Jan. 2006 Stories

A Christmas Miracle

by Cindy Zydzik

It was a perfect winter day. Snow fell gently from the sky in big huge flakes that drifted down to cover the sidewalk outside the window. A fire was burning in the fireplace and the crackling and snapping made for a peaceful background. The Christmas tree in the corner was twinkling with lights of many colors and the lights were turned low even though the day was cloudy with the snowfall. The presents had been opened and all the paper and wrappings were now picked up and the room restored to it's usual disorder. With several kids in the house, it was always in a slight state of disorder. All the people in the house had scattered to play with new toys or other gifts. Except one.

Mary stood by the window next to a tall cat tree gently stroking the fur on a huge black and white cat. She had named her Simba so many years ago. Simba turned her head slightly to look at Mary and gave a soft meow. This was a special day for both of them and they always took this day to look back and remember. So many years had gone by, yet they both remembered. In this, the twilight of both of their years, they remembered. The pain, being scared, being cold, and being alone in a world that just didn't care. So much had changed for both of them, but they would continue to remember.

Simba lifted a paw to gently grab Mary's hand and lick it in a playful attempt to mock fight with her. There was still a kitten inside this big old cat. Then Simba closed her one good eye and a purr came from deep in her chest and she allowed herself to go back. Back to that time when things weren't good and peaceful. When there wasn't a warm fireplace and gifts under a Christmas tree for her. It had been twenty years ago. But she would never forget the kindness of this woman who stroked her.

Twenty years ago a small kitten was hiding in a shed. The rest of the litter was gone. She knew better than to cry even though the pain was intense. Her feral momma had taught her well. Never let the predators know where you were by making noise. Even at 10 weeks old, this kitten knew this. But the pain!! The coyote had found them even though Momma had tried her best to hide them. It had come in the night. Momma had tried so hard to fight even though she was weak and gaunt from hunger. The kittens had come late in the fall and Momma was just barely a kitten herself when she had them. There was little food, but Momma really did her best. Now she was gone with the rest of them. Three tiny bodies were scattered in the snow.

Momma was gone. The coyote must have taken her, the kitten realized. They had woken, shivering in the cold. Even laying as close to Momma as they could get, it was cold. They all woke up when they heard soft footsteps outside of the shed where Momma had thought it was safe. Momma had screamed at them to run. Run as fast as they could and hide. Hide, but where? The kitten felt the pain before she realized what was happening. Then a scream of pure rage as Momma attacked to save her. The coyote let go of the kitten to face this feline who was about to give her very life to save her kittens. The kitten ran. Blood was pouring from her eye, but she ran. She listened for a while as the screams of her family died to nothing. Nothing but the cold, the snow and the pain remained now.

Two days went by while the kitten lay in her hiding place. Then, footsteps again. She shivered in terror and cold. By now hunger had even been forgotten. Then she heard something different. Soft sobbing coming from outside her hiding place. A hand reached inside her hiding place. The kitten fought with all her strength, but was too weak to put up a battle. Just before blackness overtook her, she had the satisfaction of hearing a voice wince when her tiny claws and teeth sunk into the hand that would take her away.

The kitten came awake some time later, but was unable to open her eyes. Two humans were standing over her. A male voice was telling another that it was no good. The kitten was feral and all the time and expense to try to save it just wasn't worth it. One eye was already gone and infection had set in. It was starved to the point of death. But the kitten felt something then. A gentle hand was stroking her. It almost felt like Momma. A soft, female voice floated above her head. It must be an angel. The voice spoke softly and the stroking never stopped. The female said they had to try. She didn't have any money to pay the male, but she would come up with it somehow. If he would only try. The male said he would do his best, but it was a lost cause. The kitten felt something then. It was kind of funny...it felt like another kitten had just poked her with a tiny claw. Then, blackness again.

When the kitten woke up next, she was wrapped in a warm blanket. She smelled what she thought was food, but was unable to lift her head to find out. A finger came into her line of vision. She realized then that only one eye worked now. But the finger smelled so good and gently slipped into her mouth. It was food!! The finger disappeared to be replaced by a nipple of some sort. It dripped with what tasted like Momma's milk. Maybe Momma was back!! She eagerly sucked and felt warmth flow into her body. So good, oh so sweet to be full again and have Momma back.

But this wasn't Momma! The kitten tried to unsheath her claws and bare her teeth. She heard a soft laugh from above her and looked up. The female stroked her full belly and told her "My name is Mary, little one. Welcome back to the world. I think I will call you Simba. You remind me of a mighty cat I read about in a children's tale. Today is Christmas day and I think God has given us both a miracle. You are going to live, little Simba."

Simba's road to recovery was a long one. She remembered the pain of the surgery to remove her eye. There were other wounds she didn't even know she had and they were all infected. The medicine was horrible and she fought with all her strength to avoid taking it. But all her efforts were met with a soft laugh and a gently stroking hand. Mary never gave up on her. She was there with food when Simba wanted food. She was there when the pain was so bad Simba just didn't care to go on. But she was there with love too. Love that Simba soaked up. A love like Momma's love. This love gave Simba the strength and courage to fight back. To come to terms with being blind in one eye. Her raggy black and white coat slowly came to be shiny and glossy. When she was too weak to bathe herself, Mary was there to do it for her. Mary was always there.

