The fruit vendor opened the box. A small face peeked out. Huge, frightened eyes seemed ready to spill two big tears.
“She won’t eat a thing. Probably ripped away from her mother and just tossed away. Her fur is matted because she lived in a box meant for plums.” The customer walked away without saying anything. The man shook his head sorrowfully: “Even ladies have lost their compassion these days.” But after some time, she returned. “I can’t get your kitten out of my head,” she said, handing over a cloth: “Wrap up the ‘merchandise’.”
“Will you take her?” the man asked excitedly. He carefully wrapped the kitten and handed her to the woman as if she were a child. “You’re doing a kind thing, a kind thing. You’ll be rewarded,” he repeated. The woman smiled indulgently: “You think you found a savior. I don’t even know how my husband will react to this ‘gift’. We might both end up on the street.”
She was spot on. The kitten didn’t fit into their home. Even washed, groomed, and fed, she still looked pitiful and scruffy.
“What kind of creature is this?” the husband said distastefully, pushing the kitten away when she tried to climb his leg. The suspicious scratching of little claws distracted the couple from their TV show. The new, expensive wallpaper was at risk. “Have you got a mouse problem? Why do we need this in our one-bedroom flat?” the husband reproached his wife.
Holding the kitten by the scruff, the man looked at the helpless creature dangling in his hands with bewilderment and distaste: “She better be gone by tomorrow.”
Valerie was starting to regret her find. Yet, those tearful eyes looked up at her, tiny paws kneaded her leg pleadingly, and the feeble body purred so resonantly that a warm stream of compassion flowed into her heart. She bent down and stroked the kitten.
Encouraged by her kindness, the kitten climbed into her arms, nuzzling into her warm palm. “Kindness begets kindness,” Valerie remembered her mother’s words and justifying her actions, felt at peace.
The phone rang: “Grandma, come over for tea!”
Valerie slipped out quietly, not disturbing her husband from his show.
Her son lived just across the road. Katie was already standing near her home, waving joyfully. Suddenly, a large black car swerved to the curb. The little body was tossed into the air. Valerie stood frozen, unable to scream or move.
Her eyes took in every frame in slow motion: a woman lifted the girl. Small hands clung tightly to the woman’s neck. She’s alive! A man struggled out of the car, drunk. Her son ran towards them, in uniform.
With trembling hands, he tried to draw his weapon from its holster, but was halted by a shout: “No!!!” His mother stood across the road, yet it seemed like she was pushing him away with outstretched hands.
People ran up, stopping him, taking away the drunk driver. Valerie couldn’t feel her legs. Was she walking, or were they carrying her? To Katie! A doctor was already examining her, checking every bone: “Everything’s fine. No fractures. No serious bruises, either.”
“Why isn’t she talking?!” the daughter-in-law shivered with fear.
“She’s just scared. She needs a distraction,” the doctor suggested.
“I know just the thing,” Valerie said, rushing home. Bursting in, she grabbed the kitten, quickly explaining the situation to her husband. She made it back just in time; the ambulance hadn’t left. Fear filled the child’s eyes as they carefully loosened her hands, placing the kitten in them. Katie looked down, her fingers moved, stroking the soft fur. In response, there was a gentle “purr-purr.” “Whiskers,” the girl whispered. The doctor sighed with relief. Valerie finally let her tears flow—now it was okay.
Katie clung to the little cat, not letting her go. They spent the night in the hospital. The next morning, they were sent home with a report: “The girl must have been born under a lucky star.”
“Kindness begets kindness,” Valerie whispered.
