As the sun shone down hard on the Jellicle Junkyard, the kittens were all in high spirits. Etcetera, a loveable little queen with white, yellow and black markings, was following the Rum Tum Tugger, a tom who nearly all the female cats were wild about. She looked so silly with her head poking out of the tires that the kittens could not help laughing.

"Look at Etcetera, isnt she so cute, she never tires of chasing Tugger everywhere," exclaimed Victoria, a perfectly white kitten who was the envy of many mothers everywhere because she was the best behaved kitten, along with her sister Jemima.

"I know, shes so silly," replied Etceteras best friend, Electra. But she was cut short by a huge crash. The tires had all fallen down on Etcetera! All the kittens fell about with hysterical laughter. Just then Jemima, a beautiful little kitten who a lot of the tom kittens fancied, stalked in as Tugger turned round at tickled Etcetera on the chin. She screamed with joy, so loud that Old Deuteronomy, asleep on the wall nearby, woke with a start. She ran off to join with Electra and found everyone there.

"Oh, hi guys."

"Etcetera, you're so silly," pronounced Jemima. Many of the toms were now staring at her in awe, particularly Tumblebrutus, a mischievous little kitten who enjoyed running and tumbling around the Junkyard, avoiding large stacks of tyres falling onto him. Jemima noticed him staring, but carried on with Rumpleteazer, partner in crime with Mungojerrie, her cheeky brother.

Later on in the day the toms were talking about who they would take to the ball, the annual event which was on next week! Old Deuteronomy surveyed the scene, but kept dozing off on the wall.

"I've been trying to pluck up the courage to ask Victoria to the ball. I really like her," started Mr. Mistoffelees, the magical cat, "But I dont think she likes me back," he concluded.

"Yes she does," Plato told him, jealously. He liked Victoria but Mistoffelees was older and better looking. He had no chance.

"I wish Jemima would go with me," sighed Tumblebrutus, "She's so pretty."

"I've heard that the Tugger likes her," Admetus, a knowing cat, told him.

"I don't stand a chance then," replied Tumblebrutus, "No-one can say no to the Tugger."

"Yes, but he'll ask her and then chase around Etcetera and Cassandra, he likes them," said Admetus, "You know what hes like."

"I hope he won't chase Cassandra," said an annoyed Bill Bailey. "I'm going with her!"

"Well, he'll go with Bombalurina in the end anyway. They can't resist one another," Admetus concluded.

"But I thought Munkustrap was going with her," said a puzzled Pouncival. Pouncival was quite upset too, because it looked like Jemima was going to go with Tumblebrutus, his younger brother. And he had asked Jemima that morning. She'd said no.

"No Pouncival, you know Demeter's going with him."

"At least you don't have to worry about who you'll go with Coricopat. Tantomile always goes with you everywhere."

"Yes," he replied. "It's true. I'm so lucky!" and everyone laughed. But he continued, "you should just ask Jemima, Tumblebrutus. There's no harm in trying."

"And I have a feeling she will say yes," said Mistoffelees. His intuition could tell him things the others didnt know.

"Well, I suppose I could try," said Tumblebrutus, with a worried smile.

Further Away in the junkyard, Jemima, Victoria, Electra, Tantomile and Bombalurina were also talking.

"I hope Mistoffelees asks me to the ball," said Victoria, "I really like him."

"I think Tumblebrutus might ask me," said Jemima, "He seems to like me."

"Half the junkyard will be asking you," said a very fed up Bombalurina, who was the prettiest cat in the tribe. Now Jemima was getting older and more beautiful, and Bombalurina didn't like it.

"But Tugger will go with you," said Jemima without an ounce of smugness, "You know he can't resist you. I'm surprised you're not mates actually."

"Well, Tugger cant RESIST flirting with the whole female population of the junkyard. I can't trust him," confessed Bombalurina.

"You know he always will love you. It's so cute," said Tantomile.

"Well, I hope Tumblebrutus asks me. I like him. I turned down Pouncival this morning. I hate doing things like that. It makes me feel so mean," Jemima informed the others.

"Oh, I know. The amount of times I've done THAT. You get used to it," said Bombalurina in an all-knowing way. She stretched out in the sun and gave a big yawn, "Now kittykats, I need my beauty sleep, so if you wouldnt mind going away please..." and with that, she dozed off.

Later that evening, murmurs about Jemima and Tumblebrutus were going around the junkyard. Jemima dismissed it , but Tumblebrutus was basking in the attention. In the dead of night, he snuck away towards where Jemima was.

"Jemima!" He whispered. Jemima gave a start, and smiled when she saw who it was. "I was wondering.if..well..maybeyouwantedtogotheballwithme?"

"Pardon?" asked Jemima, "Oh! You want me to go with you! Yes, I will!"

A satisfied smile crept onto tumblebrutus face. He was so happy..only a week away to the ball.and he had the prettiest girl in the junkyard going with him!