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Suki Says

A Tale of Devotion

Suki, your name comes from the Greek meaning "life." I saw you born. I saw you lying in the box the people who hit you put you in. You were cold, hard and wet, your life gone.

You were born from Miss Bintzy. She already had given birth to three kittens and was tired. Her guardian coaxed her to keep trying; she did and you came out. Bintzy was so tired she didn't bite your sack and your Aunt Jenny, who was watching, did it for her. Bintzy and Aunt Jenny licked you dry, even lifting you up off of the little rug with their rough tongues.

You came to live with Mindy and me when you were five weeks old. Mindy taught you proper cat behavior. You and she became constant companions.

I would not call you sweet, dear, lovey, pretty. You were funny, silly, zany, wild, rambunctious. Once you looked down at me from the roof, refused to come down, and I have your scratch marks on my wrist from trying to pull you down. You sat on the front stoop, stared down little dogs walking by but chased big dogs to keep them off of your lawn. You jumped on the back of a German Shepherd once and rode it around the house so that the neighbors called you Suki the dog killer.

You came into my life at a hard time. No job, new job, moving, lost new job, moved again, moved again, lived on the kindness of friends, borrowed money, new job, moved again, some stability, then no job, moved again, went to school. But you, you always made me smile and laugh and forget we were in trouble.

I felt so guilty that I let you out and you were hit by a car. It had never occurred to me keep you in and the busy street was so far from our house.

Suki, Suki, all my memories of you, except the last one, are wonderful. Your name "life" was perfect. "Life" is the only way I can think of you now.

That Suki was a great cat.

Mama put some of my baby pictures up on my page. Mamas always love baby pictures, er, kitten pictures, I've learned.

Every time mama mentions me to my Auntie, she says, "That Suki was a great cat. It's too bad he left so young." It's good to know my human family remembers me like that.

YES!

She said YES! My sweet Melissa said she'll be my Valentine again this year.
*** swoon***