In 14 years, a lot may change, but certain things remain the same, such as the affection shared between two old friends.
Perry Martin was residing on the Florida shore in 2004 when the state was slammed by Hurricane Jeanne, the year’s worst storm. Martin lost someone extremely important to him in the midst of the tumult and confusion: his beloved cat, Thomas Jr., or T-2 for short. The four-year-old cat had gotten out of the house and was nowhere to be found.
Martin told The Dodo, “I was horrified.” “I looked in every direction for him. My neighbors were on the lookout for him. All of my leisure time was spent looking.”
Martin never forgot about his beloved companion, whom he never sought to replace with another cat, despite the passage of time. He understood that if T-2 had survived the storm’s aftermath, he’d be well into his golden years at the age of 18. That felt improbable to Martin.
He remarked, “I was convinced he must have died away.”
Martin, on the other hand, received an unexpected call only last week. It was from his cat’s previous vet. A stray cat with a microchip had been rescued from the streets.
“‘Perry, what would you say if I told you someone found T-2?’ they said. ‘Well, I’d probably tell you that you’re insane,’ I responded.
‘Well, the humane society has him,’ she replies. We used his microchip to confirm it.’
Martin traveled to the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast just in case there had been a misunderstanding.
“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Has it been 14 years?” Martin remarked. “However, it was he.” I knew it was him as soon as I saw his face.”
T-2 appeared to recognize Martin as well; his old friend from whom he’d been estranged for 14 years. They were reunited at long last.
