The story of sweetheart

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I went to investigate and saw a calico cat running around. It started to run away when I went to investigate and it saw me. I called out to it and began a conversation. I called the cat her and sweetheart because she reminded me of a kitten I knew long ago. I asked, "Are you her? You're sweetheart aren't you? I remember you. I think I remember you. I called her sweetheart so I am going to call you sweetheart." It was a female kitten that had gotten caught in an engine when I was a kid.

I had asked my female cousin if the cat was hers and she asked "What cat?" I told her about one that had been running around outside of her house and I helped her catch it when we were younger. The young cat let us. I told her that was a good sign because she allowed us. I told her she would have to take care of her and that you don't want to ruin a trusting relationship like that. She listened. I saw the cat again during winter. I told my cousin you have to check on your cat in the morning because it gets cold in the winter and it could climb into the car engine to stay warm. Especially overnight or right after you have shut it off from running it because it's already warm. She didn't tell me that her parents wouldn't let her have it or that it wasn't hers but I made sure to explain she should check on it for everyone's sake. When I got there one morning for the school bus she said it hadn't gotten killed in the car engine. I asked when and she said the other day. I asked where she put it and she told me they buried in the mud across the street. I asked how do you know it's dead? It might not be dead. I had told her to consult me about things like this. She looked mad that I disagreed with her and just then the cat who must have heard us talking wandered out across the street to us. I told them not to touch it. It is hurt and will be confused and angry. Get a blanket and some food and water for the bughouse. Let her stay there to recover.

This is many years later now when I saw this calico. After that I went for a ride down our Route 20. I saw the cat jump onto a median and jump into the oncoming lane of traffic behind me and it startled me to see but I couldn't stop or turn around. Through a series of many events in my life in this small area of the world Sweetheart found me again at my childhood home. She was running around our wooded area and I felt like following and looking for me. I said listen this is my land look around for some good places for yourself, you're invited here. I throw out small bits of food sometimes and if I see you I can try to feed you. And if you get pregnant show me, you can have them here and if you need help just get me. She trotted off and looked behind herself at me and then kept going. She came around the corner one time shortly after when I was working in the yard and sat down exposing her belly and it was obvious she had been nursing. I said you had babies? If one gets sick or starts to struggle don't throw it away for the others bring it to me. I was coming home from the grocery store when I walked around the corner and in front of the cellar door she had a tiny kitten, probably three weeks old. She was nervous to leave it with me but I took it inside. After two hours it struggled a little. So I forced a little milk to her and then brought her back outside to her mother. Sweetheart grabbed her and brought her back to her den.

I found out the den was in my stone wall. It was a small cave. The other two kittens wandered out of it to run around so when I saw them I went over and told Sweetheart that she couldn't handle them all. It was too busy in the woods and the neighborhood so I would take two of the for her. I brought all three in, let them play for awhile and took one back out to the cat after about an hour. Sweetheart took that kitten off on a mother daughter journey. I knew she would want a companion. I still have a clico girl and an orange tabby boy. Their names are Kanga and Busby. I called the orange tabby girl Ria and she is out there somewhere with her mother, Sweetheart. That's the story of two cats I rescued before winter three years ago.