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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Inspirational / Uplifting
- Published: 02/21/2022
Cuddles.
Born 1951, M, from Wilmington NC, United States“Knock. Knock. Knock.”
“All right, all right. Hold your horses…I will be there in a minute.”
Sally looked around…there weren’t any horses. She would have liked a pony, but horses were big and scary. She looked around again. Still no horses. She knocked again.
He opened the door and to his surprise little Sally from down the lane. Brigette and Larson’s littlest he remembered. She couldn’t be more than six years old. Why in the world was she at his door at this ungodly hours. It must be just after sunrise, maybe six or six thirty. Luckily, he was up and around, or he would have never heard her knock.
HIs mood shifted from impatient and bit bothered, to a gentle old man talking to a child mood in the space of a single breath.
“Aye, and a good morning to you. A very early good morning at that. “
Even at six, Sally caught that hint. She blushed in that six year old way that swept over the body drained from the face, and left before you could quite catch it.
“I am Sorry Mr. Pulaski, but I just couldn’t wait to show you what I brought you. Mommy said you would be up. She said old people don’t sleep well to begin with, and since your wife died six months ago…well, Mommy said she would be surprised if you had a moments good sleep. “
Hearing her mention his beloved wife, even in passing, brought a pang deep in his heart. He hid the pain from her…or tried to. She carried on as if he hadn’t suddenly straightened up and lost his smile.
“Well, my cat Princess had some kittens. I think one of them would be perfect for you. So I picked the best. I call him Cuddles. He isn’t like the other kittens, he just crawls on your lap and goes to sleep. I thought you might like the company.”
With that, she opened the small basket she was carrying …and out popped a small silver grey head with a white patch over the nose.
She set the basket down and handed the kitty up to Mr. Pulaski.
Mr. Pulaski didn’t remember reaching for the kitten. He just sort of did. The little kitten crawled right into his hands. Curled up, went to sleep, and starting purring.
“See?! I told you he was different.”
Mr. Pulaski pulled the kitten closer. He could feel its purr right through the material of his shirt. It felt warm. Soft. Loved. A tear formed in his eye.
“Why thank you Sally. I shall call him Cuddles too.”
“You should, that’s his name you know.”
That made Mr. Pulaski laughter out loud. He thanked her again. He sat in the chair next to his wife’s empty one. He told her all about the kitten, and his conversation with little Sally . He was sure he heard her soft chuckle as he relayed the story. Cuddles, slept through it all.
The Next morning Mr. Pulaski was awakened by the soft pawing of a very hungry little kitten. He smiled and went to the kitchen and got some cream. It was the only thing he had that he knew kittens would eat. He was right. He smiled as the kitten lapped up the milk in a steady darting of a pale pink tongue. He kept smiling as he called the Veterinarian to get a check up for the little guy.
Then he would have to get cat food, a license, and collar with his name and phone number on it. He went in to shave for the first time in weeks. Humming all the time. He got dressed, got an old shoe box for Cuddles to perch in on their errands. He whistled as he left his house.
“Come on Cuddles, we have things to go do!”
He picked the kitten up, not much heavier than a dish rag, but light years cuter. He gave it a knuckle rub under the chin and was rewarded with a couple quick licks from a little pink tongue. He smiled and thanked Cuddles for the kiss.
He spoke out loud to Cuddles the whole way to the Vet. Explaining that he shouldn’t be to worried. And if he was a good kitten, they would pick up some treats and toys on the way home. He also had to get some sort of gift for little Sally too.
“And what do you think she would like?”
He whispered to Cuddles. He laughed out loud.
“Of course, a doll. Why didn’t I think of that?”
Cuddles purred, contented that his Owner understood.
For the first time in almost half a year, Mr. Pulaski had someplace to go, something to do, and someone to love.
Cuddles.
Cuddles.(Kevin Hughes)
“Knock. Knock. Knock.”
“All right, all right. Hold your horses…I will be there in a minute.”
