Saying Goodbye

It was late July.  That’s when it happened.  The saddest part about it was that it happened without warning.

This loss is not of a person, but of a cat.  An orange, striped cat named Tigger.

Of all the love and affection that he wanted,  I made sure that I pet him.  But how I wish that I could’ve done more.

There were times where I was on the computer, and all he wanted was to be pet.  Someone to pay attention to him.

During my last official week with him, my sister called.  She wanted to know how Tigger was doing.  I told her that he was doing fine.  She then gave me one last request.  She told me to hug Tigger for her.

When I saw Tigger, I did just that.  I hugged him, showing him that I cared.

During the last night that I saw Tigger, he was outside on the lawn in the backyard.  When my mom tried to pet him,  he wasn’t happy.  He wasn’t in a very good mood.  It was like he was trying to tell her something.  Perhaps it might have been that he was going to die soon.

It might have been just that.  The next day, he didn’t come back.  Several more days passed after that.  Still no sign of that lovable orange cat.

With that, it was now official.  Tigger died in the woods.  He was 12, and will be missed by all who knew him.

With Tigger gone, the loneliness began to set in.  My mom has always had a cat, but never a smoky gray one like she wanted.  The search now began for a new cat.  Not a replacement, for no cat can replace Tigger.  Not a replacement at all, but a new cat that we could all grow to love.  With that, the search officially began….

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©2012  K. L. Walker