The following essay "Life with Ralf - my pet rat's tale" was composed when I was ten years old.
The moment had
come.
As the doors
of doom closed, tears fell like arrows of devastation from my mournful chestnut
brown eyes. Just then, memories of Ralf like images on a movie reel started
playing back in my mind …
The day had
finally arrived.
A few days
earlier, I had managed to persuade Father and Mother into allowing me to adopt
a pet from SPCA. Oh, I can still smell the sweet scent of success of my
momentous victory over Father and Mother.
Entering the
SPCA, I was met with a blur of animals in their enclosures, from cats lazing
around to dogs barking for attention. However, none of the animals caught my
fancy at first sight.
Just then, at
the corner of my eye, I spotted Ralf.
At first when
I saw Ralf, it could barely stand up. Then struggling to take a few steps
forward, it looked like an old man needing the support of a walking stick. Its body
seemed like it was scorched. I simply could not believe my eyes. What had
happened to this poor little rat? Asking the SPCA assistant, I found out that
Ralf once belonged to a boy who often mistreated it. The boy often forgot to
feed Ralf. What made me especially shocked was that the boy had actually used
matchsticks to light up Ralf’s once beautiful pristine-white fur, reducing it
to its current coal-black charred state. The SPCA assistant added that Ralf
faced a possibility of contracting skin cancer. I was totally enraged and shocked
when I heard about the boy’s cruel acts. At that moment, my eyes met Ralf’s.
Ralf’s eyes appeared to be glowing with hope and anticipation. It seemed to
want to get out of there and I could be its one and only savior. Taking pity on
Ralf, I made up my mind to keep Ralf as my pet.
That day
marked the beginning of my life with Ralf.
With proper
care and help, Ralf recuperated and was able to scamper around in its cage
after several weeks. I was intoxicated with cheer and joy when I saw Ralf
returning to health. The days that ensued saw me as cheery as a sunbeam, often
playing with Ralf and laughing gaily at its antics. What could possibly go
wrong? However, a blissful life for Ralf was not meant to be …
The sun was
scorching hot.
Despite the
immense heat and my heavy school bag, I willed myself to walk briskly back
home. I really missed Ralf when I went to school and wanted to make up for
“lost time” with it.
Stepping into
my room, where Ralf’s cage was displayed prominently on my mahogany desk, I was
puzzled not to see the usually excited Ralf scampering to greet me. Instead, I
found it hunched in the far dark corner of its cage. I was concerned. Reaching
out gingerly and cuddling Ralf in my hands, I spotted a few large red lumps all
over its body. Oh dear, was this a sign of the skin cancer the SPCA assistant
had mentioned that Ralf could end up contracting? But it cannot be, can it?
Terrible thoughts and fears on what was to come crept into my mind like an
insidious snake. To confirm my innermost doubts, I resorted to telling Mother
about Ralf’s red lumps. Moments later, Mother and I rushed helter-skelter to
the nearby veterinarian, “Vets for Life”.
To my horror,
my utmost fears were confirmed irrevocably. The veterinarian offered me with two
options to decide upon. One option was to let Ralf bear with its current
agonising pain and suffering until its passing on which could happen in the
next couple of weeks. The other was to get done what most pet owners dread to
do – to put Ralf to seep. Not an easy decision to make. I chose the latter
after a heart-wrangling deliberation. I did not want Ralf to suffer any more.
With a heavy
heart, I stretched my hand gingerly to stroke Ralf. Its glistening eyes
appeared sad yet tinged with gratitude – sad to leave us; grateful to me for
ending it current agony. Unable to hold back our emotions, Mother and I cried
inconsolably, lamenting our impending loss.
“It’s time,” the
kind and compassionate veterinarian, Dr Chan, murmured as he placed his had gently
on my right shoulder and motioned for us to leave the room. We cuddled Ralf for
the last time, looked deeply into its eyes and mouthed our tearful farewell to
Ralf before leaving the room reluctantly.
To this day,
Mother and I could still recall vividly the expression on Ralf’s face – one of
relief and peace. Even now, the incident is still etched deeply in my mind and
I will often at times look up to the skies and hope that Ralf has found
happiness and is resting in peace in the heavens above …
It was indeed a sad day - may Ralf rest in peace. How did you find this story?
If you like reading this essay, you may also like:
Till the next time,
had is hand
ReplyDeleteyes
ReplyDeletehi
ReplyDelete