The Jellicle Chronicles - Year Six

Dreams of Home

Rose Court is a quaint little street in the Vicarage district of the Village - a series of modest homes that are surrounded with picket fences. Inside those fences, the reason for the name of the court was evident. Each house had some sort of garden, but most of the Humans favored flowers. Vegetables came second. 

      One of the better features of the homes, if you asked any of its citizens, was the part that was favored during the warmer months. The Humans enjoyed it because it offered shade in the day, and a place to sit in the open breeze. The felines loved it because of the sun to warm the fur, or the laps of the Humans in their chairs or rockers. That feature, of course, was the porch. 

      On one particular porch, number four, if it must be known; an elderly spot-and-striped orange cat sprawled ecstatically on her back. Her forepaws were curled back toward her chest, her eyes were closed, and her rear paws spread - all to catch the rays of the morning sun on her belly fur. Her tail lazily curled and uncurled like her old Human owner rocked in her chair. A cool glass of tea sat next to the Human on a small table near the rocker. The cat lay before her, which earned her some amused chuckles from the Human. Who was more content? Well, a passerby would tell you that easily - the cat would win hands, er, paws down… 

      Jennyanydots would turn fourteen next spring, and her hips were starting to feel her age. Arthritis was starting to set in, and would soon take its toll on her ability to get around. But, for now, Jenny forgot the irritable inconvenience for the moment. The sun was warm, and the warmth was sinking down into her bones. Before she came out to the porch, her Human had fed her some chicken scraps from a salad made for tonight. That, and some crunchies and a drink of water, gave Jenny a full belly. And now the warm sun… Right now, she was at peace.

      She had not gone to the Yard for much of the past month, and some of the Village denizens had passed by, checking to see if she had been okay. This morning, the Tiger Twins called with their precious daughter, Pettipaws. 

      “’Ey, Jenny!” 

      The two larger tiger cats had another with them just slightly smaller than them. Because of Jenny’s Humans, the four of them were in cat form. Hearing the call from Mungojerrie, Jenny stretched and laboriously made her way over to a spot in a protected part of the hedge. There, hidden from any Human sight, the four reverted to their Jellicle form. Rumpleteazer instantly came up to the elder Matron, and put her paws on her arm. 

      “Wat’s wrong, Jenny? We 'aven’t seen ya for a wile, we ain’t.” 

      “Nothing’s wrong, Teazer. I just haven’t got the gumption to mosey over is all.” 

      “Maiybe ya sould get Aunt Jelly to look ya ovah, Aunt Jenny,” Pettipaws added. 

      “I don’t need them to tell me anything,” Jenny snapped, a bit too harshly. “I’m just getting old…” 

      “Cor’, Jenny! Calm down.” 

      The sight of the hurt in Pettipaws eyes stung Jenny, and the Matron shook her head. “I’m sorry, Dearie. I just haven’t been myself lately. Look what I just did! You meant well, and I stepped all over you. I’m sorry, Petti.” 

      The striped teen came up and hugged the Matron for a moment. “Dat’s awlright, Aunt Jenny. I knew ya didn’t mean it.” 

      Jenny had to chuckle a bit. “Dear, you don’t lie very well. What I said hurt you.” 

      “Still. Ya didn’t mean it.” 

      “You’re right, Petti. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”