmas Eve. Most were tucked in bed, waiting for Santa Claus to bring them gifts. And here Misto was, in the middle of Vegas with the Hidden Paw, looking for a restaurant that was open.
The cold nipped at their toes, and Misto was sure he was frost bitten. But he thought of his family and the Jellicle Tribe, mostly Travie kept him going.
“It’s lit!” Macavity yelled. His voice was no longer rough and angry as it had once seemed. But now soft and whimpering. “The Snack Shack is lit! It’s still open!” They ran as fast they could there. Their legs were numb and weak. But the lights went out and the door shut before they could make it. “We can still make it…”
“No. We’re lost. We’ll never make it home in time. Face it Mac. We’re screwed.”
“Misto. You’re gonna wanna see this.”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Jingle Bells
Matty tucked herself into bed. They weren’t coming back. They didn’t want to come back. They were gone.
“Matty?”
“What?”
“Do you here that?” Matty turned to Jemima’s voice.
“Here what?”
“That.” There was a little jingle in the distance.
“Yeah… It’s just our minds playing tricks on us. Go to bed Jemmie.”
“You’re right. Good-night.”
The jingling jingled again. Matty looked up. But there was nothing there. Nonsense, she thought. Nonsense.
Jingle, jingle, jingle. Matty went to the window, where she found Quaxo, Boxer, Jemima, Sillabub, Cliffy and Chewie standing as well. But they saw nothing.
Click, click, click! There was thumps on the roof top. Quaxo went outside, into the freezing blizzard. There was Misto and Macavity, on the shack’s roof.
“MISTOFFELEES! MACAVITY! What are you doing on our roof? You’re home!” everyone in the shack ran out into the freezing snow. Mistoffelees and Macavity jumped down. Mistoffelees hugged his little sisters.
“You guys, you know Macavity. He saved my life.” They all looked to Macavity.
“He did?” Matty asked surpisedly.
“Yes. And all he wished in return is that he may stay for Christmas.”
“Well, uh, um…of course!” Matty and Sillabub looked to each other in aggreement, and in no time they all gave Macavity a hug and invited him inside.
“But one thing Misto. Hwo did you get on the roof?” Quaxo asked. “We almost thought it was Santa, but off course that’s impossible.”
There was a brilliant twinkle in Misto’s eye. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Misto turned the other way and headed for Travisina’s.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
This Gift
Travie buried her face in her paws. No Mistoffelees still.
“I told you that he wasn’t coming back. He doesn’t really want you.”
“Shut-up!” Travie clamored through the tears. CT somehow laughed at her pain. Her and Ricky cuddled and Travie continuously gave Ricky killer looks.
At no warning, there was a knock on the door that seperated the back and front alleyway. Travie stumbled miserably to it and swung it open. She looked up.
There was Mister Mistoffelees bright, warm, smiling face. Travie’s eyes grew large and surprised, more overjoyed than she had ever been. His cheeks were rosy red. Travie gave him the biggest hug she ever possibly could have. Their embraced was tight and warm, Travie never wanted to let go.
“Merry Christmas. I missed you.”
“Me too,” Travie wiped away her thousands of tears of her face.
“Come on Trav, you’re suffocating me!” Misto made her laugh. “Here.” He handed her a small box.
“Thank-you.” She opened it to find a note and a sprig of misteltoe. And the note read:
Ever notice how the world goes round?
Do you notice that I would have no world with no you?
Don’t you see how I need you all the time?
Do you know that I was so blue?
And do you know that to make this Christmas
More special than it can be—
I need you by my side this time
And I hope that you need me?
I was alone in the snow for too long
And every thought I thought of you
I wanted a pure white Christmas with my love
Not one that was blue.
And now you’re here to spend this Christmas
With the one and only me
I’m sorry I couldn’t afford a gift
So I hope that you see.
The only gift worth giving you
Is too big to put under your tree
But you can fill it in your heart
It’s the gift of you and me!
Merry Christmas,
Misto
Travie smiled. “Misto…” she begin to sing one of her favorite songs. ”All I want for Chrsitmas is you.”
Misto smiled back. ”So I’m going to give you, this gift tonight. I’m down on my knees, there’s no better time. It’s something to last for as long as you live, tonight I’m gonna give you all my heart can give.” Misto hugged her. “I love you Travie.”
“Yeah. Ditto.” Misto laughed. It really was a merry Christmas.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I’m Home For Christmas
Back in bed, Matty, Jemima, Sillabub, Cliffy, Chewie, Quaxo and Boxer were thinking about Alonzo and Mezoa. They really weren’t coming back.
Outside the shack door, Alonzo yanked the pick from Mezoa’s grasp. “Give me that! I’ll pick the lock!”
“You’ll wake them up!”
“Shut-up! It’s Christmas! Santa Claus won’t bring you any presesnts. He’ll just put a lump of shit in your
stocking.
