I was challenged by my friend, Willena Jeane Belden, to post a painting a day for seven days. This is digital art. I just published “The Missing Butler and Other Life Mysteries” (A Collection of Short Stories). These are illustrations from that book.
Day 4 – the fourth story in the book – Nine Lives – Max, a kitten, is curious about Oliver’s past lives. The rumor was Oliver was Buddha in one life.
A snippet from this story:
Oliver took another slurp of milk. “I go back, way back. Ever hear of the pyramids?”
Max shook his head.
“Well, they’re in Egypt, a far piece from here. That was where I spent my first life. Barely weaned when an Egyptian princess took a fancy to me. In the nick of time, too. I was orphaned.”
“Oh?” Max questioned in awe.
“Yes, my mama was hit by a huge obelisk. Faulty construction. Happened back then, too.”
Max looked puzzled. “It’s a huge pillar. Well, never mind. Not really pertinent to the story. There were human lives lost, too. Not that there wasn’t law suits. Shifty lawyers back then, too. But being a cat, I had no recourse. All I cared about was that I lost my mama, along with all my brothers and sisters. But, like you, being the runt, I tagged behind. That saved my life. Maybe it was karma. I don’t remember my lives before being a cat. Maybe it was just dumb, blind luck. I didn’t think so at first. I just curled up into a ball and whimpered until someone picked me up. It was the princess who saved me from a life of begging.”
“A real-life princess? Wow,” said Max. “Was she beautiful?”
“No, not in the least.”
J. Schlenker 
Lovely picture and great snippet too.
Thanks for reading. Sometimes I think no one ever reads this stuff. And, I have to admit, a lot of times I just look at the pictures on blogs, but I’m trying to do better.