189.THE INTEGRITY OF "UGLY"

Disclaimer: This was the first ever forward that I got in my mail box. I got this almost 8 years back. I still have it in there and this has acted as an inspiration for me.Read on...

UGLY

Everyone in the apartment complex that 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 hadtheir effect onUgly. 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 sameside, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look likehe was alwaysturning the corner.

His tail has long ago been lost,leaving only thesmallest 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 of 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 his 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 neighbor'shuskies. 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 lying, it was apparent that Ugly's sadlife was almost at an end. Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back and lowerback 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.

It 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 I could hear the distinct sound of purring.Even in thegreatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat wasasking only for alittle affection, perhaps some compassion. At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had everseen. Never once didhe try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get awayfrom me, orstruggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at mecompletely trusting inme to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat there 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 morea bout giving and compassion than a thousand books,lectures, or talkshow specials ever could, and for that I will alwaysbe thankful.

He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred onthe inside, and itwas time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To givemy total to those I cared for.Many people want to be richer, more successful, wellliked, beautiful,but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.

-- Author Unknown