//------------------------------//
// The kitty 
// Story: The kitty 
// by RainbowThunder 
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I love reading. Well, yeah, I am a writer, after all; it would be naturally, probably. But I prefer to be a reader more, than to be a writer. Don’t think, please, I am a boaster, but ponies like my books, and I’m glad to know it so much! But sometimes there is no better thing than reading a book in Twilight’s library. What is it about? About adventures, fashion, history? That doesn’t matter at all! I love reading even not because of interesting plot twists of beautiful nature adjectives, but the moment of memories. Pony’s memory works strange sometimes, but it is always amazing. Powerful and mystery brain is responsible for memory; nerve impulses go in the right direction…He-he, I am not a biologist to tell you about it. It's nice to feel the memories of a long time ago from some book that is somehow related to this. What should I remember? What memories I'm attracted to? Hmm…what about…. animals? Why not? There is a lot of species of adorable little and big creatures. There are bunnies, cats, dogs, birds, mice and so on. They are so cute, lovely and nice (I wasn’t trying to make my voice as voice of Fluttershy, no-no!). And today, by the reading my favorite book "Home cat named Opal", I remembered my friendship I had with one street cat . Let me continue. 

I met that cat two years ago. She had brown color with stripes, her eyes were either green or brown. By trying to remember, I was leaning toward the first option. The first meeting took place in the winter, in December. I remembered very well that I was wearing a thick dark blue jacket. We were not exactly rich, but that jacket was surprisingly warm. It was made of good quality. I didn't even realize it was winter. That was awesome jacket with a fur hood. This cat was sitting at an intersection that led in different directions: forward to the playground, back to the Northwest market, left to my school, and right to my house. Since lessons were over and there was no need to go to music school, I went to the right. On the path, near the bushes, the cat was seating, looking at the passing ponies. They were mostly ponies who coming from school, just like me.

But there was (and is) always a little colt in me (it was the eighth grade. I'm supposed to be an adult pony. The key word is "I’m supposed"), who were not able to pass by a homeless animal. And that time was no exception: I noticed this cat and could not take my eyes off it. I was delighted. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fairy-tale Princess that animals would be attracted to me. Usually stray cats and dogs ran away from me. No, I didn't hurt them, I swear! I tried to be gentle and kind to them, on the contrary! It's just an instinct, and I wouldn’t blame them for it. And why should they come to me with open paws if I couldn’t offer to animals anything to eat anyway?

And at that time, I expected that cat would run away when I was going to try to get close to her. It has  always been like this. Why should this cat be an exception? Why should this day be any different? I knelt down and held out my hoof. 

"She’ll run away".  I thought, feeling sadness.

But something else happened: the cat sniffed my hoof, rubbed her cheek against it, and came closer. Her face showed no anger or fear. Looks like she was happy. It seemed she like me. I started stroking her back, and the cat growled like a tractor in response. My cat rarely purred and was not as loud as that cat was, so I was surprised at the volume of this stray person.

I thought the feline was going to rubbed against my legs a little and leave. I was sure that cats had a special feeling for the ponies that couldn't feed them. And how wrong I was: the cat suddenly got on my knees! No other cat, not even my own, had ever done this before this one did it. 

"Whoa, whoa, what are you doing? He-he, calm down!" I told her with laugher, still stroking.

I was a little sad because she started to make with her paws my pants dirty. But I couldn't just throw this pretty girl off my knees. And even the thought that she might have fleas, shingles, and other rubbish, did not make me throw the cat off my knees. Yes, I took the risk, but that cat's purring was worth it. And I didn't miss it: she was perfectly healthy. I  was only touched and continued to talk to the cat, feeling her on my knees. Ponies passed, and some looked at me with apprehension or surprise. Mentally, they had stopped to exist for me at all, because I was busy. There were just this cat and me. There was no one else.

