Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Cat and Dog (09/04/14)
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TITLE: In Need of a Rescue | Previous Challenge Entry
By Brenda Rice
09/11/14 -
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“Just a minute! I’m no animal lover, so you better get off my rug, now!” The kitten sat up and looked at Ajah as if it knew what she was saying. Teasing the kitten with tuna, she led it into the laundry room and slammed the door behind it. “I certainly don’t want a cat, but I can’t very well leave it out in this storm. Tomorrow I’ll take it to a shelter.”
In her bedroom, Ajah turned on her oxygen machine placing the nubbins in her nostrils. The whirring sound normally worked like a sleeping pill, but not tonight. She stared at the patterns on her ceiling. “I hate stormy nights. They make me feel lonely. Lord, are you listening? Oh well, morning will be here soon.” Ajah whispered.
“How are you today?” Asked Dr. Watts when he entered the room.
“I’m okay, but the humidity has made breathing more difficult.”
“Perhaps it’s time for a breathing machine at night and the oxygen tank during the day. How’s the pain?”
“A five most of the time. My lungs burn more.”
“What side effects are you experiencing—fatigue—anxiety—severe nausea?”
“Fatigue and anxiety. I’m fighting depression too. Since I can’t work, I’m lonely. But I got some good news yesterday. My friend from Florida is coming to visit.”
“That sounds good, Ajah. Try to develop some new interests to fill your time. We should get your infusion started. Call me if you need me.” The doctor smiled and patted her shoulder.
Returning home about noon, Ajah weak and nauseated made herself focus on getting her clothes off piece by piece as she crossed her living room and bedroom before collapsing into bed. Her stomach churned. She prayed for sleep before she started vomiting.
She woke up disoriented and heard a strange sound on the patio. Ajah stumbled to the glass door and slid it open. “Oh, no!” A spotted puppy with floppy ears sauntered in. “Oh gracious—the kitten is still in the laundry room!” She suddenly remembered. Rushing she snatched the door open and a foul smell met her. The kitten brushed against her legs purring.
“Look what you’ve done! And now I have a puppy to deal with! Father, what’s going on with these animals?”
Ajah gagged her way through cleaning the mess and found more tuna for the kitten. “What am I going to feed you—Floppy?” She said to the puppy. Fumbling through her cupboards she found a can of roast beef, and soon the puppy’s tummy bulged as he slept near the floral sofa where Ajah snuggled with the kitten. “Guess you can be Fluffy. Two animals within two days, and I don’t even like animals especially in my house.”
At the vet, Ajah learned Fluffy was a female and Floppy was a male, so the names stuck. Her time became filled with caring for her new pets. She bathed them, brushed them and trimmed their nails. Her patio became an outdoor oasis for them.
Three mornings a week she had chemo. The side effects became more severe leaving her shut in most of the time.
At night the breathing machine forced oxygen in and out of her sick lungs. During the day she pulled her little oxygen tank around with her. She hardly noticed how her schedule had changed. Her days were now filled with making the lives of her pets as pleasant as possible.
Arriving home one day, Ajah saw the light flashing on her phone. She pressed the button and heard her friend’s voice. “Ajah—Carla here. I won’t be coming to visit. A co-worker quit and my vacation has been. . .
She clicked the machine off in mid-sentence. Fumbling with the machine her thoughts amiss until she remembered the prayer she prayed. “I get it, Lord. You were listening to me and You knew Carla wasn’t coming. You also knew these little critters would fill my life with joy.
“I’m not sure if I rescued them or they rescued me. Either way, thank you Lord.”
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God bless~