That was twenty years ago. She remembered the day Mary took her back to the male who had given her the medicine. She asked the male to spay her so she would never know the agony her Momma knew. The agony of bringing kittens into the world that she couldn't care for. The pain of knowing they would probably die before they ever lived because of hunger or predators. That was just fine by Simba. She would never forget her Momma and the rest of the litter. And that was okay too. The pain of losing them was softened with time, but she would never forget them.

Mary and Simba gazed out the window on this Christmas day and remembered the miracle that had brought them together and gave Simba her new life. Time was short for both of them now. The children in the house were Mary's grandchildren. Time had taken it's usual toll on both of them. They napped a lot these days. They had been through so much together and they would remain together till the end of their time. Neither could bring themselves to think about what would happen to them when one of them went to the bridge without the other. That was to painful to even bring the thought to words.

Mary slowly removed her hand from Simba's fur. She said softly "Let's go take our nap now, my beautiful Simba." She had to lift Simba up on the bed. That was a feat in itself for Mary was weak and tired also. Simba lay as close as she could to Mary with her head on Mary's pillow. That is when the second Christmas miracle happened. They both woke up to a beautiful place. A place where health was restored and limbs worked again. Simba could see with both eyes now. Mary was young again and her laugh of pure delight awoke the kitten in Simba. The romped together in a green field filled with flowers where Simba leaped after butterflies who stayed just out of reach. Ahead was a golden bridge. They ran to the bridge and were greeted by a million or more voices of animals who were waiting for them to cross to their new life. A new time had begun for them now. It was their Christmas miracle.

One Phat Cat

by Jim Schill

Jumpin’ Juniper is my name, protection’s my game. I rule this domain and all answer to me. I have first approval on any that enter, or even dream, of entering herein. From window to door to enclosure I prowl and stalk, with a proud tail-high strut I walk. I leave my scent on any box or chair to warn off any and all intruders. Beware! Sure, I only see out of one eye, but, hey, what an eye. I can discern evil intent or sweet inclination or burning need for help with just a quick glance. With my doting Humans as my slaves, all is right in my world.

Alas, it was not always so. This confident Supreme Ruler was formed from early hardships. I don’t remember too much of the beginning, just snuggling, warmth, happiness, and Mama’s milk. I remember playing with my siblings, Gilgamesh, Gawain, and Helen. We were a happy bunch. I remember my eye getting scratched during the “Tournaments” of rough play, not intentionally mind you, but painful none the less. Mama licked it for me that night and it soothed the pain. I was going to be ok.

The next day, the evil Human saw us behind his barn. We ran like Mama told us to, but he caught all of us kittens. Threw us into a box, “too many darn cats around here” he muttered. Later that day, he took us to a shooting range “for sum shootin’ practice” and tipped the box over so we could escape. I thought we were free. Then he started shooting at us while his friends pointed and guffawed. We ran hither and yon seeking safety. Gilgamesh was the first hit. He fell and stopped moving. Not even a scream of pain.

The shooting stopped for a minute or two while the grunts laughed. I took a chance on a bush I saw twenty feet away. I ran with all my might with Helen beside me. Gawain took off on a tangent for a tree. He didn’t make it. He went down with a scream of pain when he was hit in the leg. Then, through the body. We almost made it together, Helen and I. Just five feet away, Helen flopped over and didn’t move again. I hid in the bush, shaking with fright, terrified that the evil man would come and get me. Instead, he drove off with his friends. Just left me there with my dead siblings.

I could see Helen’s lifeless eyes five feet away, staring into space. Gawain and Gilgamesh lay further out, but they were without life as well. I was so scared I couldn’t move. All I could think of was my dead siblings and my missing Mama. Petrified, I remained hidden for what seemed like hours. A long time later, I heard another loud noise approaching. More Humans. Oh great.

The next thing I heard was sobbing. A young lady saw my siblings and began to cry, “How could anyone do this!?” she wailed. A man was with her and soothed her. “Some people haven’t any compassion or love for God’s creatures, ….mumble, mumble…..Let’s lay them to rest in a nice place.” They gently picked up my siblings and placed them under the tree, one at a time. They scouted around for a better place and decided to place them under the evergreen bush, whatever that is. Then, they started walking toward me. Right. Straight. Toward. Me. I was too scared to risk a move. When they got to the bush, I hissed as loudly and fiercely as I could, trying to scare them off. It didn’t work.

“Oh my goodness! One of them must have hidden.” Soon, hands were reaching in and I heard a voice, the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard. “Come here little one, I’ll help you. Come to Daddy, now. Let Daddy take you home and take care of you.” I didn’t know what to do, but he sounded so gentle and caring, and I couldn’t move. He picked me up and stroked me like Mama used to. His hands were rough but gentle. He scratched the top of my head and around my ears and at the base of my tail. Oooh, he hit all my favorite spots.

