As far back as I can remember I have been able to sense how other people are feeling. And sometimes I could sense how animals are feeling.

The first time I remember it happening was when I was about five or six years old.

I was sitting on my father’s recliner on the back porch of my house. And all of a sudden I had the feeling that something bad was going to happen to my friend, Tiger, who was a big, old orange cat that I loved.

Tiger was a cat that lived in my neighborhood. As far as I knew he didn’t belong to anybody in particular. One day he just appeared in my backyard. The first time I saw him I called out, “here kitty kitty.” And he came right over to me. And I petted him from his beautiful, orange-striped face to the tip of his long, striped tail. I couldn’t help but notice that he had scars all over him. As if he had survived many battles with other Tomcats.

He would purr loudly when I pet him and rub his whiskery face against my cheek. Sometimes I would sneak into my kitchen and open a can of tuna fish and bring it outside for Tiger. He would gobble it up in the blink of an eye. He always seemed as if he was starved. And maybe he was. My father didn’t like cats, he only liked dogs. And he would yell at Tiger and throw things at him to make him run away.

Anyway, it was a really hot and humid summer’s day. I was sitting at the kitchen table under the ceiling fan, when I suddenly had a feeling that something terrible was going to happen to my friend, Tiger. I jumped off the kitchen chair so suddenly that the chair fell over. My mother was sitting at the head of the table. And she said, “what in the world are you doing, Kathleen? Please pick up the chair and sit down and be quiet.”

“Mom, mom I have to go outside something is going to happen to Tiger. I have to go and save him.”

“Kathleen, sit down. Nothing is going to happen to that old cat. He has nine lives.”

I rushed out the kitchen door and I looked out back and I didn’t see head nor tail of Tiger. So, then I ran out front and looked up and down the busy street. And I saw Tiger leisurely crossing the street, and I heard a loud beeping from a car that was barreling down the street. And there was Tiger in the path of the speeding car. Tiger seemed totally unaware of the car that was about to run him down in the prime of his life. But, he saw me and he double-timed it and ran to the sidewalk to see me. I put my arms around Tiger’s neck and I hugged him tightly. I didn’t want to let him go. Tiger wasn’t a fan of hugs and he struggled free and went on his merry way.

Whenever I sense that something bad is going to happen first I get a feeling of heat up the back of my neck and I begin to feel a little dizzy. I also get a weird chalky taste in my mouth and begin to feel nauseous. And then I would get the feeling that something bad is going to happen. Usually, I know immediately who it‘s going to happen to. But, sometimes, I don’t know who it was going to happen to until the last minute and then I have to run outside and warn the person or animal that something bad is going to happen to them. Animals always believe me, but people don’t.

My best friend, Jackie is one of the people I feel closest to and I always knew if sometimes bad or scary was going to happen to her. One time I woke up in the middle of the night and I felt like she was going to get hurt badly or maybe even die. So, I ran downstairs and called her on the phone. Her father answered the phone on the fifth ring. And he yelled at the top of his voice. “Have you lost your mind? You better have a good reason for waking up us in the middle of the night? Who is this?

Back then you didn’t know who was calling until you picked up the phone and asked who it was. There wasn’t any caller ID.

“Hello, Mr. Joy. This is Kathleen from down the street. Please go down to the cellar and check your heater. There is a gas leak because the pilot light went out. And you all are going to die if you don’t turn it off right away.”

He said, “Is this some kind of joke? If you don’t stop calling night and day I’m going to call your Mother and tell her to whip your ass. Do you understand that you must never call us again late at night?“

“Yes, but please, please check the gas leak and the pilot light on the heater.”

I heard him put down the phone. And then I heard him say, “I’m going to give that kid a swift kick on the ass one of these days. Iif she doesn’t stop banging on our door and calling us in the middle of the night.”

Then I ran into my parent’s bedroom and woke them up. “Mom and Daddy there is a gas leak at Jackie’s house and if they don’t go outside right away. They are all going to die. You have to call the fire department right now.”

