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, and 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 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 ever someone
picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings,
whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor’s 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.