Smokey by Janice f

Smokey

by Janice f

Smokey was and always will be my best friend. We got him as a free kitten when I was 7 years old. I remember that day so clearly. All the other cats were running around and so lively but my Smokey was curled up on the couch sleeping. My mom was looking at this one cat but when I pointed out how much I liked the sleeping one, that is the one we chose. I held him all the way home in a little blue blanket that he tried to crawl out of many times. I named him Smokey because he was grey and white of course. Smokey became my cat. Sure he loved everyone but we were inseperable. He followed me everywhere, slept with me, watched tv with me, everything. He was just as close with our other cat Tiny. They loved eachother. I was made fun of a lot when I was younger so I didnt really have many friends. But Smokey was always there. He knew when I was upset always coming over and sitting in my lap, even when I pushed him away wanting to be alone he came right back and crawled in refusing to leave. I told him everything. when I was 13, Tiny became sick with liver cancer and died. It was very hard for me because I had never lost a pet before. I cried for so long. Smokey was even worse off than I was. on Tiny's last night in our house. Smokey spent the whole night with her refusing to leave. every time she went somewhere he was right there with her. to me that is a true friend. I've never had someone like that in my life before and Smokey showed it to me. every night after she died Smokey would howl. and not just the normal meowing. these were low sad sounding noises. they made me want to cry. one night in particular i woke up to him crying i looked down the stairs to see him at the window. he was face to face with a stray cat outside and they seemed to be talking to eachother, as the stray was meowing loudly as well. After that night Smokey stopped howling but I could tell he was still sad. 3 years later just a couple of weeks after i turned 17 we noticed something was wrong with Smokey. His breathing was very fast and he was making raspy noises. we took him to the vet who told him that there was fluid in his lungs so he would give us pills for him. when he said that I thought "hes going to get better" but deep down I knew that the end was coming. 2 days after we had been giving him pills he stopped eating. my mom made another appointment for the next day. I remember moving his food around so he would hear it and maybe try to eat something but it didnt work he just layed there looking at me. he barely even walked anywhere it seemed to take too much energy out of him. I carried him upstairs to my room with me and said my private goodbyes. somethig I didnt get to do with Tiny. I just layed there with him crying telling him how much I loved him and how much he meant to me. I wanted to show him that I wasnt going to leave him and that i would be there like he was for Tiny. well turns out he was doing the same for me. so we brought him to the vet who said its probably best if we let him go. my mom started bawling, I just kind of stared, Smokey just layed there. I knew we had to do this I didnt want my baby suffering anymore. that was hurting me even more then him being dead. I sat infront of him and made sure that I was the last thing that my precious Smokey saw before he died. he went very fast. which is kinda funny because it was the opposite for Tiny. it took her a very long time because her heart wouldn't stop beating. Smokey's stopped right away. the doctor said he had heart and lung problems, but i think he just had a broken heart from missing Tiny. At least they are together now that brightens things a little for me. But im 18 now and I still miss him so much. The rainbow bridge poem makes me cry every time, and even as I am writing this I am bawling. I know that he's happier, and that someday I will see him again. I just wish it didn't have to take so long. Goodbye Smokey, I love you so much.

Comments would be appreciated by the author, Janice