by Martha
Ugly
Ugly 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 an
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,
and 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 your 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 someone picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt,
earrings, whatever he could find. One day Ugly shared his love with the
neighbor's 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 battle 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 a long time
afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so
alter my opinion about what it meant 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. -
Unknown