Alonzo awoke one morning as happy as a kitten that had a whole bowl of catnip to itself.
All of the Jellicles were noticing his strange behaviors, not eating his breakfast, skipping lunch, and acting a little happier than usual and carelessly getting in their ways.
“’Ey thar mate, wotch it! Ow!” Mungojerrie screamed as Alonzo jumped on Mungo’s toe, not paying attention. “Boy, ge’ ya ‘ead outa the clouds!” Mungo shouted again, Alonzo was grinning to himself. “What’s ‘is deal?” Mungo grumbled to himself.
Rumpleteazer walked up to an unhappy Mungojerrie, who was rubbing his big toe and cuddling it. Rumple stared. Mungo looked at her and frowned. “Gee Mung, don’ ya pay any attention when Old Deuteronomy talks?” she said rolling his eyes and proceeded to rub his toe.
“Oh, um, no.” Mungo thought for a moment. “You weren’t even there Teaz! We was ou’ lootin our master’s ‘ouse. Remember?”
“Oh yeah. Bu’ ‘Lonzo’s told me that his lil sis is comin’.” Rumple said as she thought for a moment. Mungo rolled his eyes again.
“Rump, your one of the most impossible cats I have known, and that’s that. But wow, ‘Lonzo’s got a lil sis. ‘Oo’d thunk sis?” And saying that, Mungo winked, Rumple giggled.
Meanwhile, Alonzo was causing more mayhem, walking through the kittens’ games, jumping up and down, and non-stop talking to his friend Misto, who now, was getting annoyed.
“Alonzo, why are you so happy? Is it your birthday?” Misto asked, “Nope,”Alonzo said cheerfully.
“Although, my birthday is next week,” Alonzo grinned at Misto, who was chuckling.
“Well, um, did you makeup with Cassandra?” Misto hoped for a yes because Alonzo and Cassandra had been fighting ever since the last ball.
“No, she hasn’t talked to me for awhile.” Alonzo sighed.
“You must tell me then what you are so excited about” Misto sighed and thought ‘uh-o’ because he knew Alonzo would be going on with this for a while.
“My sister Majestic is coming to become part of the tribe! Weren’t you there when Old Deuteronomy told us about her?” Alonzo said happily.
“Well, actually, I was with Pounce, Tumble, and Plato, we were planning something for just…um” Misto was talking about Alonzo’s surprise party but he didn’t say it. “Play! Just something us teenagers came up with” he grinned inside, the brothers would not have been happy with Misto if he had given away Alonzo’s surprise.
Alonzo wasn’t listening, he was babbling on about his sister. “…Her name is quite hard to pronounce, we call her Jessie, or Jess, or heck and I dunno what else we call her! She is coming tonight. I better get going; I have to tidy up my nest for her to sleep in it. Bye!” With that Alonzo was gone. Misto walked off to go find the brothers.
Pounce, Tumble and Plato were sitting on a riverbed, not far from the junkyard, tossing rocks into the water. Misto decided this would be a perfect opportunity to scare them.
He snapped his fingers quietly and reappeared on the water surface, making the unfortunate teens jump.
Pounce fell in, or was rather pushed in by Plato who stood up rather quickly to get away from this magical cat who appeared to be walking on the water.
“Why I oughta!” Pounce climbed out of the water drenched from head to paws, he was shaking his fist at Misto. Pounce hated water, like every cat, well almost; Misto loved it!
“Hey settle down, it was only a joke-” Misto said, and with that he climbed onto the bank and waved his hand. Pounce was dry.
“You crazy cat!” Pounce said shaking his head. Misto grinned.
“Magical, eh hem.” Misto cleared his throat. The other boys laughed, including Pounce.
“I have good news guys, that meeting we missed was about a new Jellicle cat that is too be added. She’s a stray, and happens to be Alonzo’s only sister.” He grinned, he knew the kittens needed a mate, and he was right, they all grinned and he could see by the look in their big eyes, they were trying to figure out what she looked like. “You boys are impossible,” said Misto as he left his friends to ponder and daydream, chuckling as he walked on.
It was almost dusk; Misto got entirely bored with sitting around. He was just sitting, not with anyone, not talking, not even conjuring up any tricks for the kittens’ amusement. He decided he should take a long, relaxing stroll through London.
