This is the final installment of the Cat O’Nine Tails story by Diane Cresswell. Here she explores patience and kindness, and the final tails of Whisp (not tales, I actually mean tails!)

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Jenny kept a close eye on Whisp’s tail every day. She thought that maybe it was just a fluke, a one time only thing of his tail falling off. Whisp on the other hand knew without a doubt that it definitely wasn’t a one time only process.

Today he was going to lose his eighth tail. He woke Jenny up by hopping up on the bed and onto her head. Whisp wanted Jenny to wake up right now so he batted her head with his paw. Again and again until her eyes opened wide – startled. She turned her head and looked at him. He stared back at her. Suddenly she knew that his tail was about to fall off again. She jumped quickly out of bed, getting her clothes on.

Whisp ran for the front door. Jenny opened it and Whisp ran ahead of her. He knew that it was almost time so he ran faster, turning corners, crossing streets, past houses, apartments, the shopping center until he came to the right corner and stopped. Jenny had a hard time keeping up with him. He sat waiting patiently and with diligence.

Jenny sat, breathing heavily and waited with Whisp. She saw the high school. Good grief, no wonder she was out of breath. The high school was on the opposite end of town from where she lived. She sat on the curb with Whisp waiting it out. From the sky came a high pitched sound and then the school exploded. Jenny stood up quickly, watching thank goodness from a distance, while the high school went out of existence. She looked at Whisp and sure enough, his tail was on the ground and another one was growing out. Soon the one on the ground turned into smoke and disappeared. Whisp turned and headed back home. Jenny followed with a big grin on her face.

Over the years the little girl grew up, finished elementary school, middle school and finally high school – a new one after the other had been demolished by flying debris from space. Whisp knew that as she was growing up, he was getting older. The day came when Whisp knew that he was going to lose his tail for the last time. Jenny was going to college in a month to become a vet, leaving her home and Whisp. Whisp knew it was time to move on. His bones were telling him that he had lived longer than he should have because of the love he had for Jenny and her for him. The day arrived when his tail began to twitch and itch. It was such a beautiful morning. He looked at Jenny with clear eyes. She noticed him staring at her and realized that something was going to happen. Deep inside Jenny knew that whatever was about to happen it was going to be very sad for her. Suddenly she knew what it was. With tears rolling down her cheeks she told Whisp that she was very grateful for every moment that they had had together. She felt humble and had deep humility within. He had taught her a lot – patience, kindness, diligence, charity to others, but most of all, he taught her how to accept life and all that is within it. Her love for Whisp reached deeply into her soul and she knew he would always be with her.

She followed as Whisp wandered around the yard then turned and left through the gate that he had come through many years ago. This time he knew where he was going – to the cemetery. Whisp wandered through the graves until he reached the top of a hill. He stopped under a tree and looked around. His eyes finally rested on Jenny’s face. It was time. She sat stroking Whisp, gently kissed him on the head and then saw his tail fall to the ground. She watched as his final tail disappeared into smoke. No more tails, no more twitching or itching, no more new tails growing or tales to be told. He left. His body in Jenny’s arms became lighter and lighter as he left her. As she held him, his body turned to smoke drifting away on the light breeze that had just arrived.

Everything has a beginning and an end. This is the end of the tale of the nine tails of a cat named Whisp, the cat o’ nine tails.