The Five Words of Christmas - Word Four - Miracles The wall of - TopicsExpress

The Five Words of Christmas - Word Four - Miracles The wall of water created by the trucks tires drenched the small black kitten, which was lost, lonely, tired, hungry and terribly afraid. Shivering with cold, it ducked behind a trash can as a group of teens dressed in the goth style approached. But huge hands with black fingertips scooped it up and raised it high. Mewing desperately for someone, or something to save it, the kitten braced itself for the pain that was sure to come, but didnt. Instead, it was carefully placed inside a thick black felt coat, where welcome body heat soaked into its small frame. Peering upward, it saw a giant face featuring black hair, brows, eyelashes, and a wispy black mustache. The face made deep, oddly comforting rumbling sounds toward it, as a huge finger gently ran down its back. Juan Rodriguez was 14 years old, gender confused and borderline suicidal. He hid his pain behind the darkness of the Goth lifestyle, which welcomed those whom society would otherwise reject, but he didnt hide it well. His parents were growing increasingly concerned about him, and their relationship with him. He seemed to be drifting away by the day, and they felt powerless to stop it from happening. But, the boy who burst through the door with a wet, muddy little kitten that day, was the Juan they knew and loved. His nose and cheeks glowed a soft pink, and you couldnt have sandblasted the smile off his face. It wasnt long before the kitten, now named Louisa, and humans became an inseparable family. After a few months, Juan was a happy young man again. Louisa had developed a pattern of sleeping with Juan, begging for food from all her people (all of the time) in the early hours of the day, and then oddly, disappearing for hours at a time. One day Juan decided to follow his furred friend to see where she vanished to. He told his parents what he was up to, and waited until she had finished her morning meal and had washed up after. He watched as Louisa walked outside and climbed the trellis on the neighbors house. Next door lived Agnes Macdonald, a 86 year former teacher and current lonely widow. Peeking to see what was going on, there was Anges putting down a bowl of something on the deck before taking a seat nearby. Her muted conversation sounded like soft cooing as she shared her gossip and the morning with her four legged companion. After short nap in Agnes lap that ended with her shifting in her sleep, Louisa went down the other side of Agness porch, along the back fence, and into extreme danger, the backyard of James (Butch) Henry, president of the local chapter of a very well known and notorious biker gang. Walking haughtily along the fence just above the reach of his three snarling and snapping pit bulls, Louisa made her toward the back deck of the bikers house. Just then, Butch burst through the back door, yelling at the dogs to shut the hell up. Spotting Louisa heading toward him, he stomped across the deck toward her. Just as Juan was going to shout a warning to Louisa, she leapt through the air, and directly into his arms. Roaring with laughter, he yelled to his wife, Id kill for a crew with the guts this damn cat has! Carrying Louisa like a child, he headed into the house, and again, more muted cooing, this time very male, with an occasional Shut the hell up! tossed through the window at the very jealous dogs. Almost two hours later, Louisa appeared in the open kitchen window, dropped down onto the deck, and began to climb down the beams supporting the deck. Juan was horrified! The three pit bulls were sleeping less than two feet from where she was headed. Juan didnt dare risk yelling and waking the dogs, so all he could do is watch in horror as Louisa casually stepped onto the ground and began to slowly walk toward the fence as she sniffed around. Stopping about ten feet from the dogs, she very deliberately smacked one of the toys with a bell inside, and looked back at the dogs. Going from a dead sleep, to murderous blobs of muscle in less than a second, the enraged pit bulls hurled themselves at her, intent on tearing her to shreds. But, quick as a flash, she cleared the yard and landed lightly atop the fence, with the slightest twitch of her tail the only acknowledgement of the carnivorous canine insanity taking place mere inches below her. Juan heard the biker roar with laughter again, as he yelled to no one in particular, Good god almighty, I just love that god damn cat! Then, I said shut the hell up you damn dogs! From Butchs place, Louisa followed the back fences like a feline highway, eventually dropping into a yard next to the alley. Juan jogged down the street and cut into the alley. He could barely make out the back yard through the fence. A beautiful young girl about five years old sat on a blanket, rocking as she sucked on a scrunched up corner of it. A young woman about 25 years old sat in a folding yard chair texting and watching her daughter. Juan heard her say, Look Sasha, here comes Kitty Cat. The child seemed not to notice, and continued to rock. Suddenly Louisa appeared, went straight to the little girl, and purring as loud as she could, began rubbing all over her. At first the child appeared annoyed, then she stopped rocking and said, Kitty Cat! squealing and laughing loudly. Lying down, Sasha began to pet Louisa, who soon stretched out beside Sasha to maximize her available petting surface. As soon as the little girl fell asleep, Louisa was off again, this time to the house directly behind Sashas. Juan heard the childs mother as Louisa left, I dont know where you come from, Kitty Cat, but you are a sweet furry angel. See you later. Juan then walked to Sashas neighbors fence, and heard the crackling voice of 88 year old Richard OLeary, a heavily decorated veteran of World War Two, saying, Well now you fancy little critter, just where in the world have you been? Peeking through Richards fence, he spotted the dignified hero sitting at a patio table, setting down the paper beside a glass of iced tea. Louisa went straight to him, leapt up into his lap, and enjoyed his love and attention way too much. Soon Richard was sharing 88 years of war and peace with her. Louisa gazed at him through golden eyes, as if she hung on every word. About 45 minutes later, Richard began to snooze. Louisa carefully got up, made a soft mewing sound, and oddly, took one paw and gently touched his cheek. She then lept down and began retracing her steps on her way home. Juan took off the meet her there. When he got home, two of his friends were waiting and joined him in the back yard. Just as they got settled into plastic lawn chairs, Louisa came over the fence, into the yard and straight to Juan. Jumping up into his lap, she began to purr and allowed his friends to pet her. The girl asked, So, did you ever find out what the heck she does all day? Juan smiled down at Louisa, and could have sworn she was smiling up at him. Looking his friends in eye, he said, Yeah, miracles.