They threw Jasper out again. For the third time in his short life. Luck was never on his side.
Hed only just turned one, and already three families had passed him around like a parcel and then discarded him. At first, it was well-meaning talk and gentle hands, but not for long.
Then, one day, they simply took him outside, walked a bit away from the house, lowered him gently into a council wheelie bin, and briskly walked away so Jasper couldnt follow them home. Not that he tried.
He understood everything the moment he saw the mans face. The wife had been terribly upset when Jasper scratched the new leather sofa.
It was very expensive. She was the one who passed sentence. And the husband? Well, he always agreed with everything.
He carried the year-old tomcat under his arm to the bin at the far end of their street.
Jasper didnt run after him, didnt even try. Hed seen the decision in the mans eyes and he knew exactly what it meant.
It was all pointless. The least he could have done was say goodbye like a human, give Jasper a soft pat, offer some sort of apology. But no.
Instead, it felt like being tossed out like an old sandwich wrapper.
Jasper gave a sigh and tried to find something edible amongst the rubbish, gnawing on some old scraps of chicken. After eating, he clambered out and sat down beside the big green bin, staring at the sun.
He squinted, but didnt look away. That wide bright orb sent down some warmth, which he enjoyed.
These were the last raysfleeting sunshine before summer, autumn, and winters chill. Just a brief spell of warmth. A skim of ice thawed on the street.
But inside Jaspers heart, the frost set in.
Evening and night brought bitter cold. Once the sun dipped, rain and frost set about their work.
The ginger cat was freezing. He had no idea where to go for shelter, so he found a big pile of orange-brown leaves, burrowed in, and curled up. At first, he shivered uncontrollably, but then
Once the damp, icy wind had stiffened his fur and pressed it harshly to his sides, he somehow began to feel warmer, and the shivering stopped. Some gentle voice somewhere deep inside whispered comforting words.
Words that lulled him to sleep, inviting him to close his eyes and forget all his troubles and misfortunes.
Curl up tighter, and rest. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep, Jasper heard, feeling the warmth spread through his numb body.
It seemed so simple. All he had to do was let go, and all the pain and heartache would melt away. Peace and stillness would come at last.
Jasper sighed a final time and agreed. Whats the point in fighting? Why carry on?
After all, tomorrow would only bring more cold and hunger, the same longing to just close his eyes and never, ever open them again.
Street lamps flickered on in the distance. Jasper looked at them one last time. He remembered watching them from his window. The ginger tom drank in their faint glow, his eyes glimmering in the deepening dark.
That final spark caught the attention of a little ginger-haired girl walking home with her father. She tugged his sleeve.
Dad, she said. Theres something in those leaves.
Theres nothing there, her father replied, huddling against the cold. Come on, lets get home. Im freezing.
He tried to steer her away from the mound of old leaves. But she slipped from his grasp.
I saw, she insisted. There was a light.
A light? In a pile of leaves? her father said, puzzled. Dont be silly.
But the girl was already beside the heap, brushing away the top layer until she found himthe ginger cat.
Daddy! she cried out, triumphant. I told you! There he is.
Who? her father asked, coming over.
Look! said the girl, trying to lift Jaspers frozen little body.
Leave him be, her dad said gently. Hes gone, love. We can’t take a dead cat home.
Hes not gone, insisted the girl. I know ithes alive. I saw the light in his eyes.
Light in a cats eyes? her dad repeated with a little shrug.
He moved closer, picked up Jasper gently, and tried to feel for a heartbeat.
All Jasper wanted was to sleep, to drift away. The warmth and sleepiness pressed so heavily on him, and that voice inside kept whispering, Sleep. Sleep. Dont open your eyes
But the little girls voice wouldnt give up. The light is there, Daddy. I swear.
What do they want from me? Jasper thought. Why cant they just let me be, let me rest?
He slowly peeled his eyelids open, just to see who was disturbing his rest.
There! shouted the girl. There! Did you see it, Dad? The light! Again!
What light? her father said, bewildered. But he took off his coat, tucked Jasper into it, and began walking briskly towards home.
The girl walked at his side, almost skipping to keep up.
Please, Daddy, hurry. Hes so cold.
They disappeared inside the house. Moments later, the fifth-floor windows shone with gentle lamplight.
Jasper was washed in warm water and given a saucer of heated milk. The girl sat beside him, whispering:
Dont die, please dont die. Please, stay.
Gradually, the ice melted from Jaspers fur. The chill in his soul thawed as well.
The big ginger cat watched in amazement as father and daughter fussed over him, caring for him as if he truly mattered. He woke properly at last, feeling comfort seep through himnot just the heat from the radiators, but warmth from a little childs heart.
And outside, someone else was standing therea figure who only sometimes comes when needed.
He watched the glow in the fifth-floor windows. He said quietly,
All I can do. All I can do.
He stood a little longer, then murmured,
Not everyone can see the light. And not everyone who sees it knows how to keep it safe.
Jasper, gazing up at the ginger-haired girl, found no need to reflect on the nobility of peoplethose were thoughts for humans. For now, he had his own small world.
He saw the light shining in her eyes.
Today, as I write this, I find that it truly isnt wealth or comfort that staves off the coldits kindness, and the warmth of an open heart. Thats a lesson Ill try never to forget.
