Cats Onwards

Chapter 15. The naming of cats.

Asparagus slid forward through the crowd of Jellicles. He had a look of astonishment on his face.

Asparagus: There's a man over there, with a look of surprise, as much as to say well now how about that?

Munkustrap skipped forwards and placed a paw on the older tom's shoulder.

Munkustrap: Do I actually see, with my own very eyes...a man who's not heard of a Jellicle cat?

The Jellicles leaned forwards in their places, some even squinted into the distance in search for this stranger whom had no idea what a Jellicle was.

What's a Jellicle cat?

What's a Jellicle cat?

The cats all maneuvered around to form a group, with the tick of the music their heads snapped forwards ready to sing.

The naming of cats is a difficult matter, it isn't just one of your holiday games.

You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter, when I tell you a cat must have three different names.

First of all there's the name that the family use daily.

Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James.

Such as Victor or Johnathan, George or Bill Bailey

All of them sensible everyday names.

There are fancier names, if you think they sound sweeter.

Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames.

Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter.

But all of them sensible everyday names.

But I tell you a cat needs a name that is particular a name that's peculiar and more dignified.

Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, or spread out his whiskers or cherish his pride?

Of names of this kind I can give you are quorum,

Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo or Coricopat,

Such as Bombalurina!

Or else, Jellylorum.

Names that never belong to more than one cat.

But above and beyond there is still one name left over and that is the name that you never will guess.

The name that no human research can discover,

But the cat himself knows and will never confess.

When you notice a cat in profound meditation, the reason I tell you is always the same. His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation of a thought.

Of a thought...

Of a thought...

Of his name. It's ineffable, effable, effanineffable.

Deep...and inscrutable, singular name, name, name...

Victoria had crawled away from the other cats and as they slowly scattered, the queen took position to begin her skillful solo dance. She begun by lifting her back right leg and took hold of it with the opposite front paw. With her free paw she stretched it up, bringing along her connected leg and paw, demonstrating some of her flexibility.

Next, she released her leg and raised her other paw high like the other. With great control she brought her leg around to the front and outstretched it before her. Victoria's right paw gently glided along her leg before she raked back with her claws, causing her leg to shiver slightly. Momentarily, she crossed both front paws downwards then raised her left leg high up, her front paws followed along and arched over her fluffy ears. She raised onto the very tip of her paw for a second and then Victoria swung her leg back down. Gracefully, she slid into the splits, stretching out as she did so. The white cat yawned, her back curved as she did so. Victoria leaned forwards, her legs swung around behind, her pure white body formed the shape of a backwards 'C' and then she raked one paw through the air.

Quickly, Victoria leaned back onto her shoulders and her legs climbed into the air before making a sort of cycling motion. Finally, she joined her two legs and eased herself up until her body had created the shape of a 'V', legs up straight and paws reaching up.