Lucy(Ken DaSilva-Hill) Lucy.


About ten years ago we were adopted, when Lucy came into our lives. A small white bundle of fur, small enough to fit into the palm of my hand, walked into our kitchen, looked around in approval and stayed.
My wife was away at the time, so for me it was nice to have a companion at a difficult time in my life. My mother was very ill and close to passing at this time, and having a small new soul about the place was comforting.
Of course, I made enquiries locally, but without success. Nobody knew where she had hailed from. The first night I travelled out to buy food for her, and created a comfortable and cosy bed next to mine. She followed me about as I moved around the house, and, when I fell asleep on the sofa, I woke to find her having nestled herself into the crook of my arm and very fast asleep. I guessed that she was very young, maybe only a couple of weeks or so old, but she seemed to have confidence in me, and frankly, I fell in love with her.

She would stay. I gave her the name Lucy Slocum, after a British comedy character, Mrs Slocum who was always complaining about her pussy (Cat) - a British joke of course, but a little racy too.

My next project was to build her a small house with her name above the door, and where she could sleep out of draughts during the day on the landing of the stairs. I chose this spot as the central heating pipes warm the floor and I knew she would be comfortable and feel safe. She of course wanted to sleep with me, but the house was used during the day. My mother being close to death meant that I had to visit her every day, so I decided to take Lucy with me. That winter we had a lot of snow, so travelling by car was difficult, and I decided to take her with me on the train and to stay at mum’s until the end.
Lucy travelled in our picnic basket, lined with towels and an old blanket, and I carried my stuff and her kitten food in an old shopping bag. The journey was fun, as a young mum with her two small daughters who were sitting opposite, soon detected the movements in the basket and were desperate for a look at the contents. Lucy was cuddled and played with, given small nibbles and even photographed, nothing seemed to faze her and she made no attempt to scratch or get away from the kids. A cool cat.

I had already made a light collar for her from pink ribbon, and to this I added a short string lead. My concern was that she would get lost again should she need to go out into my mothers garden for her ablutions, and disappear over the fence.
Mum had been provided with a special bed in the front room of the house, a good place as she was surrounded by photos and trinkets collected over her life. She was very weak but still able to talk a little but spent most of the day asleep. My brother and his partner were in constant attendance, looking after her and for a few minutes after I arrived we were all in the kitchen, with me catching up on the situation. Lucy was momentarily forgotten, as I listened to the latest news.
About ten minutes later I went in to see mum again, and there was Lucy, snuggled up on my mothers breast, with my mother looking calm and pleased to have the warmth of the kitten close to her. I felt it inappropriate to photograph this, but now sincerely wish that I had.
Within a day or so my mother had passed away, I was with her when she died, and so was Lucy.

Returning home she made another journey in the picnic basket, and being with her alone in the house gave me some comfort at that difficult time. But now I was used to living with a kitten, and life went on.
By the time my wife returned from her travels, Lucy had become part of the house. She would follow me around, sleep on the pillow next to me, and waken me with a lick in the mornings.
My wife finally arrived back, and in the bustle of cases, bags and welcomes I completely forgot the new addition to the family. My wife was at the kitchen sink, washing up some travel cups when Lucy appeared. The kitten, still tiny and very fluffy rubbed her body against my wife's ankle, and my wife jumped almost out of her skin!
Hearing the scream, I rushed into the kitchen and told her that we now had a cat, sorry, I had got used to her and had forgotten for a moment. Luckily they both took to each other immediately, and we have been a happy family ever since.

Lucy is now, in cat years, an old lady. But she is still sprightly and affectionate, and in lovely condition.
She is laying close to me as I write this, my every movement noticed and studied by her unblinking eyes.
Lucy comforted my mother, and now she is comforting us.
As far as I am concerned she can have the best of everything and I hope that she stays with us for many more years.
I believe she chose our house for a purpose, and decided that it was where she would spend the rest of her life.
XX

C. KDH 2022

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