The Thing About Blue - Rohail Adnan

You’re probably thinking of a color when you think of the word blue but that’s not true. Blue is my cat, a calico. Once a lonely stray feline who became a friendly companion that I’ve grown to love. I named her Blue because that’s my favorite color. It surrounds her like an aura, adding to her endearing personality, differentiating her from the rest of the aggressive territorial street cats in my neighborhood. I found her shivering in my garage on a rainy day, hissing at me when she saw me, anticipating a predator. Her eyes softened when she saw that I came in peace, bearing a bowl of milk in hand. A year later, she’s more than a pet to me; she is my buddy. Her loyalty manifests in her ability to listen, which is uncommon for cats. The second I whistle for her, she always comes bounding across the street towards me. It’s like our top secret whistle code, a secret handshake of sorts. I love seeing her run on her tiny paws, her tail upright and swinging, tell tale signs a cat is happy. Blue follows me everywhere, my personal shadow. She makes me laugh when she plays with my shoelaces and stumbles over them.

Surprisingly, Blue isn’t all fun and games with other people in the community. She doesn’t outright attack them but I can tell she is wary about others. I don’t blame her, the life of a feral cat must be extremely tough, having to claw at everything you want. Perhaps it was fate that brought her to my door? I’m not sure, but I find solace in the fact that the second she sees me strolling, she knows she has someone in her corner. One of my favorite memories with Blue is when she rubs her head against mine as if she’s saying, "We're in this together." Those moments are reassuring, especially when you come back from having a terrible day. After a difficult day, Blue is always there to rest her head on my leg. This is her way of letting me know that everything is going to be alright. Her mere presence feels like a warm hug. I admit she’s helped me more than I’ve helped her. I’ve learned the importance of loyalty and friendship from Blue. A sacred bond that is tied together by nothing except mutual respect. In today’s world of self isolation, any connection formed is a welcome one.

With her gentle nature, soft fur, and striking huge eyes, I believe she can win anyone over if she wants to. I built her a comfortable wooden “cat shack” in my garage with some pieces from a broken drawer, newspaper and woolen blankets. She doesn’t stray too far into the neighborhood but seems to keep a watchful eye over the streets during her daily strolls. My brother calls her the “mayor of the block” because of how authoritative she looks as slinks around different gardens. But no matter where she goes, I can always count on her to come home. Her unwavering loyalty towards me feels like a warm reassurance. I’ve learned how to appreciate love in the little things thanks to Blue. She has taught me that even minuscule things that may seem insignificant to someone like a non audible purr or a playful paw, can brighten up one’s day.

I never imagined to find love because of a stray cat but I did and it taught me that love comes in all shapes and sizes, all you have to do is let it in with open arms. You’ll be surprised at how transformative it is.

How Boxing Saved Joey’s Life

Joey was not an ordinary kid.

He was worse.

And not because there was anything wrong with him, but because he didn’t believe in himself.

I first saw him in my neighborhood, struggling with his bicycle. I walked over to him and adjusted his bicycle chains after which he gave me a big grin.

He was the new kid on the block and in middle school, newbies get picked on. Poor Joey. That’s how I came across him the second time. Joey was surrounded by 3 older boys, freckled and glaring at him, calling him names. He was trembling and looked down, frozen on the spot. My first instinct was to help Joey because I had been bullied when I was his age. I looked over at him, willing him to stand up for himself but he didn’t do it. Finally, I went up to the boys and they dispersed after they saw a senior who meant business. “Bullies are just cowards if you think about it,” I said as I helped Joey stand up. He wiped tears from his eyes, cheeks flushed. “T-thank you,” he stuttered. “No need to thank me Joey, but you have to do something about this.” He nodded. He knew as well as I did that if you let someone take a jab at you once, they wouldn’t hesitate to do it the next time. So, I took it upon myself to teach him boxing. At first, Joey was hesitant. He told me the thought of fighting seemed scary to him. “That’s not true. Boxing isn’t about fighting. It’s about getting stronger and becoming confident in the process.” And so, Joey agreed to train with me. We started with the basics. I taught him the orthodox stance and different variations of boxing punches that I learned when I was a beginner. He was nervous at first but willing to make a change. And that was enough. I witnessed Joey get a little better after every session and slowly his confidence started to shine through. Like the moonlight after an eclipse. I showed him a secret trick that was guaranteed to skyrocket his confidence even more. The trick was to channel all negative emotions such as pain, depression, and anxiety into strength and use it as energy to become the best version of yourself. It wasn’t just about the punches and Joey was starting to see that.

As we kept practicing boxing techniques and drills, I saw a new side of Joey. He walked taller, smiled more, and even looked people in the eye. He told me he felt stronger, not just physically but mentally as well. I was quick to remind him that boxing isn’t about starting fights and the best way to win fights is to pacify the other person without throwing a punch. One day, as I was walking across the middle school, I saw Joey surrounded by the same burly boys who were teasing him yet again. Joey spoke up this time, his voice trembling but he didn’t let that sway him. The bullies didn’t listen. Their abuse worsened and became even louder. Witnessing Joey’s development over the week had given me enough confidence in him because I didn’t feel the need to interfere this time. I could see Joey getting nervous but was standing his ground. One of the bullies pushed Joey on the ground and the others stood there laughing at Joey. I could see that he was close to tears until he took a deep breath and got up. The bully swung at him, Joey ducked, rolled and extended a punch at him, getting him right in the nose. It was muscle memory to him as he had practiced this technique with me during our sessions together. I was proud of Joey because he finally stood up for himself. The bullies retreated and left Joey alone. He took a deep breath and started walking towards me, chest puffed with pride. Joey relayed every single detail of the fight to me and vowed to help other kids like him so they could stand up to bullies. My heart swelled with pride for Joey, seeing how far he’d come. Helping him was one of the best things I’ve ever done. In a way he had shown me the truth of obtaining true fulfilment and that is by taking charge of your life, learning discipline and becoming stronger inside and out.

Seeing Joey on a journey of self-improvement and standing up for others was a win bigger than any fight.