Pepper and Tigger began their lives 16 years ago in my neighbor’s shed. As curious kittens Pepper and Tigger came visiting searching for more human attention on my porch. That winter I put an old dog bed and blankets on the sheltered lowest shelf of my potting bench and supplemented the neighbor’s feeding. A year into our acquaintance I discovered an injured Pepper curled in the far corner of the dog bed. His face, ears and eyes were swollen, cut and bloody from bird shot.
No one was home at the neighbors, so I rushed Pepper to my vet for emergency treatment. The prognosis--Pepper would survive with proper care, but lose his eye sight. I visited Pepper at the vet daily. As his health improved his blindness became more apparent. I sang and talked to him constantly. He purred at the sound of my voice and snuggled in my lap. The neighbor refused to help and moved away before Pepper came home from the vet.
Although physically healing Pepper was inconsolable. The darkness that surrounded him was a trap and he kept looking for an escape. Propelled by smell and sound Pepper discovered the open window looking over the porch. He knew his old world full of light and sight was just beyond the window screen. Unable to find a way through or around the screen and into the world of light, Pepper cried piteously.
Suddenly Tigger appeared on the porch side of the window (we had not realized the neighbor had abandoned Tigger also) answering Pepper with worried cries of his own. I opened the front door. From the moment Tigger entered the room Pepper was content. He never again looked for a way out of his dark box. Pepper and Tigger became contented house cats who loved laps and returned our affection one-hundred fold for many years.
Jackhorn, KY
