THE CAT'S CACHE OF STORIES Story 1 The cat mentioned that she has a lot of stories to tell and share. The travel has made her poorer in cash but richer in resources of reflection. Bad hair moods; nothing to wear days; illness, day’s work exhaustion are nothing compared to the miseries of some people who went downhill and still feeling so discouraged that they do not have a clue where to go next. Substantial investments in stocks, penny or blue chips and plenty of money in the banks do not necessarily assure one of secured future. This was a bitter lesson for millions of people who lost their lifetime savings in the once beautiful Wall Street that has made people undergo the reverse cycle of rags to riches for many. One writer likened this to a Big Bad Wolf huffing and puffing in order to blow down the house. It turns out that even the houses that were made of sturdier materials were not spared from the huff and puff. The couple in the story lost their millions too. Not because of bad investments but because of a tragedy.I met them thru real estate agency owner-friend. They are selling their last piece of property. To protect the identity of the couple, suffice to say that they were able to belong to the millionaire’s club due to the creative talent of the wife. They enjoyed prosperity until their children grew up and have their own families. Then the tragedy struck. It came without a warning. The death of a member of a family was slow. It drained their resources. As if it is not too much, two members of the family died after incurring huge hospital bills. The woman confided that her son said that it hurts to be poor again, to be ignored by former friends, whispered about , shamed silently behind smiles. But what hurt most for her, was the separation from her grandson who was taken back by the parents who migrated to another country in order to seek greener pasture. The child pratically grew up with them. The boy slept in their bed. The husband shamelessly said that he cried when he left and he is still crying every time he misses his hugs. To the couple, the money and properties that were gone are nothing compared to the loss of the boy. The parents must have also difficulty getting the boy to love them. Time heals wounds. Years after when he comes back, he may not even remember the life shared with the grandparents. Quotation: Riches are gotten with pain, kept with care and lost with grief.