Misto walked on past the Junkyard, and into the city. Humming as he strolled through his old junkyard, thinking of the memories of before the junkyard. Standing here looking at his old home made him feel even worse for leaving his old junkyard. His thoughts were broken as he heard someone coming around the corner; it was a cat.
“Hello there?” She called, “Alonzo, is that you?” She had the most beautiful English voice Misto had ever heard.
“Come into the light, I cant see you.” Misto stepped into the light. “Lon-Oh, hello, you’re not Alonzo.” She frowned, but smiled again as she stuck out her black and white spotted paw. “I’m Majestic, and you are?” she said smiling at this handsome tom.
“Mistoffelees, at your presence ma’am.” Misto bowed low. “I know your brother, Alonzo, or Lonzie.” He said chuckling.
“Oh, wonderful, can you take me to him?” she asked with delight.
“Of course I can.” With that, Misto took her elbow and lead her to the junkyard, telling her all about the Jellicles.
Misto could not help but stare at her. She had the similar black spot with white, but it was on the other side of her mouth, and the curl on her eye was on both of her eyes, and her body was painted black and white, and a bit of brown here and there, and a white dot on her nose. Majestic saw Misto staring, she giggled and Misto looked away embarrassed.
“Misty, wait, no, Mistier, oh codswallop, I have forgotten your name!” Majestic frowned, but a smile flooded her face as he bowed.
“I am Mistoffelees, the original Conjuring Cat, at your presence.” He said a little to formal, because Majestic burst into giggles.
Puzzled, he asked her what was funny; Majestic had to take a breath.
“You, hehe, have something in your-” she motioned her paw over by a Koi Pond; Misto got next to the water’s edge and suddenly Majestic pushed Misto over the side; he tumbled in head first with a screech. He stood up in the Koi pond soaked to the bone.
“Huh? What the?” he asked stunned; Majestic was now laughing at him.
He had moss and plants on his body and even a small tiger striped Koi had been placed upon his black head.
“Hey Majestic, come here,” he said sneakily, Majestic looked at Misto and shook her head playfully. Misto did not take no for an answer. He reached over and pulled her in! Majestic squealed with laughter as she was too pulled in.
She sat up laughing. When she sat up all the way, she looked deep into Misto’s black eyes; he looked back into her green eyes.
“Majestic? Do you have a mate?” he asked sweetly, she giggled and shook her head ‘no’; Misto’s eyes lit up. “Would you be mine?” he asked quietly, and she nodded. They were about to kiss.
“Who do we have here? Ah, it’s ‘Miss Molly’ come back to be mine…again?” sneered a voice above them. “Miss me already baby?” a brown tabby was looking down at them from on top of a wood fence; he had been watching the two.
“Max! Go home! I did not come here for you! And my name is not Molly anymore! Go give that stupid pet name to Cassandra! You obviously wanted her more than me.” she screeched up at the tabby, but she smiled at Misto, who looked back at her with surprise. Misto did not know that this was Cassandra’s mysterious suitor.
“Hmm, I can see that,” Max said disgusted of this new lover. “Oh, Majestic, please don’t tell me this kitten is your mate! He’s only nearly three, but I am 5.” He glowed at his age.
Misto was getting mad. “I’m three-and a half for your information!” With that Misto snapped his fingers and disappeared from the pond Majestic gasped.
“I thought he would never leave. Now that we’re alone Miss Molly, I should really rip your ears off, and maybe…” Max pondered for a moment, “And maybe I should take your glamorous black and white tail as a sweet souvenir for my new girlfriend.” Max walked closer; he had an evil look on his face.
“Your just jealous Max! You’re just jealous because you lost---YOU STAY AWAY! MURDERER! MISTO! HELP ME! SAVE ME!” Majestic screamed as Max came closer.
“SHUT UP YOU!” he yelled at her “This will only hurt for a se--huh?
“OOOOWWWW!” Max Screamed, Majestic could see his tail was on fire, and there were an assortment of colors and bangs and booms. “MY TAIL IS ON FIRE!” Max kept screaming, Majestic could only laugh.
Max ran over to the Koi pond and stuck his butt into it, only to climb out screaming. “It burns!” Max kept yelling, she could see there was a bald spot on his behind, as she looked more, his whole backside was bald! Majestic fell over laughing, oddly enough, she didn’t hit the water. Misto was holding her. Majestic looked up at him and said in her quiet voice; “My hero.” And Misto carried her back.
