The fruit seller opened the box. A little face peeked out, its huge, frightened eyes seemed on the verge of spilling over like two big teardrops.
“She’s not eating anything, must have been taken from her mother and abandoned. Her fur’s all matted, living in this box that used to hold plums.” The customer walked away without a word. The man shook his head sadly, “Even women have lost their compassion.” But after a while, she returned. “I can’t stop thinking about your kitten,” she said and handed over a cloth, “Wrap up the ‘goods’ for me.”
“You’re taking her?” the man asked, delighted. Gently, he wrapped the kitten up and handed it to the woman like a baby. “Bless you, bless you. You’ll be rewarded,” he repeated. The woman smiled indulgently, “Well, thank you for considering me the benefactress. I’m not sure how my husband will react to this ‘gift.’ We might both end up on the street.”
She had an inkling of what was to come. The kitten didn’t settle well. Though she was washed, brushed, and fed, she still looked pitiful and unappealing.
“What is this creature?” her husband scornfully pushed the kitten away when it tried to climb onto his leg. Her claws scratching at the new, expensive wallpaper distracted the couple from their show. “Do we have a mouse problem? Why do we need this in our one-bedroom flat?” he reproached his wife.
Taking the kitten by the scruff, the man stared disdainfully at the helpless little being dangling from his hands, “Make sure she’s gone by tomorrow.”
Valerie herself regretted her decision. But those tearful eyes looked up at her, little paws patted her leg pleadingly, and a tiny body purred so sweetly that a warm trickle of compassion flowed through her heart. She bent down to stroke it.
Encouraged by her touch, the kitten climbed into her arms, nuzzling its nose into the warmth of her palm. “Kindness begets kindness,” Valerie remembered her mother’s words and justified her actions, feeling at peace. The phone rang:
“Grandma, come have tea with us!” Valerie quietly slipped out without disturbing her husband, who was engrossed in his show. Her son lived just across the road. Katie was already by the house, waving eagerly. Suddenly, a large black car swerved onto the curb, sending the little girl flying. Valerie felt rooted to the spot, unable to shout or move.
Her eyes captured each moment as if in slow motion: a woman picked her up, and small arms clung desperately to her neck. She was alive! A man emerged clumsily from the car, drunk. Her son ran over in his uniform, hands shaking as he tried to draw his weapon but was stopped by a shout, “No!” His mother stood across the road, but he felt like she was pushing him back with outstretched arms.
People gathered, blocking his path and leading the drunk driver away. Valerie felt like she was floating, moving or being carried. Towards Katie! A doctor was already there, examining her gently, “She’s okay. No broken bones or serious bruises.”
“But why isn’t she speaking?” her daughter-in-law trembled with concern. “She’s just scared. We need to distract her,” the doctor advised. “I’ll be right back.”
Valerie rushed home, grabbed the kitten, and recounted the incident to her husband as she hurried back. She made it in time. The ambulance hadn’t left. Fear shimmered in the child’s eyes. Gently, she pried Katie’s fingers open, placing the kitten in them. Katie shifted her gaze, fingers stirring to stroke the soft fur. In return, came a gentle “purr-purr-purr.” “Purry,” the girl whispered softly. The doctor sighed with relief, and Valerie let her tears flow—finally, she could.
Katie kept the kitty close the entire night in the hospital. By morning, they were allowed to go home with the statement: “The girl was born under a lucky star.” “Kindness begets kindness,” Valerie whispered softly.
