who want's to be ugly????? read then answer?

Question

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly.

To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner.

His tail has long since been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one ugly cat!"

All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet in forgiveness. Whenever he spied children, he would come running meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbors huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.

Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. I must be hurting him terribly I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear- Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful.

He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, or beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be "Ugly".

P.S. JUDY, i never said this was my cat. it's a STORY! get a life. and thanks to the rest of you for your wonderful responses.

Answer 1

this is a holy feeling and motive of life.but dont want to be ugly ur role is so beautifull so i think i will always try to be "vaneessa"

Answer 2

As a story, I thought that was very sweet but I think you have to look for all the lessons in such a story.

Regardless of how loving a creature Ugly was, the world is still uglier. You can have all the love in the world to give but there will always be those (Huskies) that will rip you apart for even approaching. It's good to want to have those decent qualities but if you must try to be like "Ugly", be more careful who you offer your love to than he was.

It's very well written regardless of whether it's fact or fiction. I liked it a lot. A+

PS Judy R8, you've led one sheltered life to think that people aren't that cruel. Try going in to a war zone and see how nice people are to each other. You're arguments are way too unrealistic. The fact is that strange things do happen in life and dogs do sometimes kill other animals without any authorities intervening. There's nothing in the story that isn't possible or even probable. It's just every day life.

Answer 3

Geia sou Vanessa!
Touchy story, indeed, better even the writing style! Nice!
Well, this proves that we have made/ accepted some standards for many issues, like what is nice and what is not, what is good and what is not, and times come to destroy our system, other times to improve us others to make us lost!
Well, our standards for beauty are within certain ranges, thus, we do not accept the different, except when we get wiser and we get wiser when we are able to see the different and appreciate it, although we are not taught for such!
At you 370, in one picture, where two girls are dancing, I notice in the middle, close to the music someone dancing with his hands extended! The classical Zeus style position! When people see such mystic and symbolic stand, they do not like it, but when they discuss with the person who does it, they discover something great!
We all are great, as long as we are ourselves! When we try to show better, the outcome is not us! Maybe, that is why people can not feel great with everyday, usual, necessary things and actions! Let us be ourselves, let the "in" be us not the one the fashion modelists, religions, politics, etc., are imposing!
Nice story!

Answer 4

The question was a good question....these people on here are sometimes not very deep to say the least...I have been ugly and it sucks...because the more you want the less people want to give and ugly was starving for "feeling apart of" and instead of fitting in somewhere he was constantly shunned! I have always wondered why when a child is acting out in negative ways for attention, instead of saying "You just want attention" and ignoring them even more to teach them a lesson...parents should help them feel more accepted and validated....then the behavior would decrease....stupid people suck! No ...to answer your question I have never wanted to be UGLY! Very nice story and I am glad you had that experience even though it sounded emotional painful for you...some pain is a good thing! Thanx for sharing it!

Answer 5

This should be on Chicken Soup for the Soul or something. By the way, I'm listening to SENS's 'Requiem' as I'm reading this, and I'm very touched, although I didn't cry. Plus this is somewhat on the wrong forum, but thanks for sharing this and touching my life today!

Answer 6

The answer to your question? Only a handful. Your story simply follows the adage "Life is what we make it". We tend to miss out on the simpler but more enriching things because like the Little Prince of Exupery, adults tend to concentrate more on "numbers" and forget what "childlike wonder" can do for their soul. Good story.

Answer 7

That is an amazing story, Im sorry you were not able to save him...I literally cried reading this story and Im so glad to know that "ugly" is in a better place now where he is truly loved and beautiful. I wish I would have known "ugly", I would have taken him in as my own.
I would also like to add, shame on the people who threw rocks and hosed down the poor kitty!! How would they like it if I threw rocks and hosed them down just because of a deformity or something of the sort.

Answer 8

It was an emotional story. I don't really "get it" when fictional stories are told as true. They should start, "once upon a time". There are so many heart breaking real things out there in the world, I don't want to waste emotion on a "story".

Answer 9

Nice story. Ugly on the outside but beautiful on the inside.

Answer 10

Insightful tale. I will read it to some kids the next time I see them throwing rocks at a stray!! Kidding. It is a good one!

Answer 11

Ive heard this story before, and I hate to read it but cant stop once I've started. Sometimes mankind disgust me. Sometimes Id rather have just animals for friends.