The Jellicle Chronicles - Year Two

Much Ado about Tugger

Rum Tum Tugger lay perched up on a china cabinet in his Human’s home. As was his usual want, he had batted a few things off to clear the spot he liked. I mean, who would ever think to put a silk or plastic plant up on top of a cabinet, anyway? The Leopard Cat knew that his Humans could not immediately chastise him for the plant on the floor. After all, the cabinet was tall and even the big Male Human could not reach him without a chair or stepstool. By the time they got that, he would be long gone. Besides, the air was warmer up here on top of the cabinet and next to the ceiling. Outside, he was sure it was cold and maybe going to snow again. 

      Tonight was a Silver Moon, meaning the full moon would be high and bright. Because of the snow, the area in front of the tire would be frozen, and Victoria and Misto would be doing their ice dance thing again. About the only thing The Tugger liked about that was watching the White Queen. Her movements on the ice really did show off that petite body of hers to the max! Of course, the Tugger mused, it was hard to think of her as a Mother of a four-moon old kitten! 

      Soured by the thought, the Tugger wished he had something else to bat. He stretched out one paw and began to go down his list. Bombalurina was definitely out of the picture, and she was even worse off. Her kitten was still nursing! That thought of motherhood really turned off the Tugger. The Princesses no longer thronged around him since that Scatterburr broad snubbed him. The only real prospect was Cassandra, and that “hairball” (Yeah, I know I said he wasn’t, but who cares?) is trying for her too. Well, we shall see who wins, Alonzo or the Tugger. The only other Female in the group right now that did not have a Mate was Demeter’s kitten, Aphrodite. Now that chick, the Tugger thought, is going to be one bodacious babe when she grows up. Too bad, came another thought, it will take another two years before she even begins to mature. Then again, even if she did go for him, he knew who her parents were! Can you imagine having Munkustrap and Demeter as part of the Family? No thank you! 

      Now really in a foul mood, Rum Tum Tugger jumped off the cabinet and onto the kitchen counter. He sniffed at the dirty dishes in the sink from breakfast, and decided there was nothing there interesting. He did bat the scrubbing brush into the sink as he went by, but it did not quite have the same feel to it. (Let’s see!) Although he did not like the cold, he did not like being cooped up right now. The Tugger had to move! So, he went over to the outside door and howled. Not his usual howl that demanded attention! No, sir! This howl would have made a Pollicle proud! 

      The Big Human Male heard that even being in the Den reading the morning Post. Since the Tugger kept the note sustained, the Big Human Male was there within seconds. The door opened, letting in a blast of cold air. This time, the Tugger surprised his Human by going straight out at a dead run. If the Tugger had looked back, he would have seen the Human staring after him. 

      The worst thing about going about in cat-form was that you got both paws and feet wet in the snow. For Jellicles, if Humans really were observant about these things, the pads on their “hands” were not as thick as the ones on their “feet.” That meant, as long as he had to retain his cat-form, his front paws got colder long before his rear paws did. The Tugger liked his comforts, but he needed to prowl right now. He crossed in front of the Vicarage, and leapt up on the wall that Old Deuteronomy used to sun upon. Being in the coldest month of Winter, the sun did not warm the bricks very much. Still, it was dry and warmer than the snow, so the Tugger took a small respite there. 

      Not being a Sunday, the Vicarage was closed and no Human even approached him, which, of course, was good for them! Right now, they would probably get a set of claws and a hiss that would make their blood freeze. The Tugger was in no mood for Humans now.