Kringle with Dewey One of my favourite cat books is the heartwarming story of Dewey, by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter. A short version of Dewey's story is in a poem I wrote from words found in the book, shared below. Dewey the Library Cat a thousand-mile table of land in the middle of the United States northwest Iowa Downtown Spencer small-town America small gray building January 1988 bitterly cold Monday needed my coffee heard a noise in the drop box low rumble blast of freezing air jammed book wedging it open cold frozen saw the kitten huddled head down legs tucked looked up at me lifted the kitten hands nearly swallowed it weak shaking snuggled head against my heart warm bath water turned grayer shivering turned to soft purring meowing quietly dried with the blow dryer beautiful, long-haired orange tabby could barely stand pads on paws frost-bitten slowly looked up into each face rubbed his tiny head against her hand and purred trusting melted into each person's arms loved no problem falling asleep in public places preferred laps but if they weren't available he would curl up in a box cram all four feet inside and let his sides ooze over the edge like a muffin loved drawers and popping out of them when you least expected antics always drew a crowd People came to the library to see him He made himself available at the front door the smiles the children their mothers smiling, too Story Hour became so calm physically disabled Dewey didn't care rubbed their legs jumped in their laps Crystal squealed first sound I ever heard her make Crystal glowed eyes always blank Now were on fire Crystal was alive happiness exploded best smile in the world he was with somebody he loved whole town laughing club members were used to the Dewey treatment jumping into the center of the table at the beginning of every meeting He would survey the participants walk around to each person sniffing looking chose one lap never rushed featured in all the cat magazines documentary about library cats Puss in Books requests for interviews a star Dewey delivered Job description Reducing stress Sitting to greet the public Sampling boxes for security and comfort Attending meetings as official ambassador Providing comic relief Climbing in briefcases to retrieve needed papers Generating free publicity and being cute seemingly ordinary he was extraordinary Dewey came from humble beginnings he found his place never gave up didn't do one heroic thing he did something heroic every day changing lives one lap at a time - Irene Plett Book details: Vicki Myron with Bret Witter, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World (2008, Grand Central Publishing, ISBN 9780446407410). The sequel, Dewey's Nine Lives, was not as strong. There are also some children's books telling Dewey's story. I read "Dewey the Library Cat" at an open mic literary night in 2015.
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AuthorServant of cats and words, Irene Plett, and friends. Categories
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