The heart of the cat thudded quietly within its chest, thoughts scampered off in all directions, its spirit ached. What could have happened, that his owner had given him to strangers? Why had she abandoned him, left him adrift?
When Alice was given an entirely black British Shorthair as a housewarming present, she stood frozen in disbelief, her mind spinning.
Her modest secondary one-bedroom flat, which shed scraped together every penny to buy, still felt bare and unhomely. Other troubles also pressed for her attention.
And now, a kitten. Recovering from the shock, she gazed into the kittens startling amber eyes, sighed, smiled faintly, then turned to the gift-bearer and asked,
Is it a boy or a girl?
A boy!
Alright then, youll be called Jasper. She addressed the kitten gently.
He opened his tiny mouth and obediently croaked, Meow
*****
Turned out, British cats were rather agreeable creatures. And now, three years had slipped by with Alice and Jasper living in amiable closeness. More than that, time revealed Jaspers soul to be tender, with a heart almost too big for his furred chest.
He greeted Alices return from work with joy, kept her warm in dreams, sat snug beside her through telly marathons, and trailed her during the most mundane chores.
Life with Jasper shimmered in new hues. How comforting, to be awaited at home by someone to share both laughter and sorrow someone who understood half a word before it was spoken.
It seemed life ought to be bright and simple, but
Recently, Alice began to notice an odd ache on her right side. At first, she blamed an awkward twist, maybe a pulled muscle, then greasy takeaway. But when the pain grew sharp, she visited her local GP.
When the doctor named her illness and explained what lay ahead, Alice wept into her pillow the whole evening. Sensing her gloom, Jasper pressed close, purring in gentle ripples to soothe her pain.
Before she knew it, the purrs lulled her into sleep. By morning, resigned to fate, she decided not to trouble her family with the news, sparing herself pitying looks and the awkward scramble to offer barely useful help.
She clung to a droplet of hope that the doctors might conquer her malady. They suggested a course of treatment to improve her prospects.
Then arose the question: what to do with the cat? Deep down, as she faced her sickness and dark endings, she resolved to find Jasper a loving home.
She wrote an ad online, offering a pedigree cat to responsible hands.
When the first caller asked why she was parting with an adult cat, Alice without really knowing why claimed she was expecting a baby and had developed an allergy to cat fur during pregnancy.
Three days later, Jasper, with all his bits and bobs, was sent off to new owners, and Alice settled into hospital
Two days after, she phoned Jaspers new household to check on him. Amid countless apologies, they told her hed run away the very evening they took him in, and was nowhere to be found.
Her first impulse was to bolt from the hospital and search for her runaway friend. She even pleaded with the nurse on duty, who firmly scolded her and sent Alice back to her bed.
Her roommate, a frail older lady, noticed Alices turmoil and quietly asked what was wrong. Alice sobbed out her story.
Dont grieve yet, dear, said the petite old woman. Tomorrow a top London specialist is meant to come see me. My diagnosis isnt hopeful my sons a businessman, wanted to transfer me to another clinic, but I refused.
How he arranged it, Ill never know, but he did. Ill ask if that doctor can have a look at you too. Maybe things arent as hopeless as they seem. She patted Alices shoulder with warm assurance.
*****
Stepping out of the carrier, Jasper realised this was no familiar place. A strange hand reached towards him, eager to stroke his glossy coat
The cats nerves snapped; he smacked the hand with his paw and darted into a shadowy corner.
Paul, leave him be for now, let him settle, a soft womans voice drifted to Jasper, but it was not Alices voice.
The cats heart thudded, adrift among swirling thoughts, his soul aching. What had he done to be passed to strangers? Why had his beloved owner forsaken him?
Terrified amber eyes scanned the room. Then he spotted an open window. In a streak of black lightning, the cat shot across the floor and leapt outside!
Luckily, it was only the first floor, and beneath the window lay a soft, well-kept lawn. Thus began Jaspers surreal journey home
*****
Alices awaited specialist materialised as a pleasant woman in her mid-forties named Mary. She carefully studied the notes, then asked Alice to lie on her left side for an examination.
Mary prodded gently, tapped, asked about the nature of the pain, then pored over the chart again, repeating several checks on mysterious medical devices.
Alice expected nothing hopeful, returning to her room where her companion lay resting.
Well? What did she say, love? the old woman wondered.
Nothing for now. Theyll come back to talk, Alice replied quietly.
I see. Well, bad luck for me she confirmed the diagnosis. Her roommate said sadly.
Im very sorry and thank you, truly, for everything, Alice whispered, not knowing how to comfort someone who knew her own end was near.
