“Yes dear one,” he replied.
“How do you DO that?” she asked, as she realized she was no longer basking in the sun with the others but was now on his lap as he sat on the rock the others had dubbed “Council Rock”. Slightly flustered, she studiously scrubbed a paw. (“When in doubt, wash” had been one of the first lessons she had learned as a kitten. Not only hygienic, it also gave a moment to compose oneself in odd situations.)
Andrew stroked the little Scottish Fold. He enjoyed his charges so much, and had learned much from them. “Something on your mind?”
“Mama was reading on the writie box this morning, and was sad. A barn kitty had died. Would he have known how to get here? Can he be with us? Where do I go to find him?”
Andrew chuckled. Misty hadn’t been here all that long but she was quick to learn and always full of questions. Today was no exception!
“You forgot the most important thing!”
“Huh?”
“That our Creator knows when even a sparrow falls. Look over by the creek!”
And as she turned to look, Andrew closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. There in the lush grass by the creek bed was a gray cat Misty had not seen before, just waking up. He stood up and stretched: first reaching as far forward with his front feet, then as far back as his back feet could reach. Then, as all cats do, he sat with tail curled around him, and washed his paw. Then he scrubbed his face with that paw, and repeated the process with his other front paw. Having finished with his ablutions, he padded softly to the waters edge for a drink. ‘My but this is good,’ he thought, so much sweeter than the puddles he’d find after a rain. Satisfied, he turned to take stock of things.
There was no barn in sight. Just a beautiful meadow, and over by a grove of trees a huge rock. On that rock sat a man, well, he looked like a man but he was dressed rather oddly, and on his lap sat a tabby cat with a white shirtfront and curiously bent ears. Storm trotted toward them cautiously.
He wasn’t afraid at all, though common cat sense dictated he should be. “Merow ?”
“Hi, I’m Misty, and this is Andrew, and you’re okay, because He knows you’re here, and there’s lots of food, and it never gets cold, and ...”
That did it. Andrew loved these characters so much, especially when they got carried away explaining things. Laughing, “Misty is right but let’s back up and start over,” he said, reaching a hand toward the gray cat, with a tasty treat for him.
“All of the Creator’s creatures have a set time of days on the earth. When one has completed those days, Heaven’s Gates are opened.
“Some creatures live with man in his home as companions, others live as wildlife, away from man. Some are in between, like yourself. But all have been promised a life hereafter. Your role was to help maintain the balance between the wild and the domestic.
“Your work on earth has come to an end. Now you are here, where you will never be cold or hungry or alone again.”
“So now we take Stormy to the Bridge?”
“Yes!” With that, tucking Misty under one arm, and scooping up the other kitty to be held under his other arm, the three of them faded from sight ...
... and appeared on a beautiful Bridge made of every color of the rainbow. Andrew put Misty down first. Holding the gray in his arms, he spoke. “Look before you!”
Blinking in amazement he saw cats and dogs, foxes and rabbits, owls and mice, birds of more colors than he had ever seen. “What IS this place?”
Misty hopped off the Bridge to join the others. A dainty grey and white kitty spoke: “Welcome! You have heard from Andrew, an angel of death, that your life on earth has ended. This is not a sad thing! For now you must accept the promise and covenant our Creator made for all of us, that we would join Him and live forever here, where there is no pain, no sadness.
“The last thing you must do is accept that promise and jump down from there. We will teach you the rest.”
The gray cat looked up at Andrew for confirmation. With a nod and a warm smile, he kissed the top of Storm's head and set him gently down on the Bridge. With one last look up at the angel, he closed his eyes tight, took a deep breath and jumped.
As Andrew faded from sight he smiled at the group below. It was a lot to take in, when one had not been taught these things as a kitten. But he would learn, and he would be well provided for as all of them were. This was the Great Promise. All was well.
Misty moved away from the others too the edge of the meadow. “Mama? It’s okay! Stormy’s here with us and we’re 'splaining it all to him. Mama? Will you come soon?”
The woman was smiling as she typed ...
©Rose Scott
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