The Saturday Journal: One Year Later and a Riddle

tathelmillerwriter
Oct 4
4 min read

There have been days I didn't like him and he certainly didn't like me--but we have managed.

My phone lit up--a message from my daughter along with a photo--a tiny white kitten eating food--drinking water. She and her co-workers at the high school were feeding this stray. I don't recall the exact words she wrote, but it was something like this--'This sweet little kitten needs a home, it's been coming to the high school. Will you please take it?'

Now, I've shared part of this story before--but to refresh, I didn't want anything to do with another pet-- cat, kitten...dog.

My Taps, a stray--she was with me for 19 years. And just months before, on a cold February day, she lay in her bed and I knew she was taking her last breaths. I went and bought a decorative box--you know those kind at Dollar General with the bright colored flowers. I lined the box with a small blanket and through tears, broke the hard chilled ground--digging her grave the best I could.

I went back to check on her--her breathing was still shallow. I sat in a chair reading to her out of the book of Psalms, it seemed for the longest time. And it was the comfort from the Psalms I needed, much more than she did.

I didn't want to leave, but I had to--I told her I would only be gone for a little while. And when I returned home, she was at peace. And I reached down with my trembling hand and closed her eyes for the last time. Somehow I knew she held on--she waited for me to leave.

And then a few short months later, here my daughter asking me to take another stray--four days after the heartbreak and devastation of Hurricane Helene. I found out later this kitten was not just a stray from the storm, he had been seen a few times before--hanging out at the school. Kids tried to catch him and he always outran them.

I said, yes--reluctantly. And I have to be perfectly honest with you--the first time I saw this kitten in my granddaughter's arms--I was like--oh no, this is the ugliest kitten I've ever seen! What in the world have I agreed to?

And we named him Storm.

They were jumping high--my grandkids and a few of the neighborhood kids--smiling and laughing--turning somersaults--all the things kids like to do on a trampoline. One of neighbor kids yelled, I have a riddle. 'What is broken, but still useful?'

Now my son and I were sitting close by and he answered, 'Spaghetti!' A great answer, but not the right one.

The rest of us--we were all thinking--a few other guesses--but none--the right one. And one of the neighborhood boys---ten or eleven years old, maybe--he shouted, 'People!' And my mouth dropped open--I looked at my son with disbelief--that a child this young could possibly be this wise--this compassionate--this empathetic.

'What is broken, but still useful?'

People.

And I said in a loud voice, 'That is so true!'

No, the young girl said--still not the answer to her riddle.

Storm--he started out as an indoor cat--but now he's an outside cat--we get along better that way. And he loves the outside. He's a hunter at night--he lays in the sun--sleeping most of the day. He goes on walks with me--through the field--into the woods. He's not much of a helper in the garden though--he likes to lay in the cool of the shade and watch me work.

Have you ever heard or read something that brought tears to your eyes almost in an instance--words that can make chill bumps spread like a wildfire deep into your soul? I experienced that--this week. I was listening to a podcast--Max Lucado. And he said, 'If we understand more, would we love more--maybe we need to take the time to hear someone's story before we pass judgement'

And I'll say further, 'or jump to a false conclusion.'

The ugliest broken little stray kitten I've ever seen--over the past year has blossomed into the most beautiful cat--and he with his 'nub-tail'--somedays, he looks more like a fat happy bunny rabbit than a cat. Storm's a fierce protector of home--just this summer--warning me of a snake on the front porch. He's one who chases away moles and voles in the garden--in the yard. And he loves unconditionally--always glad to see me.

The answer the little girl was looking for, her riddle--'What's broken, but still useful?'

An egg. The answer was an egg. And it's a good answer. But I believe I like the young boy's answer, best.

People.

And I'll add stray kittens.

To read more of Storm's story, https://www.tathelmiller.com/post/the-saturday-journal-the-rescue