Dear Jasper

I wanted to let you know that I am taking good care of Dad.  I remember well the time you stopped me in the hall to tell me that you would soon be leaving.  You said that I needed to take care of Dad.  Follow him around the house when he gets home from work.  Jump up into his lap when he sits down.  He really needs you when I am gone.  I was so young that I did not understand what you were talking about.  I got it now.  The day you left was a really bad day in our home.  Mom and Dad took you away, and when they returned, you were not with them.  Everyone in the house was so sad, even Luna.  My brother Moxi did not understand what was going on, so I told him what you had said.  Moxi said, ‘He will be back.’ I knew that was not true, but he had to find out for himself. 

That afternoon, Mom and Allison cleaned the cat room.  Dad dug a hole in the ground near the Corvette.  He put a box in that hole.  I'm not sure what it was, but he was deeply sad.  When Mom and Alli were cleaning the cat room, they opened one of the windows to air out the smell.  Dad took your favorite cat tree outside.  I guess he threw it away.  He left the other cat trees.  Later, Dad saw a cat in the backyard that looked a lot like Luna.  He was unsure if it was her or not, so we searched the entire house for her.  She was not anywhere inside.  It scared everyone that Luna might have gotten out through that open window.  Mom and Alli even drove around the neighborhood looking for her.  She was nowhere to be found.  Later, Allison looked everywhere in the house again and finally found her hiding in a closet way up high and out of sight.  We were all so glad to find her!

The next Friday evening when we all gathered to watch a movie, it was weird that you were not there.  Even though we were all watching the movie, everyone looked sort of sad.  I jumped into Dad’s chair and curled up in his lap.  Being there seemed to help Dad.  After a while, I jumped over to Mom’s chair and curled up in her lap.  She petted me while we watched the movie.  Moxi jumped up into Dad’s lap.  I think he was beginning to understand that you were now gone.  He curled up in Dad’s lap and went to sleep.  Dad petted him gently so as not to wake him.  Vlad lay on top of the couch near Allison.  Vlad was confused as to why you had not been anywhere.   I think he really misses you.  Luna patrolled the house like she always does.  If she was sad, she did not show it.  I think she was, however. 

One day, Dad came home from work. He looked really tired, so he went to his bedroom to take a nap.  Vlad, Luna, Moxi and I went back there to see what he was doing.  They all left when they saw he was asleep.  I remembered what you told me, so I lay on his legs and fell asleep. I later woke up to Dad gently petting me.  I think he was glad to have me there while he took a nap. 

Moxi has been following Will around the house and hanging out with him.  I have been following Dad, just like you told me to do.  I think Dad really misses you and has enjoyed having me take your place.  I heard him say as he was hugging me tight, “Thank you, Lord, for sweet Luca.  You always provide for what we need, even before we know we need it.”  I am not sure what that means, but I will always try to be close to him, just as you were.

We miss you, Jasper!  One day, I hope we can all be together again. I just wanted to let you know that I am taking good care of everyone in the house, just like you told me to. 

I love you!
Luca