Hello Steve, what a beautiful story. I love this one. thanks for sharing. Original message: > The Cat Who Needed A Night Light > On a warm August day, a dainty little cat named Dolores was receiving a > special award: the American Humane Association's William O. Stillman > award for bravery. The association gives the award to people who risk > their lives to save animals from danger, and to animals who face down > danger to save the lives of people. > Either way, the winners are heroes, whether they're take-charge, > fearless sorts of people, or extroverted, devoted pets like Dolores. > Dolores hadn't always been an extrovert. And she hadn't seemed very > devoted to anyone, either. In fact, she'd been what most people call > the quiet type. When she first came to live with her owner, Kyle, > Dolores rarely had anything to say. > And most of the time, she didn't like being touched. > Kyle didn't know why Dolores was so standoffish. And he didn't > understand something else about her: why she always became upset > whenever the lights were turned out. > But Kyle didn't care. Something about the cat's quiet, unassuming > manner appealed to him. So, at night, he just left all the lights on in > the apartment where he and Dolores lived, even when it was time to go > to sleep. And if Dolores wanted to keep her distance, well, he could > respect that. Maybe, if he was patient, Dolores would someday decide to > come to him, to talk to him, to be friends. > So for the next year, Kyle loved Dolores for exactly who she was. He > let her keep her distance, and he didn't ask for more than she could give. > Then, one May evening, everything changed. The night started like any other. > And, at evening's end, Kyle checked - as usual - to make sure all the > lights in his apartment were on. Then, he went to sleep. > Sometime later he woke with a start. Something was jumping on his head! > Paws were scratching his face! And, when he opened his eyes, his > apartment was no longer brightly lit; instead it was filled with black > smoke. But he could see who was doing the jumping and scratching: Dolores. > The little cat was all Kyle could see. But she was enough. > Together, the two made their way to the only available exit from the > apartment, the back door. Kyle felt his way along the walls. At the > same time, he felt for Dolores with his feet and followed her. Finally, > the pair reached the back door. > Kyle pulled on the knob to open the door, only to have the knob fall > off into his hand. The door remained firmly shut. > Making his way to the door had taken every bit of strength and oxygen > Kyle had, and he collapsed to the floor. But, once again, he felt those > insistent paws scratching his face. Kyle mustered his last bit of > strength to hurl himself against the door, break it down and run > outside to fresh air and safety. Once there, he looked around for the > cat who'd saved his life. > She wasn't there. > With sickening clarity, Kyle realized that Dolores was still inside the > apartment. > He ran to one of the firefighters. > "My cat's still inside my apartment!" he exclaimed. "Can you find her?" > The firefighter promised to try. > Now all Kyle could do was wait. He knew Dolores's chances weren't good, > but still - maybe, just maybe, she would be found alive. > An hour or so later, the firefighters brought the blaze under control. > And one firefighter brought Kyle a bundle wrapped in a towel. Kyle held > his breath. > Inside the bundle was Dolores - eyes seared shut, hair singed, but alive. > The firefighter explained that Dolores had collapsed just inside the > door and that a fireman had stumbled on her when he entered the apartment. > After removing her from the apartment, paramedics gave the cat CPR and > oxygen before bringing her to Kyle. > The fire changed Kyle's life dramatically. He'd lost all his clothes, > furniture and other possessions, and had to go live with his mother for > a while. His cat had changed, too. > The once-quiet Dolores was now a talker who meowed and purred almost > constantly. > Even more surprising was her new desire to be touched and cuddled - > preferably while she was lying on Kyle's lap. > Now, just four months later, Dolores was being recognized for her bravery. > But Kyle knew he'd gotten a bigger prize. He'd never asked for more > than Dolores could give - and then found she was willing to give him > everything she had.
> A single candle can illuminate an entire room. A true friend lights up > an entire lifetime. Thanks for the bright lights of your friendship. > -- Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network. Visit www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
