Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat（公猫）. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.
The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long ago been lost, leaving only the smallest stub（烟蒂，树桩）, which he would constantly jerk（肌肉抽搐） and twitch.
Ugly would have been a dark grey tabby（平纹，斑猫）, striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!"
All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their home or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky（瘦长的） body around feet in forgiveness.
Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hand begging for their love. If you ever picked him, up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earring whatever he could find.
One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his scream and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.
Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought.
Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.
At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.
Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterward thinking
Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.
相关单词：gaping
gaping解释：adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大
gaping例句：
Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。
The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：unnatural
unnatural解释：adj.不自然的；反常的
unnatural例句：
Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗？
She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。
相关单词：twitch
twitch解释：v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛
twitch例句：
The smell made my dog's nose twitch.那股气味使我的狗的鼻子抽动着。
I felt a twitch at my sleeve.我觉得有人扯了一下我的袖子。
相关单词：lanky
lanky解释：adj.瘦长的
lanky例句：
He was six feet four,all lanky and leggy.他身高6英尺4英寸，瘦高个儿，大长腿。
Tom was a lanky boy with long skinny legs.汤姆是一个腿很细的瘦高个儿。
相关单词：frantically
frantically解释：ad.发狂地, 发疯地
frantically例句：
He dashed frantically across the road. 他疯狂地跑过马路。
She bid frantically for the old chair. 她发狂地喊出高价要买那把古老的椅子。
相关单词：earring
earring解释：n.耳环，耳饰
earring例句：
How long have you worn that earring?你戴那个耳环多久了？
I have an earring but can't find its companion.我现在只有一只耳环,找不到另一只了。
相关单词：kindly
kindly解释：adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地
kindly例句：
Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
相关单词：wheezing
wheezing解释：v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的现在分词 )；哮鸣
wheezing例句：
He was coughing and wheezing all night. 他整夜又咳嗽又喘。
A barrel-organ was wheezing out an old tune. 一架手摇风琴正在呼哧呼哧地奏着一首古老的曲子。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
相关单词：gasping
gasping解释：adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词
gasping例句：
He was gasping for breath. 他在喘气。
"Did you need a drink?""Yes, I'm gasping!” “你要喝点什么吗？”“我巴不得能喝点！”
相关单词：tugging
tugging解释：n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 )
tugging例句：
Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. 汤姆捏住一个钮扣眼使劲地拉，样子显得很害羞。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
She kicked him, tugging his thick hair. 她一边踢他，一边扯着他那浓密的头发。 来自辞典例句
相关单词：compassion
compassion解释：n.同情，怜悯
compassion例句：
He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。
相关单词：afterward
afterward解释：adv.后来；以后
afterward例句：
Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
相关单词：deformed
deformed解释：adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的
deformed例句：
He was born with a deformed right leg.他出生时右腿畸形。
His body was deformed by leprosy.他的身体因为麻风病变形了。
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