The heart of the cat thumped quietly in his chest; thoughts scattered, and his very soul ached. What could have happened for his owner to give him away to strangers? Why had she abandoned him?
When Alice received a pure black British Shorthair as a housewarming present, she was left speechless for a few moments.
Her modest one-bedroom flat in Manchester, which she’d scrimped and saved to buy, was still bare, with other worries demanding her attention.
And nowthis kitten. Gathering herself, she peered into the kittens golden-amber eyes, sighed, smiled, and asked the person whod brought the furry guest,
Is it a tom or a queen?
A tom!
All right then, she said to the kitten, Youll be called Jasper.
He opened his tiny mouth and obligingly croaked, Meow
*****
She soon found British Shorthairs to be utterly companionable. Now, for three years, Alice and Jasper have lived in perfect harmony. Over time, Alice discovered Jasper was gentle-hearted and had a wonderful soul.
He greets her from work with joy, warms her on chilly nights, watches telly snuggled up close, and follows her around when she tidies up the flat.
Life with Jasper is a riot of colour. Its a joy to know theres someone waiting for you at homesomeone to laugh and cry with, someone who understands you with scarcely a word.
It all seemed happily ever afterexcept
Lately, Alice began noticing a persistent pain on her right side. At first, she thought shed pulled a muscle, then blamed her love of fried food. When the pain grew worse, she made an appointment with her GP.
Hearing the diagnosis and what shed face, Alice sobbed into her pillow the whole evening. Sensing her distress, Jasper nestled up quietly, soothing her with his melodic purring.
Somehow, Jaspers humming lulled her into sleep. In the morning, resigned to her fate, Alice decided not to concern her family with the illnessshe didnt want their pity or awkward attempts to help.
Besides, she clung to a shred of hope that the doctors could help her recover. They recommended a course of treatment which might improve her condition.
This raised the questionwhere should Jasper go? Knowing how her illness might end, Alice resolved to find him a loving new home.
She posted an advert online, offering a pedigree British Shorthair to someone who would cherish him.
When the first caller asked why she was parting with her adult tom, Alice, hardly knowing why, replied that she was expecting a baby and had developed an allergy to cat fur during pregnancy.
Three days later, Jaspercrate, toys, and allwent off to live with his new owners, while Alice was admitted to hospital.
Two days into her stay, Alice rang the new owners to ask after Jasper. Apologising profusely, they told her hed bolted that same evening, and they hadnt been able to find him.
Her first impulse was to sneak out of the hospital and start searching. She even pleaded with the duty nurse to let her leave, but was firmly scolded and sent back to her ward.
Her roommate, noticing Alices distress, asked what was wrong. Through bitter tears, Alice told her everything.
Dont despair, love, said the elderly woman kindly. Tomorrow, a top consultant from London is coming. My diagnosis isnt great eithermy son, bless him, wanted to move me to a better hospital, but I refused. Hes managed to pull a few strings, though. Ill ask this specialist to see you as well. Maybe things arent so bleak, she said, gently patting Alices shoulder.
*****
As soon as Jasper emerged from his crate, he realised he was in a strange house. Someone unfamiliar reached out to stroke him
His nerves couldnt take it, and he swiped at the hand with his paw before darting into a dark corner.
Paul, dont touch him just yet. Let him get used to things, came a soft womans voicebut it was not his owners.
Jaspers heart pounded in his chest; his thoughts spun, and his spirit hurt. What had happened for Alice to leave him with strangers? Why had she left him?
His amber eyes scanned the room in panic. He spotted an open window. With a flash of black fur, he dashed across the room and leapt outside.
Luckily, it was just the second floor, with an immaculate lawn below. Jaspers journey home began from there.
*****
The consultant arriveda pleasant woman in her forties who introduced herself as Dr. Mary Palmer. She carefully read Alices treatment notes, then invited her onto a couch and asked her to lie on her left side.
She examined, tapped, and gently asked where it hurt and what pain it was. She studied Alices chart again before repeating the tests using different medical equipment.
Alice braced for the worst as she returned to her ward, where her roommate lay in bed.
What did they say, dear? asked the woman.
Nothing yet, except theyll come by the ward again.
Ah. They confirmed my diagnosis, she said sadly.
Im so sorry, and thank youfor everything, replied Alice, wishing she knew how to comfort someone facing such news.