Alonzo was the first to see them. “There he is, fin…Jessie!” Alonzo exclaimed excitedly.
Majestic jumped into Alonzo’s big arms and they rubbed noses; had nearly knocked the wind out of him.
“Oh, my big brother! Lonzie, how have you been? Oh how I’ve missed you.” she said trying to sound formal, but her voice was shaky from all the excitement.
“It’s been alright, missed you since I left.” Alonzo put her down, and she hung onto him like a teddy bear. “Everyone! Listen up! This is my baby sister Majestic, or Jessie for short.” He said proudly. The other Jellicles welcomed her with warm hugs.
The kittens, except for Jemima, all pranced over to her and scoffed at her; the adults gave them a mean look, including Misto and Alonzo. They walked away laughing at her.
Jemima strolled over and introduced herself warmly, reminding Majestic that Old Deuteronomy wanted to talk with her.
When Majestic, Misto and Alonzo walked by Pounce and his brothers, the three whistled out catcalls, hooting when Majestic stuck her arm around Misto’s waist.
Alonzo glared at the brothers and growled they began to quake and shake and when Alonzo turned his back toward them, they laughed so hard that Pounce nearly knocked Demeter off of the trunk.
Majestic, Alonzo and Misto walked through a popular park by the river. Majestic was acting a bit upset; Misto noticed this and he squeezed her hand.
“I really like it here you guys, I do, but why did those kittens scoff at me?” Alonzo shook his head and sighed, Misto answered her question.
“Well, they are, um, jealous of-” Misto said, as he went on.
“Jealous of what?” She asked with curiosity.
“Of me, probably. It’s probably because of my looks. The kittens don’t want me around other queens. I already have a hard time just talking with Bombs as it is.” Said a voice from an overhanging branch.
Alonzo whispered to Misto, who laughed. “Well speak of the devil.” They both rolled their eyes and laughed silently.
“Who are you?” It was the Rum Tum Tugger.
“I am Majestic, who are you?” she asked.
“Who am I? I haven’t heard that question in a long time.” Tugger scratched his head. “I am the Rum Tum Tugger, the Curious Cat.” Tugger said taking Majestic’s paw and kissing it. She took her paw away from Tugger so quickly she ended up smacking Tugger across the face.
“My bad.” Majestic said sarcastically.
“Jeez, for a young queen you sure have a lot of gut slapping the most respected tom in the junkyard!” Etcetera said coolly as she and the other kittens crawled like babies up to Tugger; he scoffed at Majestic.
“Respected?” Alonzo muttered loudly.
“Yeah Alonzo, respected!” Victoria said a little to suddenly because everyone looked over at her, she blushed, and continued talking. “Tugs? Why are you hanging with this stray?”
“And-and Tuggy, what’s she and Bombalurina got that we don’t have?” Etcetera said almost whining.
“Cough cough…no chest…cough cough!” Alonzo and Misto said loudly.
“Just you wait one blasted minute? You’re giving me the go-away-and-haunt-someone-else look Tugsy! That means you choose to be with a stray? Rather than us three adorable kittens?” Etcetera made a cute face, winking.
Tugger was about to say something but Majestic began to argue. “Hey! I’m no stray! I lived in a rich home, with maids and a cook, I was a respected cat when I had an owner.” Majestic said almost lunging towards Etcetera and the kittens that were holding their noses as if to say ‘Stuck Up’.
“Ha! Lived and had! Past tense! You’re a stray, live with it sweetie!” Sneered Tugger.
Misto and Alonzo held Majestic back. She was getting more and more upset, Etcetera and the kittens were beginning to like this ‘game’.
Munkustrap too was on his way to Old Deuteronomy’s cave when he suprisingly passed the fighting cats. “My goodness! Stop that awful din!” Munkustrap was ignored.
After about saying that a few times, Munk decided that telling the cats to stop would not be an option; he decided to jump into the fighting ‘circle of mayhem’ and hold out both of his great paws and yell “STOP!” they did to his surprise. Munk could not stop grinning at his fortunate attempt; the other cats stared at him with looks of surprise.
Munk quickly stopped grinning and blushed a deep scarlet, but soon spoke up. “You should all be ashamed of yourselves, mind your manners girls! You all are jellicles! We are supposed to be nice and respectable cats. As for you three,” he glared over at the three guilty looking kittens; “You three show no evidence of being a jellicle.”
