**A Mothers Heart**
«Mum, who is Mrs. Hobbs? Is she our owner? Then why doesnt she feed us properly?» Little curious eyes stared up at Daisy, waiting for an answer. «No, sweetheart, she isnt our owner. Shes just an old, sick woman. She doesnt know what shes doing…» «Mum, will the big cats eat me like they did my sister?» whispered Ginger, trembling with fear. Daisy sighed heavily. «No, my love, they wont eat you! I promise!» She began licking her favouritenow her onlychild, and Ginger slowly calmed down, his tiny breaths evening out as he drifted off.
Daisy was born in the basement of a London high-rise. There had been four kittens. Her mother was young, barely more than a kitten herself, and when another tomcat appeared, she forgot all about her litter, chasing after him without a second thought. Still, Daisy remembered her fondly. Despite her flightiness, her mother had given them tendernessfed them, taught them to eat on their own. Once she was gone, the kittens had no choice but to leave the basement for the streets. At first, they stuck together in the courtyard, where kind neighbours sometimes left scraps. But time passed… Their grey brother was hit by a car. Their striped sister was torn apart by dogs. Daisy mourned them, weeping over their lifeless bodies until the caretaker chased her away. She watched as he scooped their tiny, stiff forms onto his shovel and tossed them into the bin. The fate of her other sister remained a mystery.
As she grew, Daisy learned the rules of the streets. She kept to herself, mastering the art of invisibility.
Then came hellMrs. Hobbs. Daisy met her by the bins, where the woman rummaged eagerly, stuffing things into her enormous bag. Mrs. Hobbs fixed her with a wild stare and slurred, «Puss, come here, come to me!» No one had taught Daisy to fear toothless old women, so she stepped closer, hoping for food. Suddenly, Mrs. Hobbs grabbed her under one arm, snatched up her bag, and scurried into the building.
Inside the flat, Daisy was dropped onto the floor. «Youre Daisy now.» And just like that, she was forgotten. Dozens of hungry eyes turned toward her. «Puss-puss-puss!» came Mrs. Hobbs voice from the kitchen as she sorted through her «treasures,» and the cats, losing interest in Daisy, rushed to her call.
The flat was a nightmare. Mountains of filthy clothes, piles of unwashed dishes, the stench of urine and faeces, swarms of flies and cockroaches. And catsso many cats. Most were starved, sick, cowering. A few were strong, aggressive, Mrs. Hobbs favourites. Why she kept the others, no one knew.
Daisy adapted. She found a hiding spot and stayed there.
A month later, horror struckshe was pregnant. There had been a tomcat outside, charming but fleeting. Now, in this hell, her kittens would be born.
She gave birth silentlytwo perfect babies: a black girl, like her father, and a ginger boy, just like her. Button and Ginger.
She guarded them fiercely. But hunger drove the other cats closer, and soon the kittens, eyes now open, began sneaking out of their hiding place.
The memory of that day haunted her. Exhausted, Daisy had dozed off for just a momentthen came Buttons shrill cry, the crunch of tiny bones. Her little girl had slipped out. Daisy snarled, fur bristling, ready to fightuntil she heard Gingers trembling voice: «Mum… did they eat Button?» She turned and saw his huge, terrified eyes. What would happen to him if she died now? She swallowed her rage, shielding him with her body. «Well escape,» she whispered. «Ill save you.»
«Open up, police!» A loud knock at the door. Mrs. Hobbs panicked, scrambling about. «Weve had complaints from your neighbours!» They werent leaving. With a sigh, she finally opened the doorand Daisy bolted, Ginger clutched in her teeth.
James stared into her pain-clouded eyes, tears rolling down his cheeks. He understood. «Dont worry, Ill take care of him. Hell be safe.» Beside her, Ginger sat unusually quiet, licking her face. Daisy was dying. Her heart, broken by loss, had given out.
Rain fell the day she died. James buried her in a birch grove, then stood with Ginger by her grave. He remembered how theyd come into his lifea dark time, just after losing his parents in a crash. Duty had called him to that foul flat, to the mad old woman, to the ginger cat and her kitten, frozen at the door. Shed looked at him pleadingly. Hed crouched beside them. «Ran away? I dont blame you. Come live with me. I could use the company.»
He called her «my beauty.» Ginger kept his name. James spoiled thema towering cat tree, the finest food. When Daisy fell ill, he begged her to stay. But her eyes had dimmed, as if saying, *Let me go.*
Now Daisy ran across the rainbow, Button at her side. «Mum, what about Ginger? Hes all alone!» Daisy smiled. «Hes not alone. Look!»
The rain stopped. A rainbow arched over the trees. James lifted Ginger, kissed his damp nose. «Well be alright, mate.» And they walked to the cartwo wounded hearts, no longer alone. A strong, grieving man and a little ginger cat.