The tabby began to climb up on my shoulders and back! I was even more stunned: she acted as if she trusted me completely, even though it was the first time you saw her! The cat wasn't very heavy, but it was very painful to sit on my cramped knees with a weight on my back. I got to my hooves carefully. The kitty was not at all embarrassed and continued to purr and rubbed against my cheeks. I felt like I was her loophole. But I liked it, oddly enough. How many times have I been stunned in a couple of minutes? I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep my balance with her, so I lifted her off my shoulders and held her on my front hooves. The cat only covered her eyes with pleasure and rubbed against me. What a pity I didn't have anything to feed this darling! At that moment, I felt a little stingy and grubby. I decided that it was better not to give the cat any more hope of food, so I lowered it to the ground and sat down again. But she didn't want to leave, so she climbed back into my knees. The cat was stepping from one knee to the other and was not going to leave. How much she liked me! I would have sat with it forever, but now I really had to go; I had to take it off and walk away. She followed me for a couple of feet. But then, she turned and went back to her direction, realizing that I would not come back and invite her to my knee. Fortunately, the kitty did not follow me, because there was a busy road ahead. But I left with a heavy heart, for it was painful to let her go. The cat was so affectionate and sensitive, I have never met like that one before. Even my own cat has never behaved like this. I wonder if this stray person goes to everyone or just to me. My sense of self-esteem grew a little when I thought that kitty was only treating me so warmly. It was the beginning of a tiny but beautiful and magical moment. (Written is becoming Fluttershy, isn’t he?) 

After that incident, I didn’t saw that cat again. She must have gone somewhere far away and stayed there. My thoughts of her vanished like a spot of mud from T-shirt. I had relatively forgotten about her, although in my heart she was still alive. It was sad that I didn't see her again, but I didn't miss her very much. Her departure was inevitable, after all. And I was ready for this dreary moment. 

It seemed to be April. I was on my way to a guitar band rehearsal; the instrument was swinging steadily on my shoulders. And there I saw the cat again, just as I had seen her in the winter. I recognized her not by cat’s color, but by the way it crawled on my knees. I couldn't hide my smile, as I had the first time. I wasn't in a hurry to go to rehearsal, so I could stay with her for a while. I stroked her and chatted with her about different things in the life of a unicorn who studied in the eighth grade. I talked to her about the tests, the music, the writing and my classmates. The cat only listened and purred. Apparently, she thought I had been a good conversationalist. Ironically, the cat thought so, not ponies, with whom I had very little in common and had nothing to do with them. I was silent and dreamy, and everyone was more sociable and noisy. In the company of this cat, I felt like myself, and I liked it. Damn it, I didn't get her anything tasty again! Well, the cat didn't seem very angry about it. But the time was approaching to 5 pm. I didn't want to be late for the rehearsal. I was playing the first game, so not being there would not be goog. With pain in my heart, just like the first time, I left this cat behind me and rode off to music school. At least it was very easy for me to play that day. The guitar, like a pretty thing, sang under my hooves. The sound was good and pleasant. And we played music that still means a lot to me. It was special and magical "Oblivion". (Wait, am I Fluttershy of Octavia a bit?)

The rehearsal was over, and I went home, happier than ever. A friend with whom I shared an interest in literature lent me a new book that I still loved. I walked and read it at the same time, trying not to bump into lampposts and trees. And guess what: I met the gentle kitty again, who obviously recognized me again. We sat down on a bench, because I was in no hurry to get home. It wasn't too late to run home. The cat perched on my knees, and I read the book and stroked it, listening to its purring. And I didn't care if my pants had to be washed. These are small things! There was another light-colored cat near us, but it was not so bold. And my cat friend, who was a wonderful companion for me, didn't treat her very well. I laughed at their funny muzzles.

But I didn't think that was the last time I saw her. I didn't even say goodbye to her, which is why I blamed myself for. So I only patted her on my knees three times. That was not enough! And I didn’t feed her any time! (There is no doubt I am not Fluttershy)

At least I can remember that three times. Maybe there were more of them, but my memory refuses to accept these moments. No, thank Celestia, my cat friend is not dead. I had just moved to another city, and obviously that's why I couldn't see her anymore. I remember coming back here for the holidays, but then I forgot about it and didn't try to find it. This little friendship was washed away by the flood of new life in a new city. It was a brief but glorious moment of my existence.  

I feel a rush of memories and longing. I even sobbed one time. These memories were both pleasant and painful. I will hope that when I return home for the holidays, I will find her and invite her to my knees  again. Even if it never happens, and even if it never stays in my memory, our friendship with this cat will always live in my heart. The heart is the best memory center, but it can be stirred by very good book and the most wonderful and important memories from your life.