Sooty

I had some bad news today, after twenty years my best friend has passed away. The pain is eased when I think of the special place she has had in my life and the memories that will never disappear. She may be dead but in my heart she will always be here. Some people may think it is stupid to talk of a cat as my friend but she was one of the best things that ever happened in my life. She was more than a friend, she was family.

I was nine years old when we first met. She sat quivering under a bush in my garden, petrified because she had been alone and she was little more than 7 weeks old. Those large green eyes stared up at me not sure whether or not I was going to hurt her. I sat gently clapping her head until I gained her confidence and that, as they say, was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. She trembled in my arms as I took her indoors. Poor little mite had lived for days trying to survive the cold November weather.

Like me, Dad fell in love with her. He said that she reminded him of a cat he had when he was a kid. My heart beat so quickly that night as I hoped that my parents would let me keep her. After going round all the neighbours, we found that she was a stray who had been abandoned alongside some other kittens. Mum was reluctant but she couldn't resist my pleads and suddenly we had a new addition to the family alongside the Sam dog, Cheeky the budgie and Trouble the hamster.

Naming her was difficult because we all had different thoughts. Dad choose an unoriginal name, 'Blackie' after his own childhood pet. Mum wanted 'Bristow' and I wanted 'Gizmo' but in the end our new addition was christened Sooty.

As my brother had laid claims on the dog, I declared that Sooty was to be my pet despite the fact that I already had a hamster, budgie and goldfish in my collection. I was a regular little Miss Doolittle in those days and if I had the time and space, I guess I would still be. Sooty followed me everywhere, including school which was five minute away. I would always find her waiting for me to finish. She was a bit of a celebrity among friends and also the Lollypop Lady who would chat away to her before the kids came out of school.

We lived in a bungalow near plenty of fields and woodlands. Sooty was in her element and would often climb into my window leaving little surprises that she had collected from outside. I would often wake up to find a dead mouse or a rabbit cowering in the corner probably wondering where it was. There were many days where I would have to take petrified rabbits back to the field because Sooty had left them in my room. I didn't mind because I knew it was her way of saying that she loved us for taking her in. It was never pleasant but it was her way of thanking us.

I loved having her curled up beside me whilst I read a book or watched the television. In the morning she would often wake me up by patting me on the nose with her paw and meaowing in my ear impatiently until I got up and gave her breakfast.

As I got older and life took over, I left the family home but always returned as often as possible to see her as well as my parents. She always knew who I was and followed me around the house. Even as she aged she was a lively little thing and I'll miss my little shadow but I know she's in a better place.

I know have a cat with me and she is a right little character. If Riley is half the cat that Sooty was, then we will be the best of friends. Cat lovers will understand why I am being so sentimental because they truly are wonderful animals.Friends come and go in this life but she is one friend who will never leave my memories. She has never deceived me or let me down. I will always remember her for her devotion and maybe some people will think its silly to assume that a little black cat can be called a best friend but Sooty was certainly mine.