Note from the Author; Welcome one and all to the NEW and IMPROVED edition of "Let the Memory Live Again." Thank you to everyone who has waited so patiently for me to update this story. Before you continue I must make it clear that I do not ownany characters that are featured in any of T.S. Elliot's works or the musical (not from lack of trying mind you!). Now that we are clear on that very important point, please enjoy!
Mungojerrie sat alone in a secluded are of the junkyard. He didn't move or even blink.
He was having one of those moments of profound meditation that humans find so mysterious.
But though his body was motionless, his mind was operating at break neck speed. Troubled thoughts were filling his head that refused to leave. He was very tense and finding it next to impossible to calm himself down.
"Get a grip Mungojerrie," he thought. "This won't be that hard. You're bigger than him after all."
The striped tom rose to his feet and began pacing nervously.
"I can't do this. I'm not supposed to do this. I'm just a thief!"
Pacing usually helped him work off negative energy but now all it seemed to do was make him dizzy. He retook his seat on an old paint can began to massage his temples as if it would help him think clearer.
"This would be so much easier if they weren't spying on me."
He looked around the junkyard, wishing he knew where they were hiding. Unable to see anyone, he somewhat reluctantly returned to his contemplation of what he was there to do.
"C'mon Mungo, get it over with. Don't think about it. Just get it over with."
As the striped tom continued to think, his keen ears picked up the sound of footsteps coming steadily nearer. He had a pretty good idea of who they belonged to, but he was not sure that he was ready to be seen just yet. He looked around for a place to hide. The first thing he saw was an old pollicle house. . . or what used to be a pollicle house. . . in some previous point in its existence. Its wooden roof was nearly rotted away and its dingy walls reeked of wet dog. Repulsive as it was, it would conceal him well enough that he would be able to be sure of who was coming and be ready for them before they noticed him.
He rushed into the pollicle house. A moment later, a tuxedo cat came into view. He was not very tall, but from the confident way he moved one could tell that he cared very little for what others thought about his height. His black fur was smooth and sleek and sparkled like diamonds when the sun hit it. The striped tom recognized him immediately. But then, how could anyone fail to recognize the jellicle magician?
Mungojerrie took a deep breath and stepped out of the pollicle house.
"Hey, Mistoffelees," he said.
His heart pounded in his chest. He was half afraid that the magician would hear it and become suspicious.
"Just get it over with," he thought.
Mistoffelees smiled at his friend.
"Hello Mungojerrie. What are you up to?"
"Oh, nothing really," came the striped tom's reply. "I was just walking around. You know, takin' in the fresh air."
Mistoffelees peered at the wreck of a pollicle house he had just seen Mungojerrie emerge from and raised his eyebrow.
"In that thing?" he said with a grin. "How fresh can the air be?"
The striped tom laughed.
"What are you up to?" he asked.
"I'm supposed to meet Tumblebrutus and Pouncival for a choreography session," the tuxedo explained. "We're going to put together a couple new dances for the ball. The same old movements get tedious after a couple years don't you think?"
Mungojerrie nodded, but he wasn't really paying attention. His eyes looked everywhere except at the little magician.
"I should be going," said Mistoffelees. "Pounce and Tumble expected me to be there right now."
He started to leave but Mungojerrie stepped in front of him.
"Wait," he said. "There's something I want to tell you."
"Sure, but please make it quick. I don't want to be any later than I already am."
The striped tom smiled and took a step toward him.
"Don't worry; this'll only take a second."
Then Mungojerrie raised his paw and swiped the little tuxedo across the face with his claws.
Mistoffelees let out a startled gasp. A moment later the striped tom grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back and clamped a paw over his mouth.
"One loud noise and I swear I'll kill you!" he hissed.
Misto's eyes widened. A shiver ran down his back. The striped tom slowly removed his paw.
"Sorry," he muttered. "But they're watching me. I have to make this look convincing."
"I don't understand," whispered Mistoffelees.
Mungojerrie gritted his teeth and pressed his claws against the magician's throat.
"C'mon," he said. "And remember, one sound and you're dead."
With that, he led Misto away from the disgusting, old pollicle house.