Summary

The short story “The White Cat” by Jim Brannin begins with a physically disabled old lady named Hattie writing a letter. It is about the cats she sees in the back garden every day. She does not know to whom she will address the letter. 

Hattie has no regrets about growing old but feels bad about the lack of opportunities at an advanced age. She overhears her two grandnieces arguing with their mother because neither of them wants to take the food to Hattie and collect her laundry. Hattie lives above them, but they are not close.

Hattie remembers the first time she saw the white cat. He is friendly with people but also gets into fights with Rufus, the house cat. The white cat reminds Hattie of her late husband, Johnny, who also had delicate features and a friendly personality. Johnny used...