Welcome to the Home of our Story

My Mom told me that hanging a black wreath on the front door is a traditional sign of grieving. I spray painted an old wreath and put it on the door. I don't think it looks "nice"... I think it looks TRUE.

Sunday night as we were going to bed Charlotte said, "Wouldn't it be funny if there was a family of cats that could sing?" Since I wanted to get her off to bed more than I wanted to explore this idea I said, "That would be very funny. You think about what that would be like as you are falling asleep. In the morning we will write out the story and illustrate it." In the morning Charlotte reminded me of this idea and we got to work writing her story. She dictated the story to me and I wrote it down. We have three or four illustrations working, too. I helped her with a few transitions, but the work is nearly all of her own creation. We are both proud of this effort.

The Singing Cat Family

by Charlotte Fawcett (published with permission)

It was a cold, dark night and the family of cats that knew how to sing was up on the stage practicing opera. They were good at it. A cat they had never seen before walked into the opera singing. The cat was black and scary. They were afraid and ran away. The big black cat said, "Oh dear! I didn't mean to scare you! I just wanted to listen to the opera."

The family of cats was surprised. They turned and looked back at the black cat. They thought he looked cute. He looked sorry. The cat family said, "What is your name? Where did you come from? Are you lost?" The black cat said, "My name is Chocolate. I was walking through the woods and I heard your opera singing. I wanted to come in and listen. I certainly didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry. Please tell me what you were singing." They said, "We were singing about our family. A person in our family has died, Chocolate. We are practicing for her funeral. Her name is Lonely."

Chocolate said, "I'm so sorry your cat died. Can I come to the funeral?"

The cat family said, "Oh sure, you can come. Our family loves to sing. When we sing it helps us grieve. We miss Lonely so much. Would you like to hear the song?"

Chocolate said, "Sure I'd like to hear the song."

So the cat family began to sing. They sang,

Our child is Lonely.

She has died.

Our child is Lonely,

We are lonely, too.

We are grieving just because we love her.

Her name is Lonely.

We love her so.

The music was so pretty, but it made Chocolate's heart ache. Chocolate could almost feel the cat family's grief in his heart. He said, "Thank you for sharing that song with me. I don't have a family. I feel lonely, too." From that minute on the cat family welcomed the black cat into their home. Chocolate finally had a family and the singing cats sang a happier tune.

THE END

Charlotte is telling her own story. She is grieving, but not in despair. Thanks be to God.