Relief, and sadness
Last night Son phoned me. I could tell by his voice that something was wrong, and since I knew that they had just been visiting Jack, I was worried. Son said he was just phoning to warn me that, just as they were leaving, Scruff had been hit by a car and had died. For a split second there it was huge relief that washed over me, I had thought that something terrible had happened to one of the Grandchildren. Then I heard Daughter-in-Law speaking in the background and from her voice I could tell she was really upset and the relief turned to sadness as son told me how they were all, including Jack, standing in the front garden saying goodbye when Scruff rushed across the road towards them just as a van sped down the normally quiet residential road. Apparently the kitten did try to run but then just fell to the ground, and was dead almost immediately. Son had been holding Jack and as soon as it happened handed him to daughter-in-law who ran inside the house with him on the pretext of looking for something. Jack doesn't know that his little mate, Scruff, is dead, hadn't noticed what happened, and for that I am really happy. How sad, he was a wonderful cat to have with children. As he had grown up with little ones around he was totally unconcerned by their squeals and would tolerate no end of cuddles and tail tweaking. At the birthday party he was rushing around the garden, joining in and chasing the ball as the toddlers were playing football, totally unfazed by the mayhem that was going on around him. When we had got home Hubby had even commented on what a lovely cat he was, and that is quite an accolade as Hubby is not a cat fan, and I had said what a family cat he really was, he had even been in the room when Izzy was born.
This afternoon Hubby and I are going over for Jack's birthday dinner, spag bol, he chose that as his favourite meal. I'm really thankful for that as his Mummy does cook a variety of very healthy, but to me, totally unappealing menu's, good 'old faithful' will go down a treat with boring old Nanny.