Tigerlilly - Lobsang Rampa

its hate and misunderstanding, and the aftermath of suffering
which it causes. One needed only to walk past the Star and
Garter Home for the Disabled, near Richmond Park, to be
reminded how savage human beings can be to each other.
These disabled and otherwise crippled men had been victims
of the First World War.
When one lives away from the mainstream of things one
tends to fall back on one's own resources; so we had plenty of
time to think, read and, on weekends and evenings, explore the
countryside on our bicycles which we had brought with us
from London. Often we cycled along to Walton-on-Thames in
one direction, or to a small place named Addlestone the other
way (not far from Chertsey). Sometimes we would take a train
and go to Woking or Guildford, and one of the nicest doctors I
have ever known lived in Woking. He was Irish and, due to his
abilities as a physician and his natural humanitarian manner,
most of his patients considered themselves fortunate to be in-
cluded in his practice. This GENTLEMAN has gone on to a
higher state, with few regrets and the knowledge that his life
on earth was well worth while.
One day we were riding along towards Heath Road, on our
way home, when we passed a small restaurant and we noticed
a sign reading ‘Kittens available’; so we stopped and made
enquiries. The restaurant owner was a pleasant English
woman, and her cat family looked well and happy; so we de-
cided to have one of her beautiful Silver Tabbies, a gentleman
who was often known as Mr. T. Catt.
T. Catt was very tiny, with a very short tail and a beautiful
sensitive face, and we were quite enthralled at the prospect of
adopting him. In the two weeks we had to wait for him to be
old enough to leave his cat mother we purchased dishes (plates,
saucers and bowls), together with sanitary trays, and a sleep-
ing basket; for cats, and indeed all creatures, are happier with
their own utensils.
Everything was in order by the time we went to collect and
bring him home. He was so small that he would fit easily into
Carl's pocket. And that is how he was transported from one
home to the other.
28