“Hope – The Talking Cat”

 

 

Hope, the talking cat, was special from the time he was born.  His mother’s name was Faith and his dad’s name was Angel, so he really was a special baby kitten.  His brothers and sisters were all pretty and sweet too, but there was something about Hope that caught us a little by surprise. 

 

Faith and Angel are very smart and they are as loving as two cats can be, but there was intelligence in Hope that we didn’t immediately notice.  He played with his brothers and sisters, mom and dad, but his favorite of all was Miss Jamie.

 

Jamie is the youngest of ten children and she is a gift of joy.  She was born with an uncanny ability to give love to every living creature she came in contact with.  And she and Hope immediately bonded.  Hope listened to every word Jamie spoke and he grew smarter and smarter every day. 

 

One-day a neighbor’s cat came into the yard and Angel started to fight with him.  Angel was stronger and more powerful and he drove the strange cat away. The fight had been pretty fierce, but Angel won the battle. 

 

Jamie was very upset with Angel because he had been fighting.  She scolded him very sternly and told him he should not fight with other cats.  Jamie loved all animals, especially cats, and she didn’t like them hurting each other.  Angel always loved all of the other animals, so it had really surprised Jamie.

 

And that was the first time that Hope spoke.  Hope looked up at Jamie and said, “Dad was protecting Mom.  That ugly cat said some mean things to Mom so Dad ran him off.  Would you give Dad a hug Jamie?”

 

Jamie looked at Hope and said, “I knew you could speak.  I have always known you have understood everything I say, so I am glad to hear you finally speak.”  Jamie then looked at all of her cats and said, “Group hug.”  As all her cats were rolling and tumbling around her, after they had all come together for a group hug, Jamie picked up Angel and gave him a big hug and kiss.  “I love you Angel,” Jamie said.  “I just never want you to get hurt fighting with other animals.”  Angel licked Jamie’s face as Hope said, “Dad loves you too, Jamie.” “ I know,” said Jamie beaming.

 

Jamie and Hope were inseparable after that.  Wherever Jamie went, you could be sure Hope was nearby.  Hope and Jamie’s love grew and grew and sometimes they would sit talking for hours on end.  Everyone except for Jamie’s Dad thought it was a little strange for Jamie to talk to Hope all the time,  because he knew Hope was special too.

 

 

One day as Jamie and her dad were talking; Jamie asked her dad if he thought Hope was different from other cats.  Her dad thought for a moment and then he told Jamie he had always thought Hope was smarter than any other animal he had ever encountered.  He told Jamie that Angel was a smart and handsome cat, but there was something very special about Hope.

 

Dad asked, “Do you remember the first time Hope ever climbed high into a tree and he didn’t know how to get back down?”  Jamie said, “Yes.  I remember the time that happened.  We told Hope how to get down from the top of that tree, and he followed our directions perfectly.  We would tell him to take a right and jump down to the next branch, and then take a left and a right, and he never made one mistake on his way down.”  “Do you remember how amazed I was at how easy he made it look coming down, and how impressed I was at how smart he was?  I couldn’t believe a kitten could be so smart that he would be able to follow directions so perfectly,” Dad said.  Jamie replied, “Hope has always been so special.  I knew before then that he was amazing, but we stood in awe of his brilliance that day, didn’t we Dad?”  “We sure did darling,” said Dad, “and Hope has just gotten smarter every day.”

 

Jamie asked, “Do you remember the time Hope scared Ryan’s two black Labradors? They ran into the tennis court while we were there and Hope was sitting watching the kids playing tennis and sand volleyball.  These two giant dogs came running at Hope barking loudly, and do you remember what Hope did?” “ I sure do,” Dad said laughing, “both of the dogs were almost on top of Hope when he stood up, hissed at them, and they both froze in their tracks.  They were still paralyzed with fear when they looked up, and saw Hope sitting on top of the tennis court fence laughing at them.  The look on those two dog’s faces was so funny we laughed about it for days.  What a champion Hope is.”  Jamie said, “Hope’s the best isn’t he Dad?”  “Yes, he is,” said Dad.  He has to be the most magnificent cat of all time.”

 

“Do you remember what Hope did when I came home from the long trip to Germany after Jeff’s car accident?” Dad asked.  “He brought me a dead black bird as a welcome home gift, and he laid it by the patio door.  It was his way of telling me he missed me, I think.”  “It sure was Dad.  Hope said he brought you the bird as a way of telling you he missed you, and how glad he was for you to be home.  He said he didn’t know what else to give you as a welcome home gift, but he sure had missed you,” said Jamie.  “Hope is quite a cat, isn’t he?”    

 

 

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