Ayesha: The Jellicle of the Night
Part III: The Man in the Man in the Mask
Next Day...
AYESHA
I often wonder now why my human wears the strange mask?why should he have something to hide? I don't understand?But I know now where I am remembering the gold colors from?from gold collars?something like mine? but my has diamonds?and where would I see so much gold? Ah, it still puzzles me?
NARRATOR
Ayesha bounded into the kitchen where Erik was putting a new meal in a carved glass dish for her to try.
"It's the fashion now, my sweet. Rich ladies clamor for it...Why shouldn't my Ayesha have some? You shall have it. Here you go, chere," Erik said, placing the dainty dish on the beautifully carved black and gold table, "But I'll not be joining you, ma belle. I'm still not hungry," when she looked at him, almost reproaching, he added, "I will eat soon, ma poupee! If you had kittens, they would very well behaved from you strictness, ma petite! I shall leave you alone while you eat, chere...If you do not like it, just leave it... Please do not knock it to the floor, my little Empress!" So saying, Erik left the room.
AYESHA
When I finished the dish my dear little human had given me, I leapt off the chair and walked out of the tiny kitchen to the main room with the organ. Mon couer was working on his music...as always. I was tired, and I was going to take a nap in the middle of the floor. I wanted attention, but he usually never even looks at me when he's at his music. I stalked around the room for a bit, looking for a comfortable spot. His lap would have been nice, but should he forget about me (again! He's done it before!) he might jump up and there goes pretty little Ayesha, down to the floor. But my pride hurts more than the floor. No matter. At last I found my spot?A piece of his paper, fresh, and one of his last ones close by the organ, had dropped unnoticed to the floor. It would stop some of the coldness from the floor, and if he wanted it, he would have to notice me to take it. I would get his attention. But he could get the other paper in the other room. I found it and sneakily dragged it on top of the other paper. Then I stalked onto it and curled into a tight ball over it, refusing to let him take it without waking me up.
NARRATOR
Erik wrote the last note and noticed that he had forgotten to get more paper to put near his organ. He got up, and noticed that behind him, Ayesha was laying on something in the middle of the floor. He took no notice, however, until he saw that the drawer where he kept the extra paper was open and the paper gone.
"That little..." thought Erik, as he strode over to where the still small thief sat protectively on her parcel.
ERIK
I know?she just wants more attention, that's all?well, I suppose it's my fault?I've given her everything she's wanted? Well I must have that paper, and if she means to fight for it, so be it!
NARRATOR
Erik tried to gently pry Ayesha off his precious paper. Ayesha had other plans. As Erik picked her up, she held on tightly to the paper. Erik "not-so-gently" grabbed the paper out of her claws, and when she pulled it back he yanked it hard, which ripped the top sheet and put it on the table. Then he held her so that she had to look at him.
"I know you want attention, love, but you must let me have a few moments! Wait! Get back here!" Ayesha leapt out of his arms and onto the table with the paper, sat on it again, and looked at him." Get off the table! Get back here! Ayesha! Fine! I shall leave you alone and purchase some more!"
Erik made as if to leave and Ayesha turned around and got off the paper and leapt to the floor. She rubbed against his leg, and he said,
"Ah! There, my love!" Erik nuzzled her, and put her on a pillow on the leather couch. " You love me?I am nearly finished ma belle. Can you wait until then, chere? Bon." Erik took the paper off the table and walked over to the organ?
AYESHA
How beautiful and graceful he is when he walks! He is so dear to me! I would not let him go in a hundred years? I shall have to content myself with this silken pillow for now?but his lap is so much more comfortable?
NARRATOR
Ayesha drifted in and out of sleep?
ERIK
My eyes are beginning to hurt...I must take a short rest...If only I slept as well as my Ayesha...hopefully no nightmares tonight! Ah! My left hand! My arm! It hurts! It went numb! What is wrong? Something's wrong!
AYESHA
The Ball! The Jellicle Ball! I had nearly forgotten! Oh when will he go to sleep? He must go soon! Oh! He almost has...
NARRATOR
Ayesha leapt into Erik's coffin, licked him good-night, and leapt out again?
ERIK
Ah! My sweet dame! Had she been my mother, my life would have been complete! I hope no nightmares tonight!
NARRATOR
Erik tossed and turned as Ayesha stalked quietly and carefully out of the room. Fitfully he almost slept, but could never manage to get quite to sleep?
ERIK
I can't shake these dreams?No! *SASHA! I can't...I...Help her! Someone! HELP Her! *
NARRATOR
Erik woke up in a sweat. He shook his head a little to clear the memory of his nightmare, pushed the auburn hair that he had just shaken into his eyes, and suddenly realized that his face was unusually hot. He then realized he had left his mask on when he laid down. He fumbled with the ties at the back of the mask. When he finally got it off, he looked around, and realized that Ayesha was gone!
ERIK
Where is my kitten? I feel that I?I need her! Where is my goddess? My sweet little angel? I?Oh! Ah... (*Gasp*)?
NARRATOR
Erik clutched at his chest as a pain wracked through his chest, and then through his body. He groaned, and doubled over, and after a few minutes, the pain subsided a little. He breathed (he realized that he had barely been breathing when he started hurting!) but not too deeply, just in case. He gasped again as the pain returned?
(Mentally, go back approx. 15 min)
Ayesha quietly stalked to where Pierre had told her to meet him, when he came up behind her. She spun around.
"Oh! You have scared me again!" She said, startled.
"Ah! Do not be frightened, Come with me."
Ayesha followed Pierre a long way through the streets of Paris. If there were to be many other Cats, she could not understand how they survived?
As she entered a large Alley, she slowly noticed many Cats, one by one. Pierre introduced her to each one. She watched, learned, and after all ceremonies were over, they played games and made merry. When the dawn threatened to break, Old Deuteronomy chose the Jellicle to take to the Heaviside Layer. As Old Deuteronomy left, all the Cats dispersed.
Pierre left Ayesha with these words, "Well, you are a Jellicle! Now I must leave you. You must try to come back every year, will you try, ma chere?"
"Yes!"
"Bon! Goodbye, Ayesha!"
Ayesha bounded away with a light heart. She belonged! She belonged somewhere!
NARRATOR
As Ayesha bounded to Erik's coffin, she saw something was wrong. She quickly ran as fast as her graceful legs would allow her to. She hissed at an unseen enemy, trying to protect her master, her love. But there was none. Erik lay slumped over the side of the coffin, his bed. Ayesha licked his face, and he slowly opened his deep gray eyes. He looked at her and painfully smiled a tiny bit.
ERIK
My love! My heart! She is here! She is back! I knew she would! I knew it! Yes! Ah! Oh, but I am too weak to pet her! She is so sweet...I...Love...her...
NARRATOR
Erik fainted back into unconsciousness.
AYESHA
He is alive! But what has happened to him? What attacked him? I should have been here! I should -could have - helped him! My love! It is my entire fault! I shall never leave him! Never! Mon Dieu! What am I to do? I love him!