The fruit seller opened the box. A little face peeked out with large, frightened eyes, looking as if they might spill over in big teardrops any moment.
“She won’t eat anything. Must have been taken from her mother and tossed away. Her fur is matted because she’s been living in a peach crate.”
The customer said nothing and walked away. The man shook his head sadly, thinking, “Even women have lost their compassion.” Yet, after a short time, she was back.
“I can’t stop thinking about your kitten,” she said, offering a cloth. “Wrap it up for me.”
“You’ll take her?” the man asked, delighted. He carefully wrapped the kitten and handed her to the woman as though passing over a baby.
“It’s a kind act, truly kind. You’ll be rewarded,” he repeated.
The woman smiled gently, “You’ve made me out to be some kind of saint. I’m not even sure how my husband will react to this ‘gift’. We might both end up out on the street.”
And she was right. The kitten wasn’t well-received at home. Though cleaned, brushed, and fed, she still looked pitiful and unappealing.
“What’s this little creature?” her husband scoffed as the kitten tried to climb onto his leg. The suspicious scratching of little claws distracted them from watching their show. The expensive, new wallpaper was at risk.
“Do we have a mouse problem? Why do we need it in our one-bedroom flat?” he accused his wife.
Holding the kitten by the scruff, the man looked at the helpless little thing with disdain and confusion. “Get rid of it by tomorrow.”
Valerie herself started to regret her decision. But from below, the kitten’s tearful eyes gazed up at her, small paws kneaded her leg pleadingly, and its thin body gave out such a warm purr, that a gentle wave of pity flowed into her heart. She bent down to pet it.
Encouraged by the affection, the kitten clambered into her arms, nuzzling its tiny nose into her warm palm. “No kindness goes unrewarded,” Valerie recalled her mother’s words, feeling satisfied with her choice.
The phone rang:
“Grandma, come over for some tea!”
Quietly, so as not to disturb her husband, who was engrossed in their show, Valerie slipped out the door. Her son lived nearby, just across the street. Katie was already by the house, happily waving. Suddenly, a large black car swerved onto the curb. The child’s body was tossed into the air. Valerie was frozen, unable to scream or move.
Her eyes, observing in slow motion, took in every frame: a woman lifting the girl. Little arms wrapped desperately around her neck. Alive! A man emerged from the car with difficulty. Drunk. Her son rushed towards him in uniform. With trembling hands, he tried to draw his weapon but stumbled over a shout:
“No!!!”
His mother on the opposite side of the road appeared to him as if she was pushing him back with outstretched hands.
People arrived, standing in his way, taking the drunk driver away. Valerie couldn’t feel her legs. But she was moving… or was she carried? Towards Katie! A doctor was already examining her, checking every bone:
“She’s alright. No fractures. Just some bruises.”
“But why isn’t she speaking?!” her daughter-in-law shook with fear.
“She’s in shock. We need to distract her,” suggested the doctor.
“I’ll be right back.”
Valerie dashed home. She swung inside, grabbed the kitten, explaining the whole event to her husband as she went out again. Just in time. The ambulance hadn’t left. Fear floated in the child’s eyes. She gently pried open Katie’s hands and placed the kitten in them. Katie’s gaze shifted. Her fingers moved, stroking the soft fur. In response, she heard a gentle “Purr, purr, purr.” “Poppy,” the little girl whispered softly. The doctor sighed in relief. Valerie allowed her tears to flow—it was okay now.
Katie held onto the kitten tightly. They spent the night in the hospital. By morning, they were allowed to go home, with the doctor saying, “The girl’s incredibly lucky.”
“Kindness to those who show kindness,” whispered Valerie…
