UGLY
Ugly The Cat
Page by Mindy
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 hole. He was also
missing his ear on the same side, his left foot
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.
Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped
type, except for the sores covering his neck, and even his shoulders
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 you ever 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
dogs. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was
badly mauled. 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.
As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I
could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could
feel him struggling. It 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 battled
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, 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
means 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.
Author Unknown
