Poor Anna

Well buddy, your furriest best friend died over the weekend. In case you don't remember her when you are reading this. Anna was a big, no giant, furry cat that didn't have a mean bone in her body. Well, she bit me every now and then, but I still don't think she had a mean bone in her body. In fact, your sister Riley used to sit on her like a horse or lay her head on her like a pillow. Riley was only one then, so she wasn't too heavy. I did stop her when I caught her.

Anyways, Anna used to sleep with you and keep the monsters away. At least that is what you told us. She did a good job for her four years of life with you. You were only four when she past away, she was actually quite older.

We heard her crying at 5:30 Saturday morning. I asked you mom if she could go feed the cats. We switched back and forth on that one. She gave them some food and came back to bed. Later in the morning when we were all having breakfast, your mom found Anna. We weren't sure how or when to tell you. We know that you loved Anna. Then a little later, like within an hour, you asked, "Could Anna start sleeping in my bedroom again?"

She had been outside since it became warm. She always loved being outside more than inside. I honestly believe the only inside activity she liked was sleeping on your bed with you. I say that because it seemed to be the only time she purred indoors.

Once you asked, I needed to tell you. It hit you pretty hard, she was your first lost. You decided that you wanted to help me bury her, but you also suggest that we go the lab of one of your cartoon shows to talk to a scientist about saving Anna. That was pretty hard, I had to keep telling you that she was gone.

Today you're at your grandmother's and have told her about Anna. You have mentioned a few times that Anna is cold and that maybe we could have done more. I think you got that from me. I recognized a couple days earlier that she wasn't well. Your mom thought that she got better after a sick morning, but I wasn't sure. I brought her into the house once and she went back to the glass door and cried to go back outside. I took a garbage bag and put it on the ground, then some towels on top of that. I didn't want the wet ground dampening the towels. I figured this way I knew she would be off the ground and dry. Anna was a very fat cat with lots of fur, there was no way she was getting cold. I had talked to your mom about maybe she went into shock and should have been inside, but after thinking about everything I did, I really think it was just her time.

I know it's hard, but it's unfortunately and good that you'll get over it.

Probably the hardest part for your mom and me was seeing you cry in your sleep. We figured that it was probably a dream about Anna. I hope all of this gets better and I hope this short story helps you in the future when you are on my end.

I'm sorry for your lost buddy. I hope you never forget her. She was a very good friend for you.

-Dad