Ugly came to teach us a few things.

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the

resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating

garbage, and, shall we say, love.

The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their

effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other

should have been was a hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side,

his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed

at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the

corner.

Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped type, except for the sores

covering his head, neck, and even his shoulders.

Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY

cat!!!"

All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at

him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or

shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same

reaction.

If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until

you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky

body around your feet in forgiveness.

Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and

bump his head against their hands, begging for their love.

If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt,

earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's dogs. They did not respond

kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I

got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an

end.

As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing

and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly,

I thought.

Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so

much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I

pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head,

then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct

sound of purring.

Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled scarred cat was asking only for

a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had

ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, try to get away from

me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in

me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a

long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray

could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of

spirit, to love so totally and truly.

Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books,

lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be

thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the

inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and

deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but

for me...

I will always try to be Ugly.

--by unknown