“Hey! She looks just like Matilda. A black and white tuxedo.” When he yelled, I spooked. Jumped right out of his hands and back into the bush. “My she sure jumped back into that Juniper like lightning….. That’s her name, Jumpin’ Juniper. Come back here baby, Daddy’s gonna feed ya and take care of ya. Easy now, I won’t hurt you.” This time I allowed him to pick me up. After that he was mine, to serve me as I pleased.

They took us home, buried Gilgamesh, Gawain, and Helen in their backyard where I could remember them. Daddy and Betty, the Lady, became my slaves once in my new home. I taught them to bottle feed me Catsmilk until I could eat real food. They doted on me and petted me and took me to some strange lady to have a “check up”. She poked and prodded and was worried about my eye. “It’s badly infected. She’s lost the vision in that eye and will need antibiotics if you decide to keep her.”

Huh?! Whaddaya mean “if”, I thought. Daddy said, “Whaddaya mean, ‘If’?” The lady laughed, and shortly thereafter stuck me with something sharp and I turned to scratch but Daddy said, “It’s allright, baby. She’s gonna treat your eye.” After a few days, I could no longer see out of that eye but the itching had started to fade. It healed up but I never saw out of it again. Daddy told me, “That’s okay little one. You’ll be fine with us. We’ll protect you. Besides, that one eye of yours is super powerful, not like other eyes. It saw your way to safety that day and will serve you again and again for the rest of your life.””

Daddy has been trained to keep a clean place for my litter and to purchase cat trees and window hammocks for me to hang out on. I instructed Daddy in construction of an outdoor enclosure so I could get fresh air without him worrying that I would harm other creatures outside as I became one fierce shecat, constantly on the prowl. Many a time I have warned off Toms who thought they were tough. Even a beast called a “Dawg” was warned off once. I’m a good watch cat, according to Daddy.

I’ve trained Daddy to come to me, scratch under my chin and tell me what a pretty girl I am by lying on top of the cabinets and cooing or chirping to him. I’ve taught him to recline in the chair to provide me with a big warm lap to curl upon to sleep. I’ve instilled in him the need to cater to my each and every whim with a simple, but mighty, meow to bring my needs to his attention – sometimes his mind lapses. I thought I was in Heaven. But I was alone as far as cats go and didn’t realize I needed others of my own kind. However, my eye didn’t let me down.

One day, I saw two kittens wandering aimlessly around the outer edge of our yard. They needed help! They told me their Mama wasn’t moving and they were hungry. I thought of my Mama and my siblings. I knew what needed to be done. Into the house I flew, banging the catflap as hard as I could. I commenced a bout of howling meows the likes of which have never before been heard. Daddy jumped up in alarm and ran toward me. Back out the flap I went with Daddy close behind, using the door of course. I ran to the back of the enclosure and looked at the kittens outside the fence. I looked at Daddy with pleading in my eyes. Then back at the kittens.

After a moment, Daddy said “What a good girl. You wanted me to see the kittens. They must be living under that old shed. I’ll go check it out.” Out he went, he blocked me from going with him. “Their Mama might not like you.” As if. Outside the fence, he looked around. The kittens ran toward the shed. Daddy followed. “Oh no!” I heard him moan. He saw their Mama lying dead on the ground. “She’s been scared to death!” He picked her up and brought her inside the fence. She was real stiff and her hair stuck out all over. Daddy put her down away from the gate. “Maybe the kittens will come to their Mama.”

After a long time, with Daddy far away, the kittens slowly crept in and came to their Mama. Daddy snuck over and closed the gate. Taking his time, he gently caught one of the kittens. The kitten was scared and scratched Daddy but Daddy hung on. I told the kitten Daddy would help him and he settled down a little. Daddy stroked the little guy just like he did me that day and took him to the spare bedroom. Then he came out and did the same with the other little guy. I encouraged Daddy to take care of them like he did me and they were soon full of vigor and boisterous as all get out.

Daddy wouldn’t let me see them much until they were checked out by that lady that poked me. They were all okay and joined our family. Over the next few weeks, slowly, we all got to know each other. Frank and Beans, don’t ask me how they got these names, were soon my playmates. I have to keep them in line every now and again and remind them that I am Daddy’s favorite; he tells me so all the time when they can’t hear. Soooo, I claim his lap as mine and occasionally share him with Frank and Beans. Sometimes we play chase with each other and other times we’ll all take a snooze together, usually when Daddy and Betty are gone to work, whatever that is.

Well, I have a happy home with new siblings. My minions watch over me, feed me, and pet me when I want it. My new brothers keep my busy and fit and all is right in my world. I control my domain with my eye to guide and serve, against the bad or for the good, whatever is needed. But mostly, admittedly, I have my Daddy. My kind, loving, wonderful Daddy. He’s a big lug but I love him to pieces.

Jumpin’ Juniper

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