by Sheila XxXxXxXx
I will always remember the first time I saw Bangles. It was Christmas Eve, and my
godmother's car pulled up into my grandmother's driveway. I tried to run outside to
greet her, but my father held me back. Once she and my two cousins came inside,
they were bursting. In their arms they held my cat, Bangles, and I took one look at
him and melted inside. I had wanted this forever. I had been pulling for a cat as long
as I could remember. His deep green pools for eyes, and his beautiful gray/white/
black coat all swirled around in elaborate patterns. Some time has passed since then,
but not nearly enough. Growing up, Bangles had some problems, where he
developed crystals blocking his digestive system, and he would have to spend time at
the vet's office. This happened twice to Bangles. The price was high, my parents told
me that if it happened again, they would have to put my cat down, as they did not
want him to suffer. Now, five years later--it was yesterday afternoon, and when I
returned home from my walk home, I saw my father taking my cat in the carrior. He
was going to the vet, and I, fearing I might not see my precious friend again, touched
my hand to the mesh net on the outside of the carrior and he pressed his little nose,
no longer wet, up against my hand. Then I went inot the bathroom by myself and
cried. I waited by the phone for pretty much the rest of the day. My friend called,
and asked if I would like to take a walk with her, and we talked ont he way. She was
so understanding and talked with me about her own experiences with animals. When
I returned home, my mother told me that the vet's believed it to be feline lukimia. I
cried some more. And then, I called my father's cell phone myself. He didn't answer,
and I expected the worst. And I was right. My father returned home about twenty
minutes later. And he told me the vets had discovered bone marrow cancer in my
poor cat. They hadn't ever seen it before, even when he went in for the check-ups.
Although he had had this for a long time, the vets told my father that he was a well-
taken care of cat. And that it was good that he lived as long as he did. My father
returned home, told me that they ut my cat to sleep. I was numb. I cried about ten
minutes later. And now one day has passed, and I find my eyes wandering out the
window, either looking at the grave we had dug my cat last night, or staring at
something I am not sure is always there. I look out th ewindow now, and see the
grave, and miss Bangles so much. I hope so much that my Bangles is with my dog
Rudy up in Rainbow Bridge Heaven, looking down on us. I LOVE YOU RUDY AND
BANGLES FOREVER.