“My father didn’t wake up right away because he was a sound sleeper. My mother woke up immediately. And she said, “oh for heaven sakes, Kathleen. Go back to bed. Why are you always waking everyone up in the middle of the night?”

“Mom, Mom please get up there is going to be an explosion at Jackie’s house if they don’t turn the gas off. The pilot light went out. I called them and he doesn’t believe me. Please Mom call the fire department.”

My mother sat up. And said, “this better not be a joke, Kathleen. Please let your father sleep he has to go to work tomorrow. Pipe down. I’ll go down and call the fire department and then we’ll wait outside until they show up and we know Jackie’s family is alright. Now pipe down, will you? You don’t have to wake up everyone in the house do you?”

I thought about it for a minute and then I said, “I guess not. But hurry up I want to go down to Jackie’s to make sure they all came outside and they are safe. Hurry up Mom call the fire department I’ll wait outside on the front porch for you to come out.”

When I got outside I looked down the street. Jackie lived three houses away from me. And sure enough, I saw two fire trucks and an ambulance outside their house. So, I ran down the street in my pajamas and bare feet to Jackie’s.

A fireman came out of their front door. And said,”OK, people. There was indeed a gas leak. We have turned the gas off. Later today you have to call your heater company and have them come over and check out your whole heating system. To see what happened and so this won’t occur again. You could have all died in your sleep and been none the wiser. Mr. Joy, what woke you up? Did you smell the gas?”

“No, it was that damn kid. She’s always calling us day and night. She’s a pain in the ass. But I guess she saved our lives this time. Oh, there she is right there. Come here, Kathleen. Thanks for calling Kathleen, you saved all of us. You’re a good kid, even though most of the time you’re a pain in the ass.” And then Jackie’s grouchy father squeezed me so hard I almost screamed. I don’t know if he was trying to hug me or kill me.

Just then my mother arrived on the scene as Mr. Joy was saying I was a pain in the ass, but I saved their lives. My mother hugged me then and said, “Oh Kathleen, I’m so proud of you. I will always believe you from now on. You are a real heroine. How did you know that their gas was leaking?”

“I don’t know Mom, sometimes I get strong feelings that something bad is going to happen. And sometimes I know exactly what is going to happen and when and where. And sometimes I can hear what people are thinking and feeling.”

My mother hugged me again. And then she said, “well, I guess anything is possible. There are miracles.”

My mother believed in all kinds of strange things. But, I never told her I didn’t believe in things like that.  I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Because my mother has the kindest and most loving heart of anyone I ever knew or will ever know. I hugged her tight. And then let her go.

And then my friend Jackie came running over to me and hugged me too. “Thank you, Kathleen. I’m so glad you are my best friend. You saved my whole family. You’re the best.”

And that is when the fireman came out and said, “alright people the show is over. We have aired the whole house out. It’s safe to go back in now. And everybody else should go home and go back to bed. Or you all will be too tired to go to work or school. Good Night. All the firemen came filing out and went back into their respective vehicles and trucks and left. Jackie’s father came over and shook my hand and gave me a little hug. I guess you’re not such a big, pain in the ass. But still, stop calling us all the time. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” I said and nodded. But I had my fingers crossed behind my back. Because I knew something else that was going to happen in their family, but I didn’t know when I should tell them. I decided I could wait a couple of weeks. Because I knew that Jackie’s mother was going to have another baby. And she didn’t even know yet. But I bet she would be really happy. Because now she wouldn’t be alone all day, She would have a baby to keep her company while all the other older kids were in school. And she wouldn’t have to go back to work yet. Like she told me she was going to a couple of weeks ago. Won’t that be surprised?

And best of all I have a surprise for my mother and father. They are going to be taking a trip to Ireland and visiting some of their family that they haven’t seen in years. Since my father is going to win big at the Cherry Hill Race track. And he is going to buy tickets for them to go visit their relatives in Ireland that they haven’t seen in almost twenty-five years. Won’t that be fun?” I can’t wait to tell them.

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