Half an hour later, Dr. Palmer entered with several other doctors.
Well, Alice, Ive got good news for you. Your condition is fully treatable! Ive prescribed your course; stay with us a fortnight, complete your treatment, and youll be healthy again, she said, smiling warmly.
As the team left, her roommate spoke up:
Thats wonderful. Im glad Ill have done a bit of good before I go. Be happy, dear.
*****
Jasper had no guiding staronly feline instinct tugging him towards home. His passage through the city was an adventure fraught with danger and comic mishaps.
Once a pampered British gent, Jasper became a survivalist overnight, his instincts sharper than ever.
Avoiding busy streets and traffic, Jasper moved in bursts and crawled, leaping like a shadow when dogs gave chase, scrambling up trees before bounding onwards.
In a quiet courtyard, Jasper found himself nose-to-nose with a veteran alley cat.
There was little formal introductionthe cat recognised Jasper as an outsider and lunged at him, yowling loudly. Jasper, casting aside his aristocratic airs, bared his teeth and refused to back down.
The scuffle didnt last long. The alley king retreated into the bushes, leaving Jasper with a slightly torn ear.
It was bravadoJasper was focused on getting home, and nothing could stop him.
He pressed on, somehow recalling the instincts of his wild ancestorssleeping high up in tree forks for safety.
To his embarrassment, Jasper learned to scavenge, eating leftovers discarded by passers-by and sometimes filching bits of food from the cats fed by kindly neighbours.
Once, he was cornered by a rambunctious pack of local dogs. They chased him up a trembling sapling, barking as they leapt and pawed at the trunk.
People gathered, shooed the dogs away. One woman took pity, luring Jasper down with a tempting morsel of pork sausage.
Hunger and fear clouded Jaspers judgment, and he surrendered to her, allowing himself to be picked up and cuddled. But
After a rest and a good meal in the warmth and quiet, Jasper remembered his goal; he slipped after her into the entryway and darted through the doors that swung open just in timeresuming his journey home.
*****
Discharged from hospital, Alice returned home. The words of the kindly old womanbe happyechoed in her mind. Of course, she was overwhelmed with relief to be healthy again.
But her heart ached for Jasper. She couldnt imagine walking into her empty flat and not being greeted.
Once inside, Alice called Jaspers new owners, asking for their address. She visited them, got the details of Jaspers escape, and resolved to track him down.
She was told it was hopeless; two weeks had passed, and a pampered pedigree tom was unlikely to survive outdoors. Alice refused to believe it.
She scoured every yard, checked the nearby parks and garagestrying to think like a cat whod never known the street. She called Jaspers name, staring into the gloom of cellar windows.
Approaching her own building, she realised Jasper had vanished without a trace. How could a domestic cat, unfamiliar with the area, make it home after she herself had walked for hours?
Head bowed, tears welling, Alice entered her courtyard feeling hollow and wretched. Through her blur of tears, she spotted a black cat approaching along the pavement.
A black catthe words flashed through her mind. Alice stopped and stared. She recognised him.
With a cryJasper!she broke into a run.
But the cat didnt rush towards her; he was too exhausted. He sat down, squinting at her with happiness, and croaked gently, Made it!Alices heart leapt. In just a moment, the grief and longing of weeks dissolved into joy so fierce it made her breath catch. She knelt down, arms open wide. Jasper dragged himself forward, his coat dull but his eyes shining, until he pressed his head to her hands.
She held him close, feeling his tremble, feeling her own, listening to the rumble of his purr vibrating against her heart.
You clever boy, she murmured, tears streaming. You found me.
Jasper closed his eyes, resting his head against her chest, as if to say, There is no home but you.
Alice scooped him up and carried him inside, away from the worlds sharp edges and cold pavements, into warmth and light. She made up a feast fit for the bravest of cats, fussed over his torn ear, and tucked him in among soft blankets.
That night, as Alice lay in her bed, Jasper curled into the crook of her arm, his purrs a lullaby. The flat no longer felt bare or lonely or uncertain. It glowed with newfound hope, stitched together by love and improbably by the courage of a cat who had found his way home.
Out on the quiet Manchester street, the moon cast a silver glow through the window, onto two souls who had weathered storm and sorrow, now drifting together into gentle sleepsafe, cherished, and finally, home.