“That’s coal, Alonzo,” Mezoa corrected.
“Whatever. There’s gotta be a better way from doing this.”
“Hwo ‘bout we knock?”
“At our own house?”
“It’s cold out here!” Mezoa whined. Alonzo rolled his eyes.
“I know, let’s go down the chimney!” Alonzo exclaimed.
“Alonzo, I don’t know—“
“Come on!” he yanked Mezoa up the ladder.
On the roof, Alonzo looked down and saw a crackling fire. “Mezoa, you go first.”
Mezoa crawled in slwoly, but suddenly lunged down.
“OOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOO!” he yowled. “Hot, hot, hot, hot!”
“Mez, unlock the door!” Alonzo whispered down the chimney. But Mezoa had already climbed back on the roof and pushed Alonzo down the chimney.
“Hmph!”
“OOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOO!” Alonzo repeated Mezoa. “Pain, pain, pain, pain!”
Now inside the house, his family and Macavity had ran to the fireplace room to see what was going on. Mezoa and Alonzo glared at each other and said in unison, “You woke them up!” They all hugged each other.
“Where were you?” Quaxo asked Alonzo.
“I found myself asking the same question.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Boxer sounded kind. “You’re back.”
“Where’s Misto-Man?” Alonzo asked.
“Travie’s,” they said together.
“Macavity saved his life,” Jemima noted.
“Macavity?” Macavity told them everything that had happened. When he remembered Mastark and Adroitis still in his lairs. He waved good-bye, and then trudged into the storm.
“So how did they get on the roof?” Mezoa asked.
“They said we wouldn’t believe them.”
Jemima, Sillabub, Cliffy and Matty watched something out window in the sky and there was a quiet jingle that only the four of them could hear.
“You wouldn’t,” Cliffy smiled. The others just looked at each other shrugging.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Christmas Day
The kittens and puppy ripped and tore at their gifts. They found many toys and games. But Travie seemed quite content with a little note she kept reading. Matty shook her head.
“Tumble’s not a kitten anymore,” Pouncival whispered to the others. Tumble was over my Misto talking.
“Because he’s talking to an adult?” Jemima defended.
“He couldn’t hear the bells last night.”
“He’s a early leaver,” Travie sighed.
“I tried to get him to hear them, but he just couldn’t. Sorry guys.”
“It’s okay Pounci. We all leave sometime. And worst, once you leave, you can’t ever hear the bells again. You can’t ever see Santa, or his reindeer. You just forget. And there’s nothing you can do,” Electra said, ripping a part a catnip toy, trying furiously to release the catnip.
“Yeah. I know. I wish he hadn’t gone so early. Losing Chrsitmas magice really sucks,” Pouncival said.
“He didn’t lose it. He’s going into a different form of Christmas magic. We won’t know until we get out of our kittenhood,” Traive said.
“I don’t wanna leave then,” Pouncival said. “At least, not that early.”
“Well, Etcetra left kittenhood earlier than all of us, even me! And I’m the oldest kitten now that Tumble has crossed into cathood.” They all sighed.
“More ‘Lectra, you’ll be crossing soon too. Don’t forget what we know.”
“You know I will. We all will. Who’s the youngest kitten here?”
“Timber,” Matty grumbled. “I was.”
“Timber will be last, right?”
“Yeah, well I was until you came!” Jemima snapped playfully to Travie and Matty.
At once Matty disappeared, tehn reappeared with Misto and a sprig of mistletoe. He hung it over Travie’s head.
“No way!” Travie giggled and backed away.
“Too late! Misto caught you under the mistletoe. That means you gotta—“ she looked at the other kittens and grinned. “—kiss him!” Misto pulled her closer and kiss her. Then she grabbed it and through it to Jonathan who held it over Matty’s head. “Hey! You can’t use that stuff as a weapon!”
“Matty,” Mark said after the mistletoe fight. “You haven’t opened my gift yet.”
“Best for last.” Matty untied the bright green ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a sprig of mistletoe and a note. “Did you and Misto go shopping together?” Mark smiled. She opened the note. It read.
Dear Matty,
I wish you a Merry Christmas, and it’s even better to spend it with the Jellicles. But it would be even merrier, if, for my gift, you use this mistletoe properly on me. And in return, I’ll give you you’re real gift.
Love,
Mark
“So this is why you were in suck a hurry for me to open the gift. She lifted the mistletoe above his head and kissed him lightly. “Merry Christmas.”
He handed her Train’s new CD.
“Or did you and Electra shop together?” Mark laughed. She hugged him. Then she burned the mistletoe. “No more of that nonsense!”
The Day After Christmas Day
“So,” Silla began proudly. “Mark gave me the new Dixie Chicks CD. You?”
“Oh, he gave be the new Train CD.”
“See, see! Mine gift was better.”
“And a kiss.”
Sillabub through something at Matty. It was the last sprig of mistletoe in the junkyard. Matty could only laugh.
