"Good grief, there she is again!" Jabez exclaimed quietly. "What do you think she wants this time?"
Eliot just shrugged and shook his head as he watched the cats move past the prodigal, hissing and growling, as she made her way to where Dutironomy sat with Munkustrap at his side. Only Vyktorea tried to approach her with outstretched arms, but Plaetoh ran up behind her and swept her away.
Standing once again in the center of the hall, Grizabella looked around. Whenever her gaze fell on a Coricat, he or she would hiss and turn away. She looked to Old Dutironomy who held out a paw invitingly. Quietly, with the caslikohs accompanying her with a bittersweet tune, she began to sing in Coricus.
The Terran men couldn't understand her song, but were nevertheless filled with sadness for this cat who had been turned out by the family she loved. Grizabella's song slowly built in strength and volume, and one by one the other Coricats turned to watch her. Eliot could see tears forming in the old cat's eyes.
As she reached a high point in her song she slowly collapsed to the ground, spent with the effort and emotion. By this time all eyes were on her and it was barely noticed when little Jemymah stood up and sang a quiet reply. Something about sunlight through the trees and a fading memory was all that Eliot could pick out.
Strengthened by the kitten's reply, Grizabella forced herself to her feet and reached out to them all, even the Terrans, singing at the top of her voice. Eliot understood part of it, "Touch me! It's so easy to leave me all alone with the memory…"
As her last note faded away, Grizabella looked around at the other cats, who stared at her in awed silence, then began the slow, painful journey out of the hall. Vyktorea sprang to her feet, then stopped, looking to Old Dutironomy for approval. Dutironomy gave her a nod, restraining the tensed Plaetoh with a paw on his shoulder.
Grizabella had sensed the disturbance behind her and stretched a hand back without looking to see who would touch it. Vyktorea placed her paw in Grizabella's and the older cat's face lit up like a super nova. There was a collective sigh from the Coricats as they moved forward to greet the newly accepted Jellicle. Vyktorea rubbed against her before handing her off to Mistoffelees, who handed her to Skimbleshanks. And so she was passed from cat to cat until she reached Alahnso, who presented her to Old Dutironomy, who gave her a low bow.
"Does this mean she's forgiven?" Pavel asked quietly.
"I think so," Mozu breathed, a single tear running down her cheek.
Now Old Dutironomy tried to present Grizabella to Munkustrap, her son, but the grey and black chief drew back sharply and turned his head away, refusing to touch the mother who had deserted him. Visibly upset, Dutironomy put a firm paw on Munkustrap's shoulder, but he shook it off.
Fresh tears filled Grizabella's green eyes as she called her kitten's name and stretched out her paw to him. Slowly Munkustrap turned to face her and it could be seen that he was crying, too. Grizabella said something in Coricus and reached out to smooth the fur that was matted with his tears, but he stopped her hand in his. She gasped, unsure of his intentions, then gasped again when he rubbed her hand against his cheek. She stepped closer and he rubbed his face against hers, then he rested his head on her bosom and purred. Grizabella's tears flowed freely now as she purred and stroked her kitten's head.
Eliot was embarrassed to discover that he, too, had tears running down his face, but felt a little better about it when he saw that Jabez and Pavel were similarly stricken. Slowly, quietly, the Jellicles moved out of the hall and returned to their homes, leaving Munkustrap alone with his mother.
"I can die in peace now," Grizabella whispered, "knowing that you have forgiven me."
Munkustrap's head came up suddenly and his green eyes were filled with alarm. "Mama, you can't die!" he protested.
"But I will, and soon," Grizabella said gently. "I am old, and I haven't had an easy life. If the Everlasting Cat finds me worthy, I will go to the Heaviside Layer to be with your father. And together we will wait for you to join us."
Munkustrap tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "Then I will do my best to be worthy of joining you," he whispered shakily. With that he put a protective arm around his mother and led her out of the hall to his home.
©1999 Delilah