A Special Journey of an Unknown Friend

A few months ago, I was driving through town to volunteer at SNAP cats. In the softly glowing light of the evening, a ginger cat suddenly appeared on the road. He was running fast, about 15 yards in front of my car. I slammed the breaks and let the cat cross. Does he have a home? Is he trying to survive on the street? Is there anyone who cares about him? 

The cat disappeared in the twilight, and I drove away with a heavy, uneasy feeling. Later, I saw the cat again a couple of times in the neighborhood. One day he was sitting on a sunny patch of a wooden yard structure. The gorgeous ginger was licking his beautiful coat and seemingly enjoyed sunbathing. 

In the last week of March, I was driving to my volunteering place. When I approached a traffic light, I spotted an orange ball in the grass. A beautiful ginger tabby who enjoyed the sun was gone. Most likely, he was hit by a car and left on the side of the road. It was late. 

Was there anyone who cared for him? What was his name? What would his life be like if he had a kind, loving family? What kind of things did he like, or dislike? 

I could not get him off my mind. He stayed in front of my eyes, running across the road. I saw him in the sunlight of the middle of the day, carefully licking his gorgeous coat. I felt helpless, devastated, and angry. 

Later I drove to the place to pick him up. It was a cold, gloomy Sunday afternoon. The thick clouds covered the low, dark sky. I parked my car on the side of the road as far as possible from moving traffic. I lifted the lifeless body and carried him to my car. A van driver stopped near us and asked if I had a car problem and needed help. 

“I found a cat on the side of the road, and I want to bury him,” I responded quietly through tears. “It’s ok,” said the gentleman in the van and kept driving his way. 

I parked in our driveway. When I opened the car door and was ready to carry the precious unknown friend on his last journey, the sun miraculously came out. The warm, spring sunlight touched the beautiful orange fur, just like on that day when he carelessly licked himself on top of the wooden box. 

A gentle breeze brought dark pink petals from our cherry tree in the front yard. The petals landed on the driveway around us. The experience felt as if nature wanted to give a tribute to a dear friend.

The unknown ginger tabby found rest in a beautiful green place under bushes behind a creek near our home. We still don’t have a name for him, but he will always remain in our souls. The field birds share with him their spring songs. The sun and rain take turns and shower him with their joy and sadness, just like day and night.