The Jellicle Chronicles - Year Five

Summer of Discontent

Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie could sometimes be found sunning on the wall where Old Deuteronomy once lay. The Vicarage Wall was on their way from their Human home to the Yard, and was inviting during the late part of the Summer months. This afternoon, the Wall definitely held its appeal, and the two Tigers were camped out on the warm bricks. 

      A cooling sea breeze came in from the south, and Rumpleteazer breathed in the scents. The bakery down the street had just baked some new loaves. The florist had just cut some fresh flowers, and the greenery was musky. Then, … what was that? 

      The Tiger Queen sat up and took a deeper breath. “’Ey, Jerrie? Get a w’iff of dis scent, will ya.” 

      Her Mate stretched and sat up. His nostrils flared, and then his eyes opened wide. “I don’t know dat one. Could it be anot’er Jellicle?” 

      “Wear’s it comin’ from?” 

      “Down dis street somewear, Luv.” 

      “Wanna find out?” 

      “Cor’ Teazah! Ain’t dat wat we do?” 

      Jumping off the wall in their cat-forms, they carefully crossed the street and headed into the wind. Somewhere south of the Vicarage, another Jellicle had made an appearance. Here, the Village had some shops. A bakery and the florist, the two Tigers already knew about. There was also a general store, an antique store, a cobbler’s shop, a small bookstore of new and used books, and several artist studios. Rumpleteazer knew she had scented a Jellicle Tom somewhere in the vicinity of the cobbler’s shop and the little bookstore. 

      Being the “Village roustabouts” in Victoria Grove, the two Tigers knew a lot of the ins and outs in the various stores. Usually, these secret places were found in the back or in the alleyways and byways. Rumpleteazer was in the lead as they started down the one alley between the two shops. The Tom, her nose told her, was somewhere in the area. She looked for and found the one entry into the Cobbler shop, but she knew he was not in there. The moment she got inside, she lost his scent. Backtracking and almost running Mungojerrie down in the process, she found the entry into the bookstore. 

      “Blimey, Teazah! Slow down and watc wear ya going! Ya nearly maide claw marks on me tummy, ya did!” 

      “Sorry, ducks,” she replied over her shoulder. 

      As they investigated, they had reverted into their Jellicle form. Diving into the bookstore’s basement, she immediately ran right into someone coming out with a small load of human-sized books. There was an unpleasant “oof” followed by the pattering sound of books hitting the floor. When Rumpleteazer’s head came up and Mungojerrie came in, the other Jellicle stood and began dusting himself off. 

      “See here, my good lady,” the white tiger male began, and suddenly stopped. He looked at the two tigers completely dumbfounded. 

      The Tom appeared to be about eight years old, just slightly stouter than the average Jellicle. His facial fur was white, but he had an orange patch around his right eye that also bisected the bridge of his nose. A Pince-Nez set of glasses had been perched on his nose, and now dangled by its cord from a green vest he wore. He had white elbow length gloves and knee high boots of white. Everywhere else, he had orange and black tiger striping. His bright blue eyes blinked as he stared back at Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie. 

      “I beg your pardon, but what are you?” 

      His voice was a lower baritone, almost ranging into the bass range, and very articulated. There was just a trace of higher class in the tones of his voice, but his stance did not show aristocracy.