Squirt
By Mysticlees
Part Three
'There are those who dream, and then there are those who think'
"Good idea." Old Dueteronomy commended Skimbleshanks.
"Are we there yet?" a shrill voice wafted into the small yard.
"Almost, sit tight little one."
"Isn't this exciting!? I might be a Jellicle! Yowsers, I can't wait!" Mistoffelees came walking into the small area, with a small, black with red- rings around its body, with a pure white face, framed by poofy black red- ringed fur.
"Hail Skimbleshanks! How are you?" Mistoffelees called out to them. Then to the kitten, "Stay with me Squirt, don't run to them. Sit still." Skimbleshanks turned to question Old Dueteronomy, but he simply shrugged. It was not until Mistoffelees and his mount were sitting in front of him, did he notice how small the kitten really was. Mistoline was so far the smallest Jellicle, but this one was tiny. It smelled female.
"Hi, I'm Squirt. Do I qualify as a Jellicle?" she said politely. "We don't know if she is junkyard or housecat. She has been alone all her life."
"Well, she doesn't look Jellicle." Old Duet commented.
"But," returned Mistoffelees gently, "Bombalurina is red and Jellicle. This one only has red colored rings of fur. She has displayed extremely talented in Jellicle ability and has a potential for magic."
"I do?" Squirt asked, surprised but happy.
"We have admitted many kittens this year. No offense, but what makes her so different besides her talents?"
"She is very talkative, blunt, and is wise." at this Old Duet raised his eyebrows and Squirt smiled pleased by "Black's" praise. "For example, me and Alonzo were almost about to fight out our differences," Old Duet looked surprised, and Mistoffelees turned his face away, shamed, "when Squirt brought me back to my senses and made us apologize. I have sponsored Shen-Shen with Alonzo for her admittance and although I hate to remind you of this, saved you from Macavity and have never once asked anyone a favor. I wish to ask one now." his voice lowed as he finished. The modest cat felt he sounded pompous to bring it up. Old Dueteronomy turned to Squirt.
"If you can answer this one question I ask, I will grant Mistoffelees' wish with some rules. But first the question. Why do you want to be a Jellicle?"
Squirt thought hard. "The biggest reason why I guess would be this: 'There are those who dream, and then there are those who think.' I have dreamed of being a Jellicle, and thought that I could prove myself worthy of the honor. So you see, I refuse to choose between the two. A Jellicle is both, thinking answer, dreaming solutions, using the two to decide a course of action. But Jellicles are the only cats such as this. As I said I refuse to choose between the two."
Skimbleshanks appeared a bit confused, Mistoffelees hid his face farther, because the small cat, for some odd reason, was beaming with pride and pleasure at the kitten's answer. Old Deuteronomy had seen Mistoffelees reaction, and knew he had judged correctly of the kitten and the young cat. Indeed, the red-ringed kitten's answer was a very thoughtful, well-put answer.
You see, Shen-Shen was confided in by Mistoffelees on those feelings he'd been having and she, stumped as to what to do, told Old Duet and asked his opinion as to Mistoffelees' strange melancholy. Old Dueteronomy somewhat understood that the small cat felt alone, misunderstood and unloved. The answer to this problem wasn't in his grasp until now. This kitten wasn't shy, not embarrassed, blunt and yet uses and understands the same words as Mistoffelees. She had been alone, though not in the same sense. He watched the way she moved and acted, and the way Mistoffelees acted when they came up to him and Skimbleshanks. And Mistoffelees ' involuntary reaction to Squirt's answer proved what Old Duet had in mind would work.
"Hhhmmm. Well, that was a very good answer. I accept it, and as I promised, there are some rules. Mistoffelees, you are to give her a Jellicle name, home, and protect her. You are also to help her understand how to be a Jellicle, magic if you deem it so, be responsible for her completely and raise her to a Jellicle life. Squirt, you are to protect him, teach him things, be responsible for and obey him as if he was your sire, and respect each other. These are the conditions of my favor of letting her try out to be a Jellicle. Do you both accept?"
Squirt gave Old Duet a hug, then Skimbleshanks, then Mistoffelees, holding him longer than the others. "I accept to do be all those things to Black and stuff. Thank you so much Black! Doing that for me and all!! It was so really nice."
Mistoffelees, though he met the orphan kitten only four hours earlier, felt affection for the kitty. He looked up into Old Deuteronomy’s face, and saw understanding and love there for him and the kitten. A very peculiar lump had formed in Mistoffelees throat and he felt an odd wetness on his eyes. He managed a nod of agreement to the rules. He hastily wiped away the wetness and swallowed down the lump.
"You are Jellicle now, so a Jellicle name must you have. It shall be Mysticlees, for you mystically appeared to us. I thank you for the favor," he said softly to Old Dueteronomy," and I am sorry about bringing that up. Come Mysticlees, there is much to teach you." The two started to walk off.
"Mistoffelees." He turned around. "We are all here for you, even Bombalurina, Tugger and Alonzo." Mistoffelees nodded stiffly, and it seemed to Old Dueteronomy that two kittens were walking off.
"Could you explain to what just happened?" Skimbleshanks asked, still puzzled.
"Why don't you listen?" Old Duet remarked teasingly. The two cats returned to their plans.
***
"So you're names not Black?" Mysticlees asked.
"My name is Mistoffelees: the original conjuring cat."
"Well, it sure is more spectacular than Black."
"I'm not so sure. Climb on. You live with me now." So Mysticlees leapt on with a gleeful cry, steadying herself for a fast pace, while Mistoffelees, remembering earlier, slowed his pace to keep her from getting seasick.
Shen-Shen watched the two Jellicles from a bush far away. At first she felt a bit jealous, but then thought they deserved each other. Both had had no family love in their lives and craved it, now they had each other as family. Shen-Shen had her dad, Rumpleteaser had Mungojerrie, Jennyanydots had Jellylorum, and Bombalurina had Demeter. Now Mistoffelees had Squirt and vice- versa. Somehow, she thought, it all felt right.