"Ugly"

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 gaping hole.  He was also missing his ear on the
same side, his left foot has appeared to have been badly
broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle,
making him look like was always turning the corner.  His
tail has long age been lost, leaving only the smallest stub,
which he would constantly jerk and twitch.

Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby striped type,
except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his
shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. 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 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 they picked him up,
he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt,
earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbors huskies.
They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled.
 From my apartment I could hear his screams, and 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. Ugly
lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted
grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur
that ran down his front.

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, or even 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, and beautiful,
but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.

Author Unknown