Monday 4 July 2011

Kitty Cat

Tanya wore her hair in two pig-tails tied with pretty red ribbons. Her once shiny Mary Jane black shoes were now covered in dirt and her white, knee-length socks had streaks of brown on them too. The bottom of her red and white plaid pinafore touched the wet earth beneath her as she couched on the grass, intently watching a pretty red ladybird as it crawled up a blade of grass. She was a charming little child with a mind as curious as that of most children her age. She was fascinated by nature and all living creatures, often wandering off into the garden outside her home to observe the little insects that roamed freely around the plants.
Without warning, the ladybird suddenly spread its wings and flew off. A little startled, Tanya stood up and looked around to see if she could spot the insect again. This time, however, she spotted a beautiful butterfly fluttering its wings lightly as it flew over the lawn. With a look of glee on her face, Tanya skipped merrily alongside it, her little pig-tails swinging from side to side as she did. Her mother watched from inside the house, through the kitchen window, smiling fondly at her daughter.
The garden stretched from the driveway leading up to the house, all the way to the stone brick walls at the periphery of the compound. Unlike most homes in the area, these walls did not have electric wiring running over them to deter burglars. Instead, there were short iron rods with sharp arrow-like tips placed vertically at regular intervals on top of the walls all around the boundary. Close to one edge of the garden, the walls gave way to a sturdy wrought iron gate which was always manned by a surly-looking guard who watched with disdain as Tanya played in the garden.
Along one edge of the garden, close to a mango tree that stood by the wall, lay a small, crudely-constructed shallow pond with oddly shaped rocks that formed its border. In the centre of the pond, a birdbath had been erected that attracted different bird species from time to time. Tanya moved slowly towards the pond, careful not to scare away the beautiful little birds that had gathered at the moss-covered birdbath. She stopped a few feet from the pond and relished in the sight of the birds dipping their beaks into the water, ruffling their feathers and twittering away gaily.

A rapid movement in the rose bush close to the pond drew Tanya’s attention away from the birds. She watched the bush as the leaves rustled and a couple of loose pink petals fell off the flowers and onto the grass. Then, from in-between the branches, a most adorable little tawny kitten poked its face out. Tanya squealed in delight, clapping her tiny hands together. The playful kitten frolicked about the rose bush before its eyes settled on all the activity going on in the birdbath, a few feet from the rose bush. It then pranced forward and clambered up the mango tree whose branches extended over the pond, brushing against the boundary wall.

Tanya, enthralled by this display of playfulness, watched in glee as the kitten settled on top of the wall, wiggled its little behind and hunkered down, its wide eyes fixated on the birds. The birds splashed away in the birdbath, unawares.  
Suddenly a gruff voice sounded behind Tanya. She looked over just in time to see the surly guard raise his arm and hurl a small rock towards the kitten who sat perched atop the wall between the iron spikes. Tanya watched in alarm as the kitten jumped up in fright to avoid the hurtling stone.
Tanya let out a blood curdling scream and began to wail as her mother rushed outside to her and enveloped her in an embrace. She lifted Tanya into her arms and stroked her hair, trying to comfort her daughter as she walked briskly back to the house. Tanya, still howling, watched blurrily over her mother’s shoulder in utter horror as the guard picked up a stick, smirking as he tried to lift the kitten’s bloody carcass off the iron spike that had speared its body as it had landed…

9 comments:

  1. Good things don't last, or do they?
    Just when you think you've found it, its taken away and you are left alone in your pain wondering why they that did it don't seem to see as you do.

    Interesting read this one!

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  2. Poor cat :'( *sigh* we really don't value animals we can't eat in this country do we?

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  3. beautifully captured moment...

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  4. HEY your blog is awsum but if it was in a lighter color it would be easier on the eyes,.... just a suggestion

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  5. Ooh ... poor kitty. :-(

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  6. Yes, it was an awful thing to have happened in such a cruel way. I was young but I've never forgotten the incident.

    To the anonymous reader who suggested I change the colours on this blog - I hope it's easier to read now. Thanks for the suggestion! :)

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  7. Ohh the poor little kitty... :-(

    You have captured the moment so well dear. I felt as if I was there myself... all the sights and sounds.. beautifully described.. Good Job.. :-)

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  8. Thank you :-)

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Lucid Dreamer