I have known Mike for some twenty years, since he moved up here to Sussex to live. This story is about Mikes mum Jean and her cat Gypsy.

Gypsy was a tabby Persian a real independent soul, which I guess was how she got her name. She came and went wherever and whenever she pleased. Jean and Gypsy lived happily for many years in a caravan on the hillside over looking the sea in "glorious Devon."

Well as the years went by Jean's health started to fail her and sadly, after a long life of independence the time came when she had to give up her home and life style to be cared for in a hospice.

This caused Jean a great deal of distress. Not the fact that she was dying, she had no fear of death Nor indeed having to give up her little home and independent life style, though of course all that was bad enough! No, her main worry and concern was for that of her beloved cat Gypsy.

Mike, himself a cat lover and having three of his own told me that his mum had asked him to care for Gypsy and although he was very willing to do so he felt she was far to old to move from Devon to Sussex! Or indeed to settle down at her late age with a ready made cat family!

There seemed no alternative though as no home could be found for her.

Jean pleaded with Mike to take Gypsy home with him and so to set his mothers' mind at rest he agreed. So he fetched Gypsy home here to Sussex and prayed all would work out well.

He tried to keep her indoors to settle but of course the other cats immediately showed their resentment and vice versa so the fur would fly!

Then the worst happened, after about two weeks she got out! Friends and neighbours went in search of her, notices were pinned up on all lamp posts and street corners. Even a distress call went out over the local radio but sadly to no avail.

She was never seen again.

Mike felt that she had met with an accident. Then two days after Gypsy's escape he received a phone call from Devon to say his mum's health was rapidly deteriorating so Mike immediately drove back down to Devon.

When he went in to see his mum he found her propped up in bed a shadow of her former self. The first thing she asked was "How is my Gypsy?" Not having the heart or stomach to tell her the truth he replied "She is fine."

"Well" his mum replied "I know you are caring for her but I don’t think she has left me at all! Because when I woke from a nap yesterday and opened my eyes there was Gypsy sitting in the very chair you are sitting in at this moment! She just stared at me with a very contented look on her face. I had to blink and look again to make sure I was not dreaming! But there was no doubt about it, it was my Gypsy." She then continued in a very weak voice, " I said Hallo to her and she just sat there staring back at me. Then the strangest thing happened she just melted away before my eyes!" She went on as if fearing Mike would think her mad, "I may be ill and weak but I still have all my faculties you know!" "And indeed she had" Mike said, "no one could ever fool mum!"