Misto, Alonzo and Tugger all nodded in agreement.
“And you too Tugger, you where also in this.” Munk glared at his brother, who stopped nodding his head immediately after hearing his name. “We should welcome guests with praise and courtesy, not with these disgusting and rude attitudes!”
Majestic shook her head and said, sniffling loudly, “I knew I should have never come!” and she took off running across the bridge nearby and Alonzo took off after her.
The kittens were still giggling until Misto spoke up; “You kittens are so mean! I thought we jellicles were nice, not a bunch of stuck up snobs who act like this is a ‘Members Only’ club” he pushed up his nose to resemble the kittens, Etcetera and the kittens’ laughter advanced to hearty belly laughs as Misto continued on.
Munk could see his friend was only a joke to these girls, so he jumped in. “Dumb cats,” he said when Electra stood up to be petted, but was pushed down hard by Munk’s palm.
“Don’t give me the poor baby look Electra!” he sneered at Electra who was looking up at him, looking very hurt by Munk’s mean gesture. “I have a bargain for all of you.” he glared at the three curious kittens. “If you give anymore problems to any, not just to poor Majestic, than I can surely assure you that there will be no Rum Tum Tugger fan club!” he said getting close down to look them each dead in the eye.
He was so serious that the kittens stared crying.
“Nice.” Misto said under his breath.
Looking pretty proud of his speech, Munk continued on with his walk to his father’s cave, Tugger followed him, the kittens followed, pleading for forgiveness, he just went on ignoring them, as if this was his normal routine.
Down at the river, Alonzo and Majestic sat on the edge picking flowers from the bed beside themselves. Majestic was crying, Alonzo was wrapped around her, wiping away her tears with a paw.
“Oh, Lonzie, I’ve missed you so much. It’s been terrible with you gone. Marina is d-d-dead.” Majestic sobbed hard into her brother’s paw. Alonzo was Marina’s cat. “A-a-and so is J-Johnny, I-I d-didn’t want to know, but I-I was t-told by Monsieur Francois that the whole family is d-dead.” she could no longer hold the tears in.
Alonzo began to cry too. Johnny was Mollie’s owner. “D-dead?” Alonzo said, stunned. Mollie nodded her head. “B-but h-h-how?” he asked, Mollie shook her head ‘no’ and stuck her face in her paws sobbing. “I-is B-Benny all right?” he asked again half-heartedly, Benny was Marina’s cat too. Mollie, again, shook her head ‘no’; Alonzo did not need to hear anymore, he knew in himself that Benny was dead.
They shared a moment of silence, embracing each other, crying softly now. “Is everything alright?” it was Etcetera standing next to them. Alonzo shook his head ‘no’;
“Our family is d-dead.” He stuttered a bit, not yet use to using the horrible word.
“Oh, jeez, I’m so sorry, and for earlier. I wanted to apologize. I get very jealous when Tugs haunts other cats other than us four.” She nodded her head over towards the kittens that looked sad, Misto and Tugger nodded their heads, agreeing.
“Thank you. Thank you for your kindness.” Majestic said on behalf of herself and Alonzo. Electra cut in, “Old Deuteronomy is probably waiting for us to meet him, but,” she looked at Mollie, “We may have to wait until tomorrow, I will inform him now.” Mollie and Alonzo nodded a ‘thank you’.
“Alonzo, may I walk Mollie back? We have, um, unfinished business to attend to.” Misto smiled jokingly at Mollie who giggled. “Sure, be careful though!” Alonzo called out, but the two were already halfway to Alonzo’s nest. Alonzo stayed behind to reflect on their owners’ death.
Majestic was doing cartwheels as Misto was making her disappear and reappear randomly. Finally, they reached Alonzo’s nest.
“Home sweet home” Misto said encouragingly. Majestic cried a bit, Misto wiped off her tears.
“It’s alright.” Majestic said a quick goodnight and crept into Alonzo’s nest but stayed awake until she felt Alonzo crawl in next to her.
“Welcome home, Jessie.” He said curling up next to her, “Welcome home…” Majestic didn’t hear him say this the last time, she was fast asleep.
Majestic had an awful dream last night, a ginger cat teamed up with Max to get revenge on her.
Together they killed all of her family, burned all of her possessions, and worst of all, they both possessed Alonzo to kill her.
