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 | | From: | JPF | | Subject: | Ugly | | Date: | Mon, 17 Jan 2005 03:51:16 GMT |
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 | Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the
resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating
garbage, and shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined
with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had
only one eye, and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was
also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot has appeared to have
been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making
him look like he was always turning the corner.
His tail has long age been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he
would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby
striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his
shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Ugly there was
the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!"
All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at
him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or
shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same
reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting
soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl
his lanky body around feet in forgiveness.
Whenever he spied children, he would come running meowing frantically and
bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If ever picked
him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever
he could find.
One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbors huskies. They did not
respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear
his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he
was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end. Ugly lay
in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape,
a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked
him up and tried to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and gasping,
and could feel him struggling.
I must be hurting him terribly I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging,
sucking sensation on my ear - Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously
dying was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped
the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards
me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest
pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection,
perhaps some compassion. At that moment I thought Ugly was the most
beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or
scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly
just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.
Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for
long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray
could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of
spirit, to love so totally and truly.
Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books,
lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be
thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the
inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and
deeply. To give my total to those I cared for. Many people want to be
richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always
try to be Ugly.
~ Author Unknown
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