Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Day's End (01/01/14)
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TITLE: Miss Amanda and Me | Previous Challenge Entry
By Virginia Lee Bliss
01/08/14 -
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Every afternoon I ‘d watch at the window for the bus to bring Miss Amanda home at day’s end.
She’d pick me up and stroke me, nuzzling her face in my fur.
“You’re such a beautiful kitty, Sarah.”
Miss Amanda and I and her mommy and daddy lived in a little house at the edge of a pond.
One day a handsome silver tiger named Sam moved in next door with Jason, who was Amanda’s age, along with Jason’s mom and dad.
Jason invited Amanda and me for a playdate. Jason and Amanda had vegetable soup, cookies, and tea.* Sam and I had Tuna Temptations.
Jason showed Amanda all his toys and Sam showed me all his toys. In the yard Jason and Amanda played ball and Sam and I played tag.
Amanda invited Jason and Sam for a playdate. Jason and Amanda had peanut butter sandwiches and cocoa. Sam and I had Salmon Snacks.
In autumn Jason and Amanda raked leaves and Sam and I jumped in the piles.
In winter we watched them ice skate and helped them build snowmen.
In summer they laughed and played in the pond and we saw to it that they stayed safe.
One August morning, Amanda scraped her knee and bled a lot.
A week later she had a nosebleed.
“Mommy I don’t feel good. I feel tired and my knees and elbows hurt.”
Her mommy called Dr. Baker.
For the next week it was no use waiting in the window. Amanda and her mommy would go off in the car and I never knew when they’d return.
One day, Amanda’s mommy packed a little bag. She and Amanda cried and I thought Amanda’s daddy would cry too.
I waited at the window for hours. But when Amanda’s mommy and daddy returned home, Amanda wasn’t with them.
They tried to comfort me. They tempted me with treats but I wasn’t hungry. All I wanted was my Miss Amanda.
In mid September they brought Amanda home.
She was so happy to see me. She picked me up and nuzzled her face in my fur just like old times.
A scarf covered her head. She cried when she took it off because her lovely hair was gone.
You’re still beautiful to me Miss Amanda.
I wrapped myself around her head to keep it warm. At that moment I vowed never to let them take her away from me again.
Her daddy took her to school and her mommy brought her home in the afternoon.
Sam and Jason came over and we’d go outside if it wasn’t chilly.
One November morning Amanda didn’t want to get up. Her mommy made a phone call, then packed Amanda’s bag.
No, not this time! I won’t let them take you away.
I lay on Amanda’s chest and held fast.
But it was hopeless. Amanda’s daddy lifted me off.
I howled in frustration at my failure.
I spent two weeks on Amanda’s bed waiting…….
When they brought her home her daddy carried her into her bedroom.
Mostly Amanda stayed in bed, eating little. She was so weak she could barely stroke my fur.
“Mommy don’t let them hurt me anymore!”
My sweet Miss Amanda, what have they done to you?
On sunny days her daddy carried her out to the garden where she could watch me and Sam playing. I tried to have fun for her sake.
Her daddy set up the iMac in her room. Sam and Jason came over and the four of us watched movies.
The weather grew colder and day’s end came earlier.
One afternoon I saw a light at the foot of Amanda’s bed.
“Mommy do you see that light?”
“Why…no dear.”
“But you see it don’t you Sarah?”
Yes, my sweet Miss Amanda I see it.
“I wish Mommy and Daddy could see it. Then maybe they wouldn’t be so sad.
“Parson Brown told me about children who died all alone. But I’m not alone.”
One evening Amanda’s mommy was sitting at her bedside holding her daughter’s hand.
I took Amanda’s other hand in my paws.
“Go to bed Mommy, you’re tired. Sarah’s with me.”
Her mommy hugged her and left the room.
The light appeared again.
I lay my head against her cheek and brushed her forehead with my paw, as her mommy would have done.
And so at day’s end my Miss Amanda went to sleep with the angels** and with the dear God who loveth all.***
AUTHOR’S FOOTNOTES:
* From “Cat Soup” by Cynthia Gurin
** From To Sleep With the Angels by David Cowan
*** From “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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At the beginning I found the continuing simple sentences to read rather like a shopping list and was a little concerned, but it actually became part of the magic that you wove in this story.
The cat's POV was a good hook, the story progressed with a distinct flavour and I felt the ending, while always sad, was a positive conclusion.
Blessings, Graham.
I thought your ending your piece with kitty being the child's last earthly contact- brilliant.