Black cats are somehow extra special.
Their deep, dark fur represents the stuff of dreams and daring. Yet,
unfortunately, when you are born in a litter of five pure black kittens,
something has to distinguish you from the pack or you may not make it to a
forever home.Black
Whiskers was very peaceable. His other black lsisters and brothers were more
eye-catching with unusual white whiskers or cute little white eyebrows. People noticed
them.
The shelter where Black Whiskers
came from was what they call a “high-kill” shelter. This kind of shelter
euthanizes quickly. If you aren’t adopted in three days, you are probably on to
your next cat life.
It was obvious Black Whiskers didn’t get the memo. He just slept in back of his cage in the darkness while his litter mates danced, showing off their white whiskers to their best advantage. At the end of the adoption blitz, Black Whiskers was just waking up and all alone.
A young woman saw the kitten. She was in her twenties with fabulous black hair and hazel eyes. She looked into the back of the cage and smiled as the kitten yawned and put a tiny paw up to her face. It was the first real movement he had made all weekend. She called out to a hard-working, very tired volunteer. “What happens to him now?” The volunteer just shrugged. The woman knew what that meant. She spoke, “OK - box!”
The volunteer didn’t like this woman’s attitude. After all, she wanted a box to take the kitten home without signing any of the proper papers. It was possible she could be a worse fate for the critter than going back to the shelter. The woman saw the volunteer’s wary look. “I know I’ve got to fill out the forms - bring them on. You see, this kitten isn’t going to go over the Rainbow Bridge for a long time because he met someone who's been looking a long time for a beautiful black cat!”
The mention of the Rainbow Bridge made the volunteer smile a bit. She figured if this woman knew about the legend of the Bridge - the place where animals waited for their companions to meet them after their life on Earth - she couldn’t be all that bad. Black Whiskers probably wouldn’t make it to next week’s adoption blitz anyway.
The woman signed the papers and paid $100.00 for the neutered and vetted kitten. She was giddy knowing she saved another impossible to adopt critter. The kitten looked at her with thankful green eyes. It was like he knew all along there was no need for prancing. A friend was on her way.
Once in the car, she spoke “Black Whiskers? Not for you. You need a special name. Mama will name you. She's good with names!"
It was obvious Black Whiskers didn’t get the memo. He just slept in back of his cage in the darkness while his litter mates danced, showing off their white whiskers to their best advantage. At the end of the adoption blitz, Black Whiskers was just waking up and all alone.
A young woman saw the kitten. She was in her twenties with fabulous black hair and hazel eyes. She looked into the back of the cage and smiled as the kitten yawned and put a tiny paw up to her face. It was the first real movement he had made all weekend. She called out to a hard-working, very tired volunteer. “What happens to him now?” The volunteer just shrugged. The woman knew what that meant. She spoke, “OK - box!”
The volunteer didn’t like this woman’s attitude. After all, she wanted a box to take the kitten home without signing any of the proper papers. It was possible she could be a worse fate for the critter than going back to the shelter. The woman saw the volunteer’s wary look. “I know I’ve got to fill out the forms - bring them on. You see, this kitten isn’t going to go over the Rainbow Bridge for a long time because he met someone who's been looking a long time for a beautiful black cat!”
The mention of the Rainbow Bridge made the volunteer smile a bit. She figured if this woman knew about the legend of the Bridge - the place where animals waited for their companions to meet them after their life on Earth - she couldn’t be all that bad. Black Whiskers probably wouldn’t make it to next week’s adoption blitz anyway.
The woman signed the papers and paid $100.00 for the neutered and vetted kitten. She was giddy knowing she saved another impossible to adopt critter. The kitten looked at her with thankful green eyes. It was like he knew all along there was no need for prancing. A friend was on her way.
Once in the car, she spoke “Black Whiskers? Not for you. You need a special name. Mama will name you. She's good with names!"
So the black kitten who had been
ready for a one way trip over the Rainbow Bridge with no one to meet or wait
for, became Zereto, the Keeper of the Gardens on Abbottsford Road. It wouldn't
be long before he would demonstrate his ability to fade into the night and
become the Keeper of Secrets for the Abbottsford Cats.
"Zereto in the Gardens" PhotoArt @2010 Kim Yvonne Cady
2 comments:
I just love getting these character bios through my RSS feed--they make my day every time they come through. And yeah, I've got a "Blackie" of my own--adopted from a shelter, of course, and now named Dahlia.
Thank you for your comment! I am very happy you enjoy the updates. Dahlia is a much better name than Blackie too. Here's wishing you and Dahlia the very best!
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