Angel Paw's Beginning

As the nights grow longer and the days got colder, winter was setting in. For the next few months would be spent inside mostly. In the spring would be another Jellicle Ball. But for now it was cold and rainy. The little kitten was growing into a fine young queen. Munkustrap felt closer to her then anyone, except Old Deuteronomy. And they shared everything…almost. On some wet winter nights Angel Paw would look out the window with a look that made Munkustrap think she was somewhere else. Many times sadness would come over her. Other times it was like she was searching for something or someone. Munkustrap would sometimes join her…if she were sad he would purr to her. This would bring a smile to her face. But he never asked what was on her mind. He didn't know if he should.

On one of these long wet nights Angel paw was at her favorite window looking out. Munkustrap decided it was time to ask her what was one her mind. He jumped up into the window. "Angel Paw…what are you thinking about?" He said in a soft voice. She looked at him and said, "I am thinking of my daddy." Munkustrap looked out the window too. Then he said "Would you like to tell me about him?" Her eyes lit up. "Oh! Yes I would love to tell you about him!"

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Angel paw was born in a shed. Her mom was an old quiet queen. Her father was an ally cat. There was only her in the litter. Even thou she was as poor as cats come she never knew it. There was always lot of love.

The first memories was being held in her father's strong large arms. He would tickle her tummy and she would laugh and giggle. He would kiss her little hands and feet and would say she had angel paws. This is where the name came from. With him around looking over her she was not scared of anything. She was his only kitten. Anytime she would wake up he would be there looking out for her. He would be the last thing she would see when sleep took over.

The first time Angel Paw was out and about her farther was right beside her. The grass rubbed across her little tiny potbelly. The grass was as tall and even taller then her. There was so much too see. As she went running to see all she could, her farther would grab her by the scruff of the neck and bring her back. He would tell her not to go to far at first. She was not afraid…her daddy was there.

Some hot days she would sit on a rock. Angel Paw's father would go about catching little butterflies and grasshoppers. He would bring then over to her. Then he would let them go right in front of her. She would leap into the air and try to catch them. Sometimes if the grasshopper would not leap Angel Paw's father would paw it around until it did jump. She did catch some and sometimes they got away. It was one of the most favorite games she played. Angel Paw's father would say that someday she would be a great mouser.

One evening she catch the smell of a mouse. Very carefully she followed the smell. So carefully she stocked it. Just before she was going to pounce the mouse turned around and squeaked at her. Angel Paw's eyes opened wide. It scared her some bad she could not move. The mouse had a look on its face as if it was going to jump on her. Before she could even yell out for her daddy, the mouse's eyes got real big. It was then she realized her father, faster then lighting, was standing right behind her. The mouse now had a look of fear on its face. He let out one meow and the mouse ran, squeaking all the way home. She knew she was always safe with him around.

On some clear nights Angel Paw would snuggle up into his warm fur and watch the stars. Her father would tell her stories about the stars and moon. She would fell so safe with him.

One morning her father held her close. He said with a great deal of sadness in his voice, "Today you must go away! The people that own this shed have found you a new home." Angel Paw started to cry. "I don't want to go! I want to stay here with you!" He looked at her and said, "Listen! Your mother is going to a new home tonight, far away. And you are old enough at to be in a home of your own!" Angel Paw just cried and said over and over "I don't want to go! I want to stay with you!" Her daddy held her face and told her to listen to him! "You are my only kitten! I am a stray! I have no home! I live by eating out of trashcans, and what I can catch! This is not a life for a cat. This life I do not want for you. I want you to have a home!" Then he added, "I will find you someday! And I will watch over you!" Angel Paw nodded. She spent the rest of the night and morning crying to him. He rocked her in his strong arms. Then some man came and put her in a box. As she was being put in a car she could see her father. He said out loud "If it is the last thing I do I will see you again!"

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Munkustrap could see her eyes light up as she talked about him. She said, "Do you think I will see him again?" "I don't know" Munkustrap relied. "He sounds like a fine good cat and I hope someday I could meet him." Munkustrap added. She smiled and nodded. Then he looked at her "What was his name?" Angel Paw looked down and then answered. "I don't know…I called him daddy." Munkustrap smiled and lightly laugh to himself. "You know the more time that goes by the harder it is to remember what he looks like." She said sadly. Munkustrap smiled and replied, "You will know him by his smell first, and that is how it usually happens." The rest of the night she talked about him and Munkustrap listened. As she talked he thought what a fine tomcat Angel Paw's father most be.