Animal Activities #55

A village cat named Lintang. His fur is unassuming grayish-white with a thin black line running along his back, which looks much like carefully drawn natural exhibition. His eyes are a bright yellow, are always on alert, as if they are scanning so they don't miss anything around them. He’s not a particularly handsome cat, but he’s more courageous than any other cat.

Lintang lives in the home of an elderly woman called Mak Sari. Lintang waits on the porch every morning when Mak Sari opens the door. He moans quietly not for hunger, but as if to say good morning and greet her. Mak Sari would often pet his head with a smile, believing that her house was more vibrant with Lintang there. With a modest meal of rice and tiny fishes, Lintang sets out for his rallies to roam the village.

He frequently strolls among the paddies, where he watches low-flying birds and occasionally stalks butterflies, never catching one. Lintang is also the protectress of Mak Sari’s tiny plot of ground. Ratssss that attempt to spoil the harvests always keeps away from them for Lintang's bravery intimidates them.

He’s not big, but his spirit seems to override his fear. One afternoon, a heavy rain was whipped by the wind. Lintang found refuge under Mak Sari’s house on stilts. Then he heard a faint, tinny cry. In the beginning, he considered that it was just the noise of rain whistling in the wind, but the sound became clearer.

Without second thought, Lintang came over. Usually cats and chickens weren’t companions, but Lintang didn’t give it a second thought. He nudged the chick with his nose, attempting to push it toward a drier place. Chick fell a few times but Lintang still calm. At last they arrived at a dry corner beneath the house. Lintang sat down beside it as if to stand guard.

The chick's owner soon came in search of it. When Lintang was sitting silently beside her chick, she did not expect that. Gently, he took the chick in his hands and expressed gratitude to Mak Sari for checking on what was going on. Mak Sari had a proud smile at Lintang, knowing that her little cat had a big heart.

From then on, Lintang was renowned in the village as the brave and kind cat. He showed that kindness would transcendeven other species of animal. In his humble way, Lintang represented that real courage is founded in concern and compassion for other beings.

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