My Blacky was a very even tempered and dignified cat. My mother said he never gave a minutes trouble. He was always grateful for the food he received and cared not if anyone but I showed him attention.
He came in every morning, ate his breakfast, smiled up at my mother then went to the staircase door to be let upstairs where he spent the day sleeping and waiting for me to come home.
I would pet him and read. He would purr and smile. We were content.
As he got older he began to come in with fight marks on him. I never asked and he never explained.
We trouped around the farm together. I climbed the tree, Blacky climbed as well. We sat on large branches together and talked.
I told him everything. He was very compassionate and when I cried he put his paw on my arm or curled up on my lap, looking up with such caring. Blacky was sincere, trustworthy and most of all loyal. No one ever got between my Blacky and me.
We went for long walks into the woods and when we came out I removed the burrs and swigs from his coat. He thanked my by licking my hand and purring.
One morning, it was a weekend and Blacky didn't show up.
Eventually I went to look for him. We had a whole day, where was he?
Well, it seems that my Blacky had been attacked by a larger animal and had been badly mauled. He wasn't as spry as he used to be and couldn't make it back to the house. My father had found him near the garage and came to tell my mom. They were discussing it as I began my search.
Dad told me to sit down and then he told me that Blacky was badly injured and he needed to be put down.
I knew my father well enough to know that if he said it was bad, it was. Looking at their sad faces, I didn't argue and I gave my permission. Probably the only time they ever asked for it.
From that day to very recently I had blocked this story from my mind. But lately, I have been thinking about Blacky and his unconditional love.... our love.
This was my first experience with the death of a loved one and I didn't handle it well. I failed to grieve.
This is me taking ownership of my grief and remembering my beloved Blacky.
My dear Blacky,I hope your there to meet me when it's my time to pass.
And if I know my Blacky he will.


This is how I began my Blacky storys.