Ugly

Everyone in my apartment complex knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: Fighting, eating garbage and making 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. He was also missing an ear, his left foot had been broken and healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner.

His tail had been lost leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gray striped tabby except for sores covering his head and shoulders. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction “That is one ugly cat.”

Children were warned not to touch him, adults squirted him when he tried to come in their homes. Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him he would stand getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him he would curl his lanky body around his feet in forgiveness.

When he spied children he would come running meowing and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If someone picked him up he would begin sucking on their shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with a neighbor’s huskies. They did not respond kindly and Ugly was badly mauled. I heard his screams and tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got there Ugly’s sad life was almost at an end.

Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted out of shape, a tear in the white strip of fur down his front. As I picked him up to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and gasping and feel him struggling. I 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 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 eye towards me and I heard the sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain that ugly battle 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, get away or struggle. 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.

It was time to give my all to those I cared for. Many want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful. But for me I will try to always be like Ugly.

Author Unknown