Cover of book...
Genre: General-all age groups-all animal lovers
A cats perspective of life with his family and his
The Link
I have been here for so long that I seem to have forgotten just where it was that I lived before and just who the people were that I lived with. Now there are many bars to keep us all locked up, the terrible stench of so many creatures in one area, and the seemingly endless stream of so many eyes looking at us, searching for their loved ones or new ones to love. My companions come and go but I remain to watch the flow. One time someone came and took me from my cage to a dirty little room where they examined my body and looked in my mouth then wrote so many things on a piece of paper but they never said a word directly to me, they never tried to soothe my fears or comfort my pain. Why should they? After all, I am just one of life's many strays that they have to tend to until someone comes along that wants to take you home or you are forever put out of your misery.
Many of my companions sit close to the front of their cage and plead with everyone that walks by. Just as many more curl up in a back corner and show terror and fear whenever someone walks by. Just by their reactions you can see which ones experienced love and affection in their short lives and which ones knew only terror, rejection, and fear. There are babies here that anyone would love. As you can imagine, they are most often chosen by the people who look at us. They leave here with hopes of love and security but those of us who are older know that that is not always the final outcome. Many will be loved but many more will upset their new families with their crying and need for attention. These will either be brought back here or, more than likely, just thrown out into the streets to wander and try to make it on their own until they starve to death or one of those foul-smelling, fast-as-lightning, metal creatures chases them down and crushes them under it's great heavy paw.
As for myself, I am content to just lie here and watch the parade. I am neither a beggar nor a cowerer. When the Master of Life decides to send someone for me, I will know it. But it has been so long now. Sometimes I am afraid when someone comes in and stops in front of my cage that this time they will finally open the door but instead of taking me to once again breathe in the freshness of the air they will take me to a room that is dark and fearful. No one has ever seen this room that can speak of it but many of us know of its existence. When one of us has been here for a very long time and none of the people passing through pay no attention to them then they are finally taken by Him In The White Coat and we never see them again.
For many days now there have been more of my companions coming in and being caged but there has also been more people coming through to look at all of us. Many of these people are very small and have very shrill voices. The big people try to soothe them, usually, but most times they just start crying and I become afraid that these little people will also be put into cages because of their terrible noises or thrown under the paws of the mighty metal monsters. Sometimes one of my companions sees a familiar people and gets very excited because now they will get to get out of their cage and return once again to a life of love and closeness. But, sometimes, that familiar people means that they will return to a life of unhappiness and dread.
I wish that I could remember if I am looking for love or dread. At least then I would be able to anticipate something. All I can recall is right here with me now. So I don't look for anything except the people who bring me food to eat and water to drink. This way I cannot be disappointed.
So many of my companions have stories to tell. That is what we do when the people are not looking--we exchange stories. Marinda is nine years old and was going with her people in a metal monster to a new home. She went off to investigate a curious smell and lost her way back. Then she ended up here in a cage but she is so sure that her people will look in and see her and take her to her new home.
Jeremy is only two but he has never been with people so he has no sympathy for Marinda. He has always been alone since his mother went off one day to find food and never came back. He thinks one of the monsters caught her with its paw. He just always took what he wanted and said people smell offensive to him so he wants no part of them. He would rather go to the dark room than go with a people. If one of them stop outside his cage he just spits at them and yell for them to go away.
Blackie is a ruffian that has taken from both sides. He pretty much has been on his own but he had a house that he went to when he was hurt or tired and the people there fed him and tended to his wounds. And he had many wounds. He has so many scars and he is very proud of each of them. He says he was the Big Boss in the area where he chose to live. All the creatures respected his prowess in battle and he seldom lost a conflict. Of course, for him, people were just to be used, either for food or medical care but never for affection. He seemed very lonely, he just didn't know he was lonely. He looks at the people who look and hopes to find someone new to use for his own purposes.
And then there is Ginger. Ginger has become my friend and we talk together quite often about her life. She has lived a very long and happy life, she says. She claims to be fifteen years old. She is here because one day her people did not wake up. Ginger was very upset and cried very loudly until her people's friend came to see what all the noise was. The friend was very upset when she found Ginger's people. She said, "if it hadn't been for Ginger's crying they never would have known that Louise had died. Isn't it good that she had Ginger?" The friend hugged Ginger and cried soft tears onto Ginger's back. She wanted to take Ginger with her but she already had other creatures that would not let Ginger move in with her so she sent Ginger here. We all know that Ginger will be going to the dark room very soon now but Ginger doesn't mind because she thinks that then she will be able to be with her people once again and feel the love that they once had.
Here I have been thinking about Ginger and all this time one of the people has been looking at me. Oh, she is a pretty people and I feel something about her. I really do! It is my Link--the Master of Life has really sent me my Link. I mustn't act like a baby, though. I must maintain my Air. Oh, she looks so soft and snuggly. She wants to hold me in her arms and take me to her, our, home. Wait, she just walked away and left me here in this cage. The people she was with, apparently, just took her out the door and away from me. Oh, Master, where is my Link going. Surely You would not separate us? I could tell she wanted to take me with her so why did she leave like that? Oh oh! Here comes one of the people in The White Coat. Why is she opening my cage? I know that I have been here a long time but is it already time for the dark room? I want to tell them that my Link is here but they do not understand me when I speak so it is useless to protest. I look at each of the people we pass on our journey and cannot see my Link anywhere. Here's the door--this must be the dark room. There is so much noise and confusion here and so-o-o many peoples. Wait! There she is--my Link. She is looking right at me and smiling and the people in The White Coat is taking me over there--handing me to her. I was right! She is soft and snuggly and she is talking to me and kissing my head and ears so tenderly I just want to curl up inside her breast and be safe and warm for always. With this people I will be able to forget the cages and all the creatures that I spent so many days with. We will be each other's Link for Love.
