Subject: The Integrity of "Ugly" {Insp}
From: Unicorn (unicorn@indenial.com)
Date: Mon Nov 06 2000 - 02:42:01 EST
~ The Integrity of "Ugly" ~
Everyone in the apartment complex 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 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. His tail had long ago 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 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
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,
beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.
{Author Unknown}
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