In her dream, Alonzo stalked closer, his sharpest claw unsheathed and poised, placed it across her black chest and ripped across, the Max and the ginger cat laughing; Mollie screamed in her dream, waking up in a cold sweat.
Alonzo was still asleep. Majestic decided that this would be a nice opportunity to look around the junkyard.
She strolled through the alleyways, stumbling on the occasional beer and whiskey bottles.
There was a giggle and a really loud ‘Shh’; two cats jumped out with overnight bags slumped over the shoulder, looking quite full.
“’Oo you?” the female cat said after a moment of stunned silence, the cats quickly looked at her in awe.
“I am…” but Mungojerrie interrupted Majestic.
“Ey, ain’t ‘Oo Lonzie’s ‘lil sis from Paris?” Majestic nodded.
Mungo was looking her up and down, matching up Majestic with a mental image of Alonzo. “Scary sis! She looks just like ‘Lonzo but she is female!” Rumple rolled her eyes, she was about to pull her brother away when he spotted Majestic’s ruby studded collar with envy, he was almost drooling when he said, “Tha’ is a mighty pretty colla ya got thar girlie.”
“My owner picked it out for me…he said ‘A cat as pretty as you needs her own set of rubies’” Mollie started to cry but held back her tears.
“Got tha’ righ’!” exclaimed Mungo, Rumple was getting sick of this bubbly talk; she grabbed her brother and pulled him away, he winked. Mollie giggled and waved cutely back. She continued walking on when a voice popped out from behind her,
“You know, it’s not very safe for a queen to be out here alone.” It was a tall gray tabby, taller than her, in the night; it looked like he was towering over her. Munkustrap, the son of the great Jellicle leader, Ol’D’s son. “Stray’s haunt here at night, I shall assist you back to your brother’s nest.” Munk said in a stern sounding voice, Mollie trembled; did this cat know who she was? “But, how do you know who my…” Mollie was cut off by a voice coming from a doorstep.
“Munk, where are you going?” it was Demeter, Munk’s mate.
“I’ll be right back, I’m taking young Mollie home.” Demeter wasn’t listening, all the two cats could hear was the far off distant snore of Demeter, and the two shrugged their shoulders and began walking. Each time Mollie would try to talk, Munk held up his hand, as if he was shunning her. Finally, Mollie asked why he wasn’t talking to her, he said “It isn’t safe to talk, the enemy could be around.” that’s all he said.
They arrived at Alonzo’s nest. Mollie crawled in, her brother still asleep. “Good” she thought, and drifted off into a light sleep.
Mollie felt the sun on her back, morning. Mollie had been thinking about her family, why they were gone, about Johnny, how she would never see him again. Mollie heard a rustle, Alonzo was awake.
“Morning.” Alonzo said as he stretched, Mollie quickly dried up her tears,
“Lonz’?” she asked quietly.
“Yeah?” he said sitting next to her.
“Do you, or, did you ever miss Marina? Even though she…” Mollie noticed that he was beginning to cry. Slowly, he nodded his head ‘yes’. Mollie embraced him in a tight hug. “He still cares.” she said in her head, as she began to cry again.
Misto came to get them to take them to Ol’D’s cave. Munk was there to greet them. Misto waited outside. “Welcome Alonzo,” the great cat said standing, Alonzo nodded his head ‘thank you’, “You, my young cat, must be Alonzo’s sister, I’ve heard a lot about you from your brother. Welcome!” Mollie thanked him as well. “So, tell me, Mollie, you want to be a Jellicle?” Ol’D asked, Mollie nodded a said “Yes.” “Why? I would think you would want to be with your brother?” Mollie nodded again, “Anything else?” he added, “Yes sir. My family has died, and I have found my mate, Mistoffelees.” Well, you need a place to stay, you are by all means welcome as a Jellicle cat here, always!” he said standing up again. Misto was brought in, along with Munk. They all sat down for a few minutes, each with a small saucer of brandy. They left Old Deuteronomy and Munk waving ‘goodbye’.
The next day, Mollie and Alonzo went to London to do some sightseeing. It was pouring rain; so the two gaily cats were running and dodging drain pipes, waterspouts and passing cars. Alonzo decided that the two should visit two certain cats at their personal ‘Centere of Operation’ in Victoria Grove, the rich part of London. They were lucky; Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were seated lazily on the mansion’s terrace swing, Mungo lying across Rumple’s lap. Rumple was cleaning his head when Mungo noticed the two teenagers bouncing about.