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Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly

> >was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world:

> >fighting, eating garbage, and shall we say, love. The combination of

> >these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on

> >Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should

> >have been was a gaping hole. He was

> >also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot has appeared to

>have

> >been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle,

> >making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has

> >long been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly
jerk

> >and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby striped-type, except

> >for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick,

> >yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same

>reaction.

> >"That's one UGLY cat!!" All the children were warned not to touch

> >him,

>the

> >adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried

> >to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would

> >not

>leave.

> >Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he

>would

> >stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw

> >things

> >at him, he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness.

>Whenever

> >he spied children, he would come running meowing frantically and bump

> >his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever

> >picked him

>up

> >he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever

> >he could find.

> >

> >One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbors huskies. They did not

> >respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could

>hear

> >his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to

> >where

>he

> >was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.

> >Ugly

>lay

> >in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of

> >shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his

> >front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home I could hear

> >him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. I must be

> >hurting him terribly I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging,

> >sucking sensation on my

>ear-Ugly,

> >in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying was trying to suckle

> >my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand

> >with his

>head,

> >then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the

>distinct

> >sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly

> >battled-scarred

>cat

> >was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

> >

> >At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature

> >I

>had

> >ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try

> >to

>get

> >away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me

>completely

> >trusting in me to relieve his pain. Ugly died in my arms before I could

> >get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards,

> >thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter

> >my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to

> >love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and

> >compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials

> >ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been

> >scarred on the outside, but I was

>scarred

> >on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love

> >truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.

> >

> >Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked,

> >beautiful,

>but

> >for me, I will always try to be Ugly.