Spades and Wraithe

Wraithe…

…how could today be the day?
…why was today the day?
…I didn’t even get to give you your cookie today! Daddy did, because I left early.

I know you haven’t been feeling well and that you had an upset tummy. But I also thought you were playing your little games since you would eat “canned” food and cookies and deli turkey and pieces of my muffin! You silly boy. How was I supposed to know? Guess what? I caved in to your, “I don’t want to eat this!” I was on the way to Petsmart to buy you the “special” food, the “canned” stuff. I wanted to spoil you. Then Daddy called me at work, and when I answered the phone, it was silent on the other end. “Hello?” I said - again.

“Wraithe is dead…” Daddy whispered.

“What,” I answered, “what do you mean, Wraithe is dead?”

“He’s dead! He looks like he’s asleep on his bed, but he’s cold. His eyes are open, his mouth is open. He’s dead, Hon. So, just come home. Don’t even go to Petsmart.”

“Are you serious?” I whispered into the headset. “He can’t be dead! Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. He’s dead.”

*********************************

One week later…

I was thinking about a book I read to my students, Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst. A child writes about ten goods things about her cat Barney that just died, and I decided to write ten good things about you.

the new baby

1. You were a 3-month old scruffy, scraggly, road-rashed, skinny desert rescue when you came into our lives
2. You fit right into our family of 3 cats and 3 dogs (now)
3. You were great at stealing toys from Spades, you little turkey  

It's mine!

4. You slept right next to Tina…she was your life
5. You fought hard to live when you were diagnosed with Addison’s Disease, and you pulled through a week of torment while the doctor stabilized you
6. You had this quirky little thing of sticking your bottom in the air while turning over halfway in order to   be patted
7. You loved walking in the park
8. You ate anything, but that’s NOT  really a good thing since rocks, plastic, string, towel bits, etc were on that list
9. Your Chewbacca sounds could make anyone laugh

and

10. You loved us and gave us a great almost 5 years.

I miss you, Wraith-y!

last photo - May 14, 2008

I can understand why one of my students just had to finish reading the book. Once I started reading the assigned chapters last night, I couldn’t stop! I had to know if Opal made friends with the Dewberry’s; why Otis was in jail; how the party at Gloria’s turned out…and most of all, was Opal ever going to see her mother again. I am not a spoiler, and will not give away the ending…

What I do wonder is…would I want to eat a piece of candy that tasted like sorrow? Would you want to eat a piece of candy that made you feel sad?