One lazy day in the Jellicle Junkyard, all the cats were lazing about. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were playing cockney poker in their old shoe and Victoria and Mistoffelees were rough housing on top of the old Ford. Pouncival was playing practical jokes as usual.

Suddenly, Pouncival burst in on Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer's poker game, foaming at the mouth.

"Rabies!" he cried.

Mungojerrie jumped up from the card game to restrain the 'rabid' Pouncival. Rumpleteazer used the distraction to slip a card up her arm warmer.

"Hold still, you!" cried Mirahcles, whom Pouncival had dragged in behind him. "You need a VET!"

And for once, Pouncival obeyed. He stopped thrashing about and held still. He looked at Mirahcles and Mirahcles looked at him. She held back a giggle, which turned into a snort, until she and Pouncival had burst out in loud, infectious laugher.

Mungojerrie looked embarrassed. Mirahcles wiped big laughing tears from her cheeks and whiskers.

"We got you GOOD!" She laughed.

"Yeah, and now YOU owe ME a mouse pie!" said Pouncival.

"I do not! He wasn't fooled all the way! And Rumpleteazer wasn't fooled at all!" argued Mirahcles.

"But you PROMISED!!" whined Pouncival.

"Did not!"

"Did too!" "DID NOT!"

Mungojerrie sighed and sat down with Rumpleteazer.

"Hey! You dropped a card!"

"I didn't!"

"Yes, you did! You had five cards a minute ago! Now you only have four!"

"I DID NOT drop a card! How dare you accuse me! I never, ever cheat!"

Sure, Rumpleteazer! And we all beleive you, too!

And so the cats carried on their respective arguments for minutes on end. And the moral of the story is: If you're going to play a practical joke, plan it out first! AND if you're going to cheat at cards, TRY to be subtle!