My Lucky Charm
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned from My Cat
By Stephanie Escobar

I think that cats are spirits incarnated on Earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without falling through it.
~Jules Verne

Not every eight-year-old would find it fascinating to be followed around the neighborhood by a huge black cat when trick-or-treating. But, then again, not every eight-year-old longs for companionship as I did. Though I was delighted to be making my rounds with my single mom and little brother, there was something about that cat’s devotion to me that made me feel special beyond measure.

“I think he wants to come home with us,” I said to my mom, who reminded me of our imminent move to an apartment that prohibited pets. Surely, such a friendly cat already had a home. I can still see it so clearly: how we left the cat behind in the darkness, me looking back at him apologetically over my shoulder, and him staring after me with unfathomable wisdom. (Keep reading)