A half hour later, Mary entered with several other doctors.
Well, Alice, Ive very good news for you, she beamed. Your illness responds well to treatment. Ive already ordered your medication. Stay for two weeks, let us look after you, and youll walk out healthy!
When the doctors left, the older lady spoke:
Thats wonderful news. Im glad I could help bring you one last piece of luck. Be happy, dear, she added, with a thin smile.
*****
Jasper had no guiding star, nor did he know how to find one. He simply followed a faint internal compass, his feline inspiration leading him through hedges and moonlight. The path through thorns and wonder was full of perils and oddities.
Never having learnt the streets, this dignified British tom transformed in a day into a scruffy predator, instincts sharpened to a fine point.
Dodging bustling avenues and thundering lorries, Jasper crept and scampered, hurtled like a shadow away from barking dogs, darted up trees with wild abandon all towards his single goal
In one quiet, leafy garden, escaping the chaos of traffic, he found himself nose-to-nose with a seasoned local tom.
Sizing up Jasper instantly as an outsider, the grizzled cat gave a menacing yowl and lunged. In a flash, Jasper shed his aristocratic airs and rose to the challenge against this alleyway gangster.
The fight was brief. The battered local king retreated disgracefully into the hedges, leaving Jasper with a slightly torn ear as a badge of honour.
It was only natural. The local was defending his patch, but Jasper was compelled by one thing only: home.
Onward Jasper slogged. Remembering ancient feline ancestors, he learnt to nap in tree forks, choosing branches that cradled his weary body.
Oh, how shameful! Jasper grew skilled at scavenging food from bins, stealing scraps from yard cats fed by kindly neighbours.
One time, a rough gang of dogs chased him up a feeble sapling, their barks echoing as they leapt and thumped at the trunk.
People gathered at the commotion, shooing the dogs away. One woman enticed Jasper with a slice of tasty sausage.
Hunger and dread clouded Jaspers mind; he crept down, allowed himself to be stroked, even carried indoors. Yet
After a rest and a bite in the warmth, Jasper remembered his quest, slipped after the woman into the stairwell and dashed into the hallway, the door miraculously opening he continued his journey home
*****
Released from hospital, Alice set off alone back to her flat, the words of her elderly friend still echoing: Be happy. Relief and wild joy bubbled about her she was healthy, the worry had lifted.
But her heart thudded with sorrow for Jasper. How could she return to an empty flat, with nobody to greet her at the door?
No sooner had she crossed the threshold than she rang Jaspers former adopters, asked for their exact address. Arriving, she learned precisely how he had slipped away, and resolved to follow his trail.
People told her it was hopeless more than two weeks had passed, surely a housecat couldnt survive on city streets. But Alice refused to accept it.
She walked, searching every garden, peering into playgrounds and garages, trying to think like a cat whod never seen the world. She called Jaspers name, peered into black basement windows.
Near home, she realised there was no trace of him and surely he couldnt have found his way across the sprawling city, the route that had taken her two hours even with all the delays.
She entered her estate with tearful eyes and a heavy heart, her soul weighed down by longing. Behind the blur, she noticed, approaching along the pavement, a black shape moving slowly towards her.
A black cat, flickered in her mind. Alice halted and stared. And then, understanding exploding in her chest, she sprinted forward, crying,
Jasper!
The cat did not run; he had no strength left. He sat, blinking with joy, and with a tired, grateful squeak, he croaked, I made it!Alice scooped Jasper into her arms, holding him close against her heart. Tears ran down her cheeks, wetting his battered fur, but Jasper only purreda raspy, triumphant rumble, low and steady as the feeling of home.
She pressed her cheek to his, whispering promises and apologies, trembling with relief. Jasper closed his eyes and leaned into her, the weariness of every mile slipping away beneath the gentle thrum of her love.
That evening, Alice laid out a feast for her brave adventurer: tender chicken, a saucer of cream, and every treat shed ever set aside. Jasper, too tired for celebration, ate a little and nestled into the familiar nook beside her pillow, just as he had in better days.
They fell asleep together, bathed in the peace that only homecoming brings.
In weeks that followed, Alices body grew stronger and Jaspers torn ear healed, though it always bore a proud little notcha reminder of streets braved and love reclaimed. And though trouble still flickered at the edges of life, neither had to face it alone.
When Alice sat in the morning sun, a mug warming her hands, Jasper curled in her lap, his amber eyes serene. Sometimes, she thought she could hear his heart thudding within him, quietly saying: I am found. I am home.
And so, in a little one-bedroom flatall filled up with laughter, hope, and a purring black catthey continued, together, where the story really begins.
