Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly
was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world fighting,
eating garbage, and shall we say, love. The combination of these things
combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly.

To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should have been
was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left
foot has appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at
an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner
His tail has long age been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he
would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby
striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his
shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs.

Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one
UGLY cat!!"

All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at
him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes,
or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave.

Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he
would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw
things at him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet in forgiveness.
Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and
bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever
picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings,
whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbors huskies. They did not
respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could
hear his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where
he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.

Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly
out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his
front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home I could hear him
wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. I must be hurting him
terribly I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear.

Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying was trying to suckle
my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with
his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the
distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly
battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some
compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I
had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to
get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me
completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him
for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little
stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of
spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving
and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever
could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on
the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move
on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared
for. Many people want to be richer more successful, well liked, beautiful,
but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.