The grumpy old puss was sleeping by a car when I arrived. He sat up, looking at me as if he knew me. He looked forbidding. I took a few fotos before he came over to me. He walked with difficulty, a limp in each leg. Then he was purring around me, tail up, giving me head bumps. When impatient cars came our way he broke off to challenge them, to protect me from their anger. He faced them down like a lion. I meet new cats all the time but this was different. The connection was instantly a deep one.

As I stroked the puss I felt his ribs. They were wonky, must have been broken, perhaps from kicks or a car. It explained his odd walk. I stayed with him a long while, talking, stroking, promising I would bring him food next time.

When I left I was almost in tears. It is always surprising to encounter a life like this, to meet someone who would always have been a friend.