Chapter 6: Jellicle Cats Come Out Tonight

The Jellicle Ball. The most exciting night of a young cat's life. The day to strut their stuff and show what their made of. Maybe impress some ladies on the way. That is exactly what Mac, Munk and Tugger were getting ready for. Melody and their father had left them alone, and the boys were getting ready to go. They would meet Demeter and Bombalurina on the way.

Munkustrap had gotten his fur down to a glossy sheen. Each black stripe stood out against a light silver background, and his white face was unbroken by any other color where there shouldn't be any. Macavity's fur was striking and sleek. He was finally able to tame his unruly fur and had added a puff to his tail. Both of them had to help Tugger, who was shaking like leaf. Tugger's fur they got mostly slicked down, but from the neck up it was all fluffed up. His premature mane was puffed up in every angle, and his tail was gently rubbed the wrong way.

Munk and Mac stood back to admire their work. He had the looks any tom would die for, but he wasn't standing like it. Mac tilted his head, "Stand up straighter, Tug. Look confident. You need to impress the she-cat's, bro." Munk nodded in agreement.

Tugger tried to stand up straighter, but his legs were vibrating like there was no tomorrow. "Calm down," Munk soothed, pressing up against his brother. "Let's go and meet the girls." Mac led the way, his plumy tail waving in the dusk.

Dem and Bomba were breath-taking. Both had their fur sleeked and tails fluffed. They stood side-by-side, one slightly taller than the other.

"Hello," Macavity smiled when he saw them.

"Hello, boys," Bomba grinned. "Ready to go to the Jellicle Ball?"

"Ready," they chimed all at once, though Tugger's was a little more uncertain.

As the five of them entered the junkyard, every head turned in their direction. Deuteronomy, Melody, Filtra, and Trippal were all beaming at the kittens. Jenny and Jelly came over and herded them to the edge of the yard.

"This is where the kittens stay until we start," Jenny explained. The five consented, but none of them felt like kittens now.

They watched the procession of the Jellicle Ball. Jenny was dancing quietly on the floor. As she spun, Skimbleshanks came out, caught her, and spun her back. They danced a duet as others began their own dances.

"Jellicle cats come out tonight. Jellicle cats come one, come all. The Jellicle moon is shining bright. Jellicles come to the Jellicle, Ball," Skimble sang.

Macavity grabbed Bomba's paw and they were off. Demeter was trying to coax Tugger out onto the dance floor, but he refused to move. Munk got up behind him, planted his feet on Tugger's back, and pushed him forward. Tug tumbled into Dem and they were thrown onto dance floor. Munk sat without a partner. He had really wanted to dance with Demeter, but he couldn't do anything now.

Suddenly, there was a tap on his shoulder. Munk turned around and was looking straight into Jellylorum's face. "Don't have a partner?" she asked. Munk shook his head. "Well then," she purred, "may I have this dance?" Munk smiled as the older she-cat offered her paw. He took it, and Jelly spun him into the thick of the dancing.

After a while, Munkustrap began to breathe a little harder, and Jelly brought him back to Jenny as the dancing was winding down. Macavity, Tugger, Bomba, and Dem returned beside him. Skimbleshanks started his song, and the five kittens swayed with the music.

As everyone stood up to get the train out from the car's trunk, there was a huge flash of light followed by an ear-shattering boom. The kittens shrunk together, and all the other Jellicles were wary as rain began to fall.

"It's okay," Deuteronomy assured. "It's only a little storm. Continue," he gestured to Skimble. The orange tom nodded, and the rest of the Jellicles began to assemble the train.

Munkustrap picked up a big wheel, Macavity another, Bomba was inside the train, Dem was turning a little wheel, and Tugger was at the light. Despite the rain, everyone was in good spirits.

As Skimble sang the signal note, the train broke apart. Munk took a couple steps to the side and was intending to fall carefully. Suddenly, his foot slipped on the wet ground, his ankle twisted, and he hit the ground. He yelped, so no one thought it was intentional.

He heard everyone gasp, but he was in pain enough not to notice too much. Gentle hands picked him up, and suddenly he was upright and looking into Jenny's face. Her eyes looked deeply into his.

"Does it hurt?" she asked softly.

He sucked in air painfully and nodded. "Is it broken?"

Jenny touched it and he winced. "Sprained," she breathed, "but not broken." She stood and looked at him sadly, "You're out for the rest of the Jellicle Ball. You can sing, but you can't dance." Munkustrap hung his head and sighed. "I'm sorry, honey."

Munkustrap had to watch the rest of the Jellicle Ball in jealousy. He sat with his foot elevated and his arms crossed as the other cats danced around him. He was sour, but sang along with the others. Every once in a while, a flash of lighting and boom of thunder would interrupt their joyous song, but then they would continue. Munk wanted to join in, but his injured ankle told him not to.

After a little while, Melody made her way over to him and sat down. She smiled at him silently, but didn't join in again.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"This is what every Jellicle dreams of," Munkustrap replied, "and I'm sitting here with a sprained ankle."

"It'll happen," Melody shrugged. "There's nothing you can do about it."

"Stupid rain," he kicked the ground with his good foot.

Melody turned and took him up into a hug, "It's okay, honey. Next time, you'll be the star."

Munk was startled, but hugged the white she-cat back. "Thanks," he said. He hadn't had this feeling for a long time. The feeling that someone really cared for you. Not that his father was bad at it, but he hadn't had a mother since…he didn't want to think about it. Melody felt more like a mother than anyone else in his life.

"It's only a bump in the road to greatness," Melody purred.

"I love you, mom," tears ran down Munk's eyes. He would never let her go.

After the Jellicle Ball, the boys said good-bye to the girls, and Melody lead them home. Old D needed to stay behind and see everyone out. Munkustrap was helped by Macavity and Tugger, supported between the two. Something had changed between him and Melody, and he felt that it was for the better.