Tiger and Charlie's last residence was a trailer parked in a large rural lot, remnant of a farm, that is now surrounded by subdivisions. It is an oasis of country in a rapidly-expanding suburbia. Tiger loved exploring the area and would spend hours snoozing in the filtered sunlight under the tall trees that dotted the property. Asa, a self-employed painter and handyman, often took Charlie to work with him; Charlie wasn't much as an apprentice, but he did provide companionship and as much love as a small bird can muster up.

On March 30, 2005, while Asa was gone to do a bid on a new job, the trailer caught fire. He had left Tiger and Charlie inside, as he only intended to be gone a few minutes. He returned to find the trailer engulfed in flames, with the fire department already on the scene. The first firefighter to enter the trailer when the fire was somewhat contained emerged carrying Charlie's cage. The fire took everything Asa owned, but his only real loss was that of his best friends.

There is no horror that can possibly equal that of losing any loved one by fire, and the loss of a loved companion cat and his little bird buddy is no exception. Likewise, there is no comfort I or anyone else can give that is sufficient to make the pain go away. It will always be there, but it will lessen in time, and the gut-wrenching sorrow will eventually yield to fond memories.

I've told Asa about the story of The Rainbow Bridge, and he is comforted to know that his lost companions are whole again, and waiting for him. He will rebuild his life and replace those "things" that he needs, but he knows he will never be able to replace Tiger and Charlie. But someday, a new cat will find him, sent by Charlie from the Bridge, or by some quirk of fate we humans will never fully understand. And a little bird will no doubt soon follow, and life will move on.

It's the nature of things.

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Photos copyright Franny Syufy