As I walk into the kitchen, I spot Kitty sprawled out on the dining table with rays of warm sunlight striped across his jet black fur. Kitty gazes up at me with his huge, green eyes, lets out a soft little cry to say hello and jumps to his feet. He scampers over to me then standing on his hind legs, he puts his paws on my thigh. I pick him up, knowing that after a long day alone, he's dying to be handled. I hold him in my arms as if he were my child, and he immediately begins to almost vibrate. His soft purr gradually gets louder and louder as I caress his little charcoal belly. My arms start to weaken from Kitty's weight, but I hold him a little longer knowing that this is to him Heaven. I realize that I have, for the moment, let go of my schoolwork worries. For some reason, Kitty always has a way of making me do that. It is as if his own calmness just seeps right into me as I hold him.

I put Kitty down and decide that since my mind is no longer scrambling, I will rest a little bit on the futon in the living room. I know he will follow in right after me. It is just like clockwork every time. I lie down, get all settled in and here he comes running into the room to join me. He pounces onto the couch and nestles himself right next to me. I feel his lean, muscular body warming my side. He squirms and curls, trying to find the most comfortable position; then he is still. That is, he is still all except for his fluffy, dark tail. His tail curls and wags continuously as if it were a totally different creature, maybe a little black snake you would find in the yard. It is strange really. you could possibly think that Kitty is sometimes dead because he is so still, but then you notice his tail wagging and it is a complete give away.

As I rest and Kitty sleeps, I look over at him and he looks just like a stuffed animal you would find in a child's room. All of a sudden, I feel him begin to twitch and jerk. I watch him in amusement and I realize that he is dreaming. I wonder what he is dreaming about. His twitches and jerks become more frequent, and he starts to make little sounds. I wonder if he is having a nightmare, if I should wake him up or just leave him alone. I leave him alone and he becomes that cute, little stuffed animal again. I guess the dream is over.

Sometimes when I am lying there with Kitty, I think about what I would do if something happened to him. I would never get to see his enormous, emerald eyes stare at me or see his vibrant, energetic body run towards me. Most importantly, though, he wouldn't be there after those long, strenuous days of work or school to calm me down.