SUSAN LOESCH

CATS IN THE STACKS

There are memorial pages for Big Footsie on the Feline Rescue and Rehome Web site.  My fifth graders have written something to be included there.

From Brandon, 5th grade at Arkansas School for the Blind:

“Big Footsie was my best friend.  I am terribly sorry he died.  He can never be replaced.  He was my friend.  He was the cat I knew the best.  Since the loss, I have decided to do a memorial service for Big Footsie on either Saturday or Sunday with my family.”

From Brianna, 5th grade at Arkansas School for the Blind:

“Big Footsie was the best library cat.  I love all the cats, but I loved him the best.  I loved how he pushed the books off the shelf and played with a ball Brandon and I got him. I will miss him very much. He was the greatest cat I ever knew. Nobody will ever replace Big Footsie. He will always be cherished by the kids and will be missed by everyone including Ms. Loesch and Dr. Cole. We love you Big Footsie. You will always be cherished.”

And a conversation with one of my seniors went like this.

“I cried when I heard about Big Footsie. I remember the first time I met him,” she said wistfully. “I was sitting at the computer and he jumped up and totally freaked me out!  You know, I don’t really like cats that much. I couldn’t help but love him, though, because he wouldn’t let me do anything else.”

My students touch my heart over and over.