Alex the Cat soothes broken heart
Aug. 17, 2009
SUSAN LOESCH
CATS IN THE STACKS
As our students began to drift in, Alex and I were in the main hall walking around – or at least I was walking. Alex was enjoying an over-the-shoulder chauffering event.
From down the hall, I heard, “Ms. Loesch, is it true that Big Footsie died?” Gulp. I knew this was coming. “Yes, Makayla, it is true.”
Makayla’s sister piped up, “Makayla was crying.”
“Sure she was,” I said. “I did, too. In fact I cried for two days straight. It’s ok to cry.”
“Did you have a funeral for him?” she continued. “I think we should make a big poster and have Big Footsie’s picture on it and put it up in the hall so everyone remembers him.” I told her that we will decide together how to honor Big Footsie and we can certainly do posters.
I went on to tell her that Alex was going to be our Acting Head Library Cat for now. The first picture I have of Makayla and Alex together is when Alex was a bottle baby and Makayla was a preschooler. She wanted to take a picture of her and Alex so we went to the library to get my camera.
Alex squirmed a bit in her arms as we took pictures and then settled down.
Makayla lay her head on him and said, “You know, I don’t think Alex loves me like Big Footsie did.”
“He will”, I told her. “And you will love Alex just like you love Big Footsie.”
Susan Loesch has been the librarian at the Arkansas School for the Blind for 35 years and is on the board of Feline Rescue and Rehome. She started the library cat program about 10 years ago after much animal therapy research.
Oh my, those two pictures spanning the years are great. I hope Makayla and all the students fall in love with whomever is chosen to be the next library cat.
johnny
Mrs. Loesch recently cared for my beloved cat Phillip until he died August 18, 2009.Many thanks for her love showed to him
My cat Phillip was fostered by Mrs. Loesch and Alex was his friend.