I was twenty years old, and headed to catch a bus in East Orange, New Jersey, when a little boy, about eight years old stopped me. "Please miss, could you take this kitten"? he implored of me, his round gentle eyes begging. "The people who have him don't care about him, and he keeps on going in the road. He is going to get hit by a car, please take him"! I looked at the house, which seemed overrun with cats in front of it. These people obviously didn't believe in spaying... "Why don't you take him"? I asked the child. "I already have a cat, and my mom won't let me have anymore", he said, seeming near tears. That he had trusted me, a white girl in a mostly black city, moved me. I lived with my grandmother, and though I knew that she loved animals, I knew that she couldn't get around well, and might not want the daily responsibility of an animal. Still, I couldn't tell that precious child no. He handed the kitten to me, a pretty, gray little fellow with green eyes. I thanked the child, and asked him-"You really love animals, don't you"? And he beamed. "Yes, I do". "Well, you will make a wonderful vetrinarian someday," I told him, as he happily walked away, relieved. What to do....It was raining out, so I tucked him into my jacket,then stopped at the store to buy him food. I was thinking of a name for him on the way, and because it was a gray rainy day, and he was gray, I named him Misty, as we walked to my grandmother's. She took one look at the little ball of fur, and fell in love. Sure, I could keep him, she told me, and the rest is history....I had sixteen wonderful years with that beautiful, loving, friendly cat. He brought my grandmother so much joy in her final years, and kept her company when I worked or was out. I sometimes think of the beautiful child who trusted me, a somewhat selfish, punky twenty year old, with such a great treasure, and I view him as an angel, Misty's angel, and mine. I hope that he became a vet, and always send him good thoughts when I think of him. I wonder if he can ever know how his selfless, sweet act of caring,taught me so many lessons that I was ready to learn, though I didn't know that I was ready to learn them at the time. I miss you Misty, my little soulmate cat, everyone in the neighborhood asks about you....mommy still cries everyday-thank you so much for your love and friendship......The hardest time is at night, when we would cuddle together on the couch for hours, you purring like a motor boat....