Francis Meyrick

An animal story

The little girl, coming up our garden path, had tears pouring down her cheeks. Her face, crumpled under the weight of some unknown sorrow, reflected only heartbreak. Alarmed, fearful of what might have happened, I hastened to her side.

“What’s wrong? “, I asked, my instant compassion sharpened by a pinch of fear.
Her reply, in a quavering, unsteady voice, nonetheless left no doubt as to what had come to pass.

“Reekie is dead… “

I knew what that meant. Reekie. The friendly little grey kitten. A ferile creature, that had wandered in to our lives, motherless, only a few days earlier. And miaowed pitifully, touching the soft heart of a little girl. Who had bathed him, and fed him. Cuddled him, and named him. Reekie. After the old Scottish word for ‘smoke’. “Reek “. Which in the diminutive, had become ‘Reekie’. An apt name, for this charcoal grey, fluffy bundle, that still moved haplessly, as if each walk was an adventure. A whole new experience. The successful outcome of which always seemed vaguely in doubt.

I had watched, as little Reekie, his tummy full, had turned on his charm, purring contentedly, snoozing trustingly on his new Mama’s lap, or stretched out gloriously in the warm, May sunshine. An hour or so would go by, and he would be awake, playing. It was as if he at once had adopted us. We only had to step outside the back door, to be met by his friendly approach. His tiny little face seemed to light up happily, and he followed us with utter devotion. It was touching to walk twenty human paces, and turn around, and see Reekie advanced at least twenty inches. No matter where we went, Reekie was sure to follow.

Reekie wanted to be loved, in a simple way, and in that was no different from any of us. Unless we become corrupted, and mean spirited, and hard. As many of us do.
Reekie only lived a very short life, but brought an innocent happiness into our lives.

His adoptive Mam buried him, tenderly and sadly, in a warm, sunny spot. She said he would like it there, because he always enjoyed snoozing in the warm sun. I marveled at her thoughtfulness, even now, with her little charge and new friend gone so quickly away.

And I, for my part, soured in some measure by Life, reduced in my humanity, and embittered perhaps in some calloused fashion, by the Darkness of past events and happenings, could only marvel at this gentle little girl. This kindest of humans. This soft, tender human being, who grieved mightily over the loss of a single kitten.

Perhaps indeed, as many say, some animals are sent to teach us, and instruct us in the ways of loyalty and innocence. Patience, and simple, straightforward love.

And I could only count myself so lucky.

So very lucky, to have had this little girl, as my….

…best friend, wife and teacher for almost eighteen years.

Francis Meyrick

Last edited by Francis Meyrick on July 30, 2012, 9:51 pm