The Loveable Miscreant

Being So Close

Sitting behind a large pipe, Rumpleteazer spied on Munkustrap, jealousy burning hot in her eyes. Why did he give Jemima so much attention? It wasn't like she was his daughter or anything! Oh yeah, he'd ADOPTED her. "He must have really loved Demeter to have done that," Rumpleteazer thought bitterly, wondering why no-one ever did anything special for HER. "I'd never leave ya, not like SHE did." She muttered spitefully under her breath, almost hoping he'd overhear.

Cats could do that. Hear the smallest whisper if it were close by. He must have heard, but he was too busy listening to Etcetera, while the striped Angora cross complained energetically about how she could no longer bend over to put her dance shoes on and how keeping her creamy coloured fur tidy was becoming such a struggle.

Rumpleteazer sighed. Munkustrap's daughters were all younger than her, and yet they'd settled down and were starting happy families BEFORE her! It wasn't fair! And what was even more unfair was that the tom she wanted so badly was also the one who hated her the most.

He had less interest in her than if she were a pile of dog faeces, but she could still dream. She imagined him looking at her, giving her a smile like the patient one he now had on for his daughters. A kind of smile that would invite her to draw close and share in the pile of love, as though the sheer sight of her was enough to brighten his mood no matter how dark it was to begin with. But he never looked at her that way, so she had to be content with his rage and the occasional ticked off glare. It was better than being ignored.

It was early afternoon, a time when most Jellicles had completed their morning tasks and were ready for their naps; what was known as the afternoon recharge. Several queens had congregated on the tyre, talking lazily and cuddling up to their favourite Protector. Rumpleteazer kept her distance. She knew they didn't want her around, partly because she wasn't family, and also because of her reputation. No one liked a thief. But her sensitive ears could still pick up every word of their conversation, so she kept herself hidden and listened.

She bit back a tidal wave of envy as Munkustrap lavished his undivided attention upon his daughters, putting an arm around Victoria and Jemima's shoulders, while Electra and Etcetera leaned into him, all smiles and laughter and comparing bump sizes. Jemima was the only one out of them who was not pregnant, but it probably wouldn't be very long before she too was proudly showing her protruding belly to the world. It was enough to make Rumpleteazer feel sick to her stomach.

"Munk's the skinniest out of all of us- apart from you, sweetie."

The elegantly beautiful Bombalurina was reclining just above Munkustrap, her slender paw resting on her own moderately enlarged midsection as though subconsciously trying to protect it from something unseen. She winked at Jemima. "We won't have to wait long, I'm sure. The way Tumble looks at you, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already. And Vic! That has to be one of the neatest bumps I've ever seen! You can't possibly have three in there!"

The pure white Angora smiled and held up four pink-padded digits.

"Four? You were hiding one? Well, that does happen, doesn't it? I honestly can't believe you're about to pop, sweetie, you look simply divine."

"How's everything going for you, Bombi?" Electra enquired.

Concern was evident in the tiger striped queen's face, but Bombalurina merely scoffed. "What? This thing? It's sitting on my bladder quite nicely thank you. Thought I'd come out for some fresh air. It's so stuffy on the ward, the only fun thing to do is eat and have this thing use my ribs as a kick piano."