Image source: Stine86Enge on Pixabayl
Jim gazed at the large portrait hung on the living room wall - His parents and his grandma holding a snow-white furred cat. A little cursive writing by the edge read - Sharon, Abbey, Mary and Manny.
"Mummy, do you miss Manny? I want a cat too." Jim asked his mother who stood by his side, staring at the portrait too. A nostalgic smile flooded her face, followed by a sober look as she reminisced…
The evening became windy, blowing dirt towards a dilapidated, uncompleted building. A little to the left revealed some tents built with thick nylon and rags.
Sharon sat on the ground, her back rested on the mossy wall. She pulled her worn-out dress down to cover her cold toes. A rustling sound from the grasses behind drew her attention. She walked to the spot, parted the grass and there was a small snow-white cat, licking its bloodied paw.
"Hey kitty," she whispered. The cat looked at her and mewed in response. Sharon picked the cat up, went into her tent, tore a clean piece from one of her dresses and gently bound the wounded paw. The cat leaked Sharon's hand in gratitude. She giggled and stroked the cat.
The sound of running feet cut short her acquaintance with the cat. A hand pulled the opening of the tent aside as a boy of twelve peeped in. "Abbey!" She exclaimed.
"Sharon, let's go. Dare says a woman is giving out fried rice in take-away packs close to the market. Hurry", Abbey said.
He held out his hand, Sharon latched on and he pulled her up. "Where'd you get the cat from?" Sharon held the cat to her chest. "I found her in the bush. I think it's a girl." Abbey rolled his eyes, "of course it's a girl cat. Come on". Sharon smiled, put the cat down and they raced to the market.
After squabbling and his shirt was torn, Abbey got a plate of fried rice. He held Sharon's hand and they walked away from the crowd, sat on the steps of a church, dug into the rice with their bare hands.
Abbey ate slowly so Sharon could eat more. She dropped few grains for the cat. She could not hide her kindness any more than she could her bony body. Abbey had always lived on the street most of his life since his uncle turned him out when he was eight. He became friends with four other orphans and they made the dilapidated building their home hoping the cops will not force them to move.
He saw Sharon on one of his pick-pocketing days, standing up to Skippo, an orphan too but a bully. Other children knew to avoid him or else they would get hurt. Abbey came to her rescue though it got him a black eye. They had been friends ever since.
"Are you okay? I could go get more", Abbey offered, noticing her sunken eyes and cracked lips that bled often.
"No, I'm okay. Let's go back to the tent." Then the cat jumped off her laps and ran. "Hey! Wait!" Sharon called out.
"Let the cat go," Abbey suggested. He tried to hold her hand, she won't let him. "No," Sharon replied and jogged after the cat. Abbey ran after her. The cat took them through some streets till they arrived at a beautiful terraced apartment.
A middle-aged woman stood by the front door when she saw the cat, then two dirty, hungry-looking children. "Why Manny! You naughty cat. I have been searching all over for you." She picked up the cat, then noticed the cloth binding its wounded paw.
She walked up to the children. Abbey stood in front of Sharon, partly shielding her with his thin body. The woman noticed the protective gesture. "Is she your cat?" Sharon whispered from behind Abbey. The woman smiled, "Yes. Manny is my cat. It's a he. I am Mary Baker."
"Really?" Sharon moved from behind Abbey closer to Mary.
"Yes. He went missing last night. Thank you for taking care of him."
"It's nothing, ma'am." Abbey drew Mrs Baker's attention. "I am Abbey, this is Sharon. We-w-we are orphans."
Manny jumped out of Mary's arm and trotted into the house. Mary smiled. "Abbey, Sharon. Welcome to my home. Come in. Let's get you out of the cold. A hot meal will make a lot of difference." And the three of them walked into the house which became Sharon's and Abbey's new home.
The cat came as an angel to the kids'lives. They cared for a weak creature and in return they found someone to care for them.
Hey Amber! I like that you caught the angle I was aiming for in the story - a saviour for the children in form of the cat. But the children had to show first that they would accept the cat.
Thank you for stopping by and for your lovely comment. 😊
I expected that ending. That is why we must always do good to all creatures, the reward comes from the Most High Almighty. Good story.
Well said. Kindness should not only be shown to our fellow human beings but also to animals as well. Thank you @morenow for visiting my post. 🙂
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LOs niños siempre quieren a los animales. Siempre nos están dando lecciones de vida....
Tienes razón, los niños aman a los animales. Se vinculan fácilmente con ellos y de eso es de lo que habla esta historia. Sharon amaba a Manny, incluso se ocupó de su herida. A cambio, Manny llevó a Sharon y Abbey a su casa, donde vivían todos juntos. Me alegro que te haya gustado la historia. Gracias por tu lindo comentario. 🙂
Nicely written as usual. The cat carted them to a haven, where the generous Mary was waiting to receive them with an open arm.
