I saw this story online today.. I HAD TO POST IT. It's truely amazing. Again- Its not mine. You should read it! It's truly touching! -UGLY- "Everyone in the appartment complex where I lived knew who ugly was. Ugly was the resident Tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and shall we say, Love. The combination of these three things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a hole. He was also missing an ear on the same side and his left foot appeared to have been broken badly at one time, and healed at an odd angle, making him look like he was always turning a corner. Ugly was a dark gray tabby, stripped type, except for the sores covering his head, neck and even his shoulders. Everytime someone saw Ugly, there was the same reaction: "THATS ONE UGLY CAT!" All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirt him with water if he entered thier homes, or shit his paws in the door if he wouldn't leave. Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you would give up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet. Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically, bumping his head against thier hands, begging for love and attention. If you picked him up, he would immidiately begin suckling on your earrings or anything else he could find. One day, Ugly tried to share his love with the nieghbors Huskies. They didn't respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mutilated. From my appartment I could hear his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was, he was laying there, still. It was as if Ugly's sad life was almost at an end. Ugly lay in a bloddy puddle, his back legs twisted grossly out of shape, along with a gaping tear in his grey chest fur. As I picked him up and began to carry him home, i could hear him wheezing and gasping. I must be hurting him terribly, was all I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, suckling sensation on my ear. Ugly, so hurt and in such pain, suffering and obviously dying, was begging for affection. I pulled him closer to me and he bumped my hand with his fragile head, and turned one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of him purring.. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battle scarred cat was asking only for a little love and compassion. At that moment, I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to scratch or bite me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at ne completely trusting in me to relieve his pain. Ugly died in my arms before I could get him inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion on what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures or talk shows ever could. For that, I will always be thankful. Ugly had been scarred on the outside, but I was on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my all for those I cared for.. Many people wish to be richer, successful, well liked or beautiful, but for me- I will always try to be Ugly." So touching!!