Wednesday Word—Heart

How did these cute kittens worm their way into this tough fire captain’s heart?

Meet Uncle George. He’s not a real Uncle but he was a dear friend to the peeps. George was a captain in our fire department who later moved upstairs to TW. The photo above shows George being helped after getting injured in a fire next door to the peeps. A confirmed bachelor, he lived alone and had never been owned by an animal.

Gertrude nursed her kitties for about a year. MOL! From left to
right: Tippy, Hopesy, Fred & Rusty

Enter the Calico (pronounced the way it looks—Gleeco) family. Gertrude Calico had her family in one of the front yards. She had six kittens but lost one shortly after birth. They came a few days after Syssy had her brood. After Syssy gave birth to her first kitten, George moved her into the hall and provided a birthing box for her. Once Gertrude delivered, he was hooked. Syssy’s three was adopted and George was told to keep one and give away the rest of the Calicos. Did he do it? He did the opposite. One was given away and he continued to feed Tippy, Hope, Friendly Fred and Rusty out in the yard.

This was in the summer. Winter soon came. One day, George came home to find all the Calico kitties and their furrend Wendell shivering against the front door. He gladly opened the door and let them upstairs into his home and his heart. The boys were all safe and warm—all five of them. That left Gertrude outside to fend for herself. He said he didn’t want her because she was mean—she wasn’t called Mean Mama Calico for nothing.

Gertrude standing guard while Hope and Fred play.

George came home one snowy, cold day to find Gertrude huddled up against the door. Her short fur was covered with snow and ice. She knew his soft heart would break for her. Gertrude was promptly escorted upstairs to dry off. The boys and their Mama became your average indoor/outdoor cats although Gertie would have been happy to be an indoor only cat: as soon as one came in, another wanted to go out. All was not without strife. Gertie hated Wendell and would bully him in the house. She’d stand between him and the litter box and dare him to walk past her. She was, after all, Mean Mama Calico.

Both Syssy (top, middle) and Gertrude (w/o tail) sharing a meal with their kitties.

George had a heart of gold and a big soft spot for his cats. He’d talk about how each one of them was different. He loved them to death. His only fault was he didn’t have the heart to have them neutered so TW took care of it for him but that’s another story. Sadly, George passed away before any of his new furry family. His kind heart gave out. The only relative he had wanted nothing to do with the cats. The cats, now seven year old, were tossed back outside. They were once again homeless.

To be continued on Saturday.