by Kristal Treece
When we got Speedy, he was just a baby, all scared to wonder around and learn about his surroundings. But as time went on, He became the king around the house it seemed like. We have a dog and another cat, but Speedy was the ruler. How Speedy got his name, we could never catch him he was out of sight in a minute. After 10 yrs, Speedy started loosing a lot of weight, seeing almost all of his leg bones, but it never seemed to effect him, he just kept waiting for the time his treats would be opened,jumps on the bed, so he can enjoy them.I went away for a few weeks and called my mom every day to see how Speedy was doing. Every day I called her, Speedy seemed to be getting worse and worse, loosing more weight and now not wanting to eat. My mother said she felt 2 bumps on the back of his neck, and thought it was Feline Lukemia, and said the vet couldnt do anything for that. Noone in the family wanted to put him to sleep, but we didnt want him to suffer either. 3 days pass and mom noticed a white pocket of some sort on his paw, and Speedy started to limp on it. Speedy loved to lay on the back of the couch and stare out of the window. Speedy was laying on there the night before he died, and mom said he just fell off and hit the floor, and he couldnt get back up. Mom went over to him and picked him up and just held him close telling him how much he was loved and that he was a good boy. I still had a week before I came home and I wanted him so bad to hang in there so I could tell him how much I loved him. He would eat or drink anything, and that was weird because milk was his favorite drink and salmon Pounce treats was his favorite and he would touch either one. I called my mom the next day, June 19, 2002, and work said said she was at the vet. When I talked to her next she said she had been beating herself up all day, because Speedy slept all night the night before on her pillow with her and my father. The morning came and Speedy needed to go outside. Mom let Speedy out but wanted to watch him to bring him back in until lunch when she could take him to the vet. She took the towel off her head and turned around and Speedy was gone. She felt so bad, she knew he was sick. She went to work and at lunch, my father tried to find Speedy and nothing, and mom finally found Speedy on her lunch. He was lying outside on the side of the house trying to stay out of the sun. She called his name "Speedy baby come here" and he very weakly walked over to her and crawled into her lap. She got right into the car and took him to the vet. He didnt like car rides at all, but didnt try to move he was just to weak. On the way to the vet Speedys paw burst open from the white pocket she had found and it went all over her and her car. They got to the vet and he wasnt there, he was at lunch and would be back shortly and they told mom to leave Speedy there and they would call her at work and let her know how things are. Mom then called me when she got back and explained what had happened while at home and was crying as she told me this. She said the vet called her and said the bumps she found were absesses and the one on his paw was also and had to drain them as soon as possible or he would die. He had a temp of 104 when she took him in and I guess he had a temp for a few weeks thats why he stopped eating. They were going to put him to sleep to drain the fluid and told my mom Speedy could come home the next day. After 1 hour of hanging up from my mom, she called me back and told me the vet had called her. "Kristal, the vet just called me, and they lost Speedy." I started crying and said "Dont say that mom, dont say that." She had explained that the medicine they used to put him to sleep for the surgery made him have a heart attack and he finally let go. Mom said Speedy was just tired of fighting and just let go. "Mom, I didnt get to say good-bye" but mom told me the night before as Speedy was lying on her pillow she told him goodbye for everyone and told him how loved he was, espically from me. I feel so bad and cant stop thinking of him until I get to go home, but I didnt get to say goodbye. He was burried next to our other cat TJ in the flower bed. I have never had anyone in my family die yet, and TJ and Speedy have been the only two. I miss both of them so much and nothing can ever take their places!!! Speedy my baby, I love you and I miss you already and you have a special place in my heart!! I will never forget you! We are going to plant a Lily in between both of them as it will grow every year. We didnt know how sick he was until it was too late. I will miss Speedy and the things that he does. When I called his name and he didnt want to be bothered he would just sit there and not even turn his head. And espically how he waled around the house as he was the king. Well now Speedy you are on your thrown now and you are the ruler, and one day All of us will be together again, just as we were as of June 19, 2002. May you rest in peace my Angel!! Love Mom Dad Kristal Matt and Monica, and your other Furry friends Bell and Sarge.