CLARENCE THE THREE-LEGGED KITTEN, Final Chapter
Click on the link to read Part 7: Something’s Wrong
Clarence had no more spasms and continued to improve every single day. When his 7th-month birthday rolled around, he’d grown into himself and become a confident young cat.
Dear Clarence,
I can no longer think of you as an invalid. You are a perfect, energetic, impulsive, healthy seven-month-old kitten who happens to have only three legs. You’ve learned to claw your way up onto couches and chairs and beds. You chase Tyler and outrun him when he chases you back. You take care of all your cat business as well as anyone could hope, especially when it comes to grooming that luxurious tail of yours.
Now it is I who am lacking. Having mostly cared for older cats, I must learn about life with a kitten. Dangling blind pulls need to be secured out of reach, and electrical cords safely tucked away or covered. My hand is not a toy—ouch! You bite! I must learn how to deal with this kittenish behavior before I lose a hand.
Where are you going? Under the table and behind the bench? Out you come covered with year’s old dust bunnies—gotta clean places I haven’t thought about in ages. So that’s where all the sparkly balls got to over the years? How long will it take you and Tyler to send them back into obscurity? A day?
You are discovering firsts—what a joy! Your first sight of birds out the window. Your first snow! Everything fascinates you from the tiniest scrap of paper to the big scratcher cat tree. The most fascinating of all is Tyler, who you inspire to play with toys he’s ignored for months.
You are heaven-sent to our family. The doc says you are healthy and ready to live the best life. I will give you that for as long as I can. Even if you outlive me, which is possible at my age, I have made arrangements for you to go with safe, loving people. I dedicate my life to you and Tyler, who have made such a difference in my own.
Love and whisker kisses,
Mollie