Sally looked around…there weren’t any horses. She would have liked a pony, but horses were big and scary. She looked around again. Still no horses. She knocked again.
He opened the door and to his surprise little Sally from down the lane. Brigette and Larson’s littlest he remembered. She couldn’t be more than six years old. Why in the world was she at his door at this ungodly hours. It must be just after sunrise, maybe six or six thirty. Luckily, he was up and around, or he would have never heard her knock.
HIs mood shifted from impatient and bit bothered, to a gentle old man talking to a child mood in the space of a single breath.
“Aye, and a good morning to you. A very early good morning at that. “
Even at six, Sally caught that hint. She blushed in that six year old way that swept over the body drained from the face, and left before you could quite catch it.
“I am Sorry Mr. Pulaski, but I just couldn’t wait to show you what I brought you. Mommy said you would be up. She said old people don’t sleep well to begin with, and since your wife died six months ago…well, Mommy said she would be surprised if you had a moments good sleep. “
Hearing her mention his beloved wife, even in passing, brought a pang deep in his heart. He hid the pain from her…or tried to. She carried on as if he hadn’t suddenly straightened up and lost his smile.
“Well, my cat Princess had some kittens. I think one of them would be perfect for you. So I picked the best. I call him Cuddles. He isn’t like the other kittens, he just crawls on your lap and goes to sleep. I thought you might like the company.”
With that, she opened the small basket she was carrying …and out popped a small silver grey head with a white patch over the nose.
She set the basket down and handed the kitty up to Mr. Pulaski.
Mr. Pulaski didn’t remember reaching for the kitten. He just sort of did. The little kitten crawled right into his hands. Curled up, went to sleep, and starting purring.
“See?! I told you he was different.”
Mr. Pulaski pulled the kitten closer. He could feel its purr right through the material of his shirt. It felt warm. Soft. Loved. A tear formed in his eye.
“Why thank you Sally. I shall call him Cuddles too.”
“You should, that’s his name you know.”
That made Mr. Pulaski laughter out loud. He thanked her again. He sat in the chair next to his wife’s empty one. He told her all about the kitten, and his conversation with little Sally . He was sure he heard her soft chuckle as he relayed the story. Cuddles, slept through it all.
The Next morning Mr. Pulaski was awakened by the soft pawing of a very hungry little kitten. He smiled and went to the kitchen and got some cream. It was the only thing he had that he knew kittens would eat. He was right. He smiled as the kitten lapped up the milk in a steady darting of a pale pink tongue. He kept smiling as he called the Veterinarian to get a check up for the little guy.
Then he would have to get cat food, a license, and collar with his name and phone number on it. He went in to shave for the first time in weeks. Humming all the time. He got dressed, got an old shoe box for Cuddles to perch in on their errands. He whistled as he left his house.
“Come on Cuddles, we have things to go do!”
He picked the kitten up, not much heavier than a dish rag, but light years cuter. He gave it a knuckle rub under the chin and was rewarded with a couple quick licks from a little pink tongue. He smiled and thanked Cuddles for the kiss.
He spoke out loud to Cuddles the whole way to the Vet. Explaining that he shouldn’t be to worried. And if he was a good kitten, they would pick up some treats and toys on the way home. He also had to get some sort of gift for little Sally too.
“And what do you think she would like?”
He whispered to Cuddles. He laughed out loud.
“Of course, a doll. Why didn’t I think of that?”
Cuddles purred, contented that his Owner understood.
For the first time in almost half a year, Mr. Pulaski had someplace to go, something to do, and someone to love.
Cuddles.
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Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
02/22/2022Thank You Gail,
Cats and dogs go a long way in helping folks along.
Smiles, Kevin
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Shelly Garrod
02/21/2022Kevin that is such a darling warm story. I love how Cuddles brings new life to Mr. Pulaski. Great story!
Shelly
Help Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
02/21/2022Thank you Shelly I was hoping it would make people feel a little bit good.
Smiles Kevin
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