I wish all the orphans around can be this lucky.
Me too, @mmykel! I wish all orphans would receive the help they need and a home where they would be happy. But it does not always work that way.
Expressing our wishes in story form is a way to make them come true. Hehe, thank you for your comment and for stopping by.
There are people who might dismiss this as a fairy tale. Well, we all need fairy tales. They keep hope alive. This is a lovely story. You round out the personalities of the characters very well, even Manny the cat. This is a wonderfully imaginative response to the prompt.
Thank you for posting this story in the Ink Well community. lease be sure to read the work of other writers in the community and share comments with them. We are urging everyone who posts in The Ink Well to take this step, going forward, to ensure our community members are supporting one another. (We also have this in The Ink Well community rules on our home page and in our weekly writing prompts.) Thank you!
Thank you for your kind feedback and support.
I hope that she will adopt them and care for them as well as Manny! The sweet caring that Abbey displayed for Sharon was so protective and precious. I love to see this display of love budding in the youngest of hearts. Abbey had a true understanding of what love really meant, and it was shown through the whole story. Poor Sharon didn't seem to understand it - yet. ha ha! Maybe in time! :-)
Hehe, talk about childhood sweethearts. Sharon did understand later that Abbey loved her because they all ended up together in one home. It's in the first paragraph. 😉
Thank you for your kind feedback.
The effort you put in shows, @kemmyb. The characters are fleshed out. You draw a circle, from the homey, happy beginning, through a wretched orphan's experience and back to the happy home again: Sharon, Abbey, Mary and Manny.
The cat prompt is bring out some interesting stories. I really like this one :)
The cat prompt is a really interesting one. Soon as I read the prompt post, ideas flowed and I chose to write this one. I'm glad you like it. I appreciate your kind words and support. 🙂
Nice work with your story's scenario and your character development, @kemmyb. The characters are well-portrayed and believable, and of course they capture our hearts! How great that the kids find a home in the end.
One small tip for you: the word "leaking" should be "licking." :-)
Yes ma'am, that was the aim. For the story to touch hearts. Thank you for your kind feedback.
Ugh, after the one hour plus I spent on editing, wonder how I missed that word. Hehe, thanks for the tip. 😊
This is a heartwarming story by all means. Nicely portrayed environment and fluent wording. Keep up the good work :)
Thank you for the compliment. I'm glad you liked the story.
Wow, this is such a wonderful story and talks about love. Although I commend Sharon for such love towards an animal even when she had no such love as an orphan she knew what love was and Abbey did as well.
The truth is I am not sure I would have done such a wonderful thing for an animal not to mention, a cat. I would have run as far as my leg can carry me immediately I saw the animal.
It is such a wonderful story and I love it. It is simple and street to the point.
Lol, I guess you are not an animal lover then. I'm glad you liked my story. Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
The act of kindness can take one to a length least expected. The principle of honor worked out here.
I am sure they will be glad to render helping hands to Manny.
I love the piece Aunty Kemmy
Always! It pays to be kind. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
A beautiful story with lots of morals, I really like how you build up the characters and how they interact with each other.
The cat taking them to a beautiful place was such a nice touch.
This is really good. Keep it up.
Thanks @bruno-kema! Most children are sweet and form immediate attachment to animals. Thats what Sharon did here and in turn, they get a new home. Everyone is happy, lol. I'm glad you like the story.
I loved this story. What a nice link really, I was beginning to wonder how they had taken the photo if they were orphans.
You used a good element in the narrative, what a great story.
Hehe, the photograph portrayed that Sharon and Abbey ended up married, had a son, Jim who expressed his desire for a pet cat leading to how the story began.
Thanks for the compliment and your kind comment. 🙂
Hello @kemmyb What a lovely story you wove. I like how you began with a calm setting in the woman's home named Mary. Your characters Abbey and Sharon are well defined in the right places of the story.
You next take us on a different story path showing us another side of the city or town where people live in squalor. Abbey and Sharon are close, brought together by their plight in life. It's good Sharon has a protector in Abbey. Their circumstances of being street children in a dangerous setting is shown by their encounters. Having to beg and search for food is another clue.
However, the children's spirit is portrayed as different from other kids who may be in their situation in life. It feels as though they have a kindness in spite of their plight. A willingness to help others. I like how you show us their kindness in deeds instead of words.
The cat Manny is the catalyst that puts in motion Sharon and Abbey's fate in life. Because Sharon is kind-hearted and cares for the cat; while Abbey acts as Sharon's protector, they both follow Manny on a journey that seals their fate in life by guiding them to a new and pleasant life situation.
I was hoping for a happy ending, and you delivered. Wonderful story.
Thanks for sharing.