He came around six months ago, a tiger striped tom cat with warm loving green eyes. Shy and skittish, but I told you, "If I feed you my man I get to pet you and talk to you." You looked at me as if I had lost my mind, but talk to you I did and very soon you let me pet you. When meal time came you were as vocal as the others who decided to show up and I talked to all of you. Head butts, weaving in and out of my legs, and paw prints everywhere were "YOUR" special signature. Even though you actually belonged to another family down the street you came to view this as home. You followed me around the yard and would call out to me if I slipped around a corner and you couldn't find me. I would step back into view and call your name. You came running as if to say, "I couldn't find you and I was worried." I would pet you and assure you that I was okay. Then came that fateful day you left me...I had never lost a pet to poisoning and I didn't know what to look for until it was too late to do anything. You showed up looking so weak and I couldn't get you to the vet, but yet you came here to die so you wouldn't be alone when you crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. I still cry when I think about how stupid I was...if I had but known what was wrong with you my green eyed charmer I would have had you to the vet PDQ. You took your last breath on this earth while I stroked your head and it was as if you were seeking my permission to leave me...I told you to cross the bridge because where you were going you would not feel any pain and there would be friends for you to play with, lots of food and water plus no poison. It was at that time you took that last breath. I cried and I'm still crying. You weren't here long enough, Clyde. You brought happiness to the unhappy places in my life. Each day I look out the kitchen window expecting you to come running across the yard to be fed or talked to, but I know you can't. Don't forget me, Clyde, because I will never forget you or the happiness, joy, love and affection you brought me in the six months you filled my life.