Believing Bones

By Jill Jackard

What if some of life's hardest questions could be answered by the most unsuspecting among us? What if the simplest of truths were found in the smallest of hearts? And what if believing was all that was needed to journey there? For what matters most in life is sometimes only seen through the eyes of those whose purpose in this world often goes unnoticed. Believing Bones is a story that remains rooted in the soul long after it has ended. Bones, a white cat, travels a city alone, seeing, both in nature and in the man-made world, many allegories for humankind. Along his journey, he meets nine people whose lives, because of either the choices they made, or simply the choices that have befallen them, have brought them to Bones. He gives them the honesty that comes from an understanding that is far different than our own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Goldminds Publishing
• Release date: Feb 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781942905103

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The Baby

My story began on a day that entices both humans and animals. The sun almost appeared to be smiling a gentle kind of warmth. I had decided to venture into the backyard of a house that had the most wonderful looking grass. In fact, I had never remembered seeing grass like that before and was longing to take a nap. I don’t usually wander into a backyard unwittingly, as one never knows if a dog may be skulking around his territory at the time. However, the combination of the warm welcoming sun overhead combined with the sight of that grass was far too tempting.

The moment my paws touched the ground I knew I had made the right decision. They had taken me far that day and certainly deserved a rest. If you have ever really looked at the pads on a cat’s paw you’ll have noticed the remarkable resemblance they have to the skin on the sole of a human foot. The pads seem so delicate when touched, yet they have the remarkable ability to toughen up as needed. However, it is only when one grows more confident in their steps will the pads actually begin to take them places. And so I sank my tired paws into the spongy grass. The sun appeared to illuminate each blade in a way that made the entire backyard seem like a giant green ocean. I curled my body into a loose ball and let the cool grass surround me. I had barely closed my eyes when I heard the loud voice of a man.

What is that cat doing on my grass, he cried out. I’ve spent day and night tending to it. Have you ever seen that pitiful looking cat around here before? Go on cat! Get out of here!

I knew that I should have left then. It would have been as simple as hopping back over the fence and continuing on my way just as I had done my entire life. But today was different. Even though I could tell that the man was clearly agitated with my presence in his yard, I somehow sensed that I needed to stay.

Oh, honey, his wife said, it’s just a cat. He isn’t going to do anything to the yard. And just look at him; it’s as if he knows we’re talking about him. Come here little kitty: here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty.

I knew at that point that I certainly wasn’t in any danger, and I thought it might be nice to have my fur stroked for a short time. We cats are proud animals and can rarely resist a little attention now and then. I leisurely walked over to the woman passing right in front of the man whose thunderous voice had disturbed my nap. His eyes narrowed in on me as if I were an enormous tiger instead of a nine-pound cat.

I hope that cat doesn’t crap in our yard. All the time I’ve spent working on it; the last thing I want is some cat to go about ruining it!

The woman, shaking her head with a slight sigh, suggested that he work on the front yard; after all, that is what people usually notice first.

The man, looking as if he had been stricken with a terrible disease, hurriedly rushed away. The woman was content to sit back and caress me as she fell into a reverie about how far they’d come since the days of their tiny apartment on Oak Street with only a misshapen patch of grass to call a yard.

Who are you? I can hear such a wonderful sound coming from you. I have never heard it before, but I am sure that I would like to listen to it forever.

I slowly lifted my head off the woman’s lap and realized that it was her unborn child speaking to me.

I am a cat, little one. I do not have a name as I have always wandered the streets of this city alone.

I have no name yet either, but that will all change tomorrow. That is when my parents find out whether I am a boy or a girl. I already know that I am a girl. Are you sad being alone? I think that it would frighten me too much to be by myself. I am always with my mother now, and when I am born I have heard that many people will be there to see me. I would like to have you there also. For I can’t imagine anything sweeter than to hear your sound the moment I enter the world.

Humans do not look at being alone the same way that I do. I need only look around to know that I am never alone. Why just imagine a sky so blue and so wide that you can never find the end of it no matter how far you go. Or flowers of every shape, color and size that burst through the ground no matter if someone is there to admire them or not. Ah, the splendor that awaits you. But I am a cat; I am a solitary animal. I do so enjoy the company of humans though, especially ones as pleasant as you. I will purr for you now, Little One.

I continued to purr for the baby until the woman took her away. She was so new to this world, yet ready to become a part of all that it held for her. I promised her that I would come back the next day so that I might know what to call her if I were to meet her again someday. I spent the night under a magnificent hyacinth bush lulled to sleep by the fragrance of its flowers.

As the sky gradually turned the color of tar, I dreamed that the little one and I were together in the grass. She was picking blade after blade and gently laying them on me; her giggling was sure and sweet. And she had a beautiful name.

I waited for the baby all of the next day, circling the house looking for some sign of the woman. I saw other people leave and come back, but there was still no sign of the baby whom I had made my promise to. As the sun sank lower in the sky, the sidewalk began to cool itself down. I lazily stretched out on a chunk of concrete and let the warmth dissipate through my body. I was tired, yet at the same time eager to be on my way. I had been in this area for two days now and could feel a restlessness creeping in on me.

Glancing across the street, I noticed a man with an enormous shiny vehicle. He kept hopping in and out of various seats, running his hands sharply over the metal, all the while looking as if he had just met a great love. But there was something strange in the way that he moved; he seemed inanimate, as if he had somehow become a part of the vehicle itself.

And then I saw a puppy. He was no bigger than I, with chocolate-colored fur that looked like velvet. I guessed him to be new to the man’s life, but already a bit forgotten.