At first, a homeless man thought the strange box he found in the river was trash, but he was so startled that he almost dropped it.
The homeless man, who looked to be about sixty, carefully packed his fishing equipment in a sturdy but tattered bag. The bag has withstood rain, snow, and heat. Jars of bait, hooks, floats, and maggots were found inside an old matchbox. For him, fishing was not a hobby but a way to make a living.
He was wearing a dilapidated coat and rubber boots he had found at a landfill some years ago, one a bit smaller than the other, but he was used to it. The man’s back was bowed from the weight of the backpack, but he straightened up and headed toward the river like he did every day. He had no housing, no job, and no family. A hot cup of tea or a piece of bread would occasionally be offered to him, but he largely relied on the river.
After an hour of fishing, he observed a cardboard box rather than a fish when he drew the line in.
“Again, trash,” he said to himself.
The box was heavy. There was clearly something inside, and the man was about to throw it back when it made a strange sound.
He tensed. As he delicately tore apart the wet cardboard, his heart hesitated for a moment. There was
Inside, a small ginger cat squatted, clamping its ears shut in fear. Thin and wet, eyes frightened. It gave him a troubled look and meowed.
The man said nothing. He took off his jacket and knelt down right by the water, putting it around the trembling cat. Somehow, this little life unlocked a rusty, ancient door in his mind, even if he was not sentimental.
Spark is the name he gave her.
Since then, everything has changed. At night, he kept her secure in his jacket and began feeding her his fish. Despite being homeless, the cat recovered quickly and followed him about like a shadow with a tail. One day, in fact, she saved him.
That winter, after a particularly chilly stretch, the man fainted on a park seat. He was weak, chilly, and hungry. Spark remained at his side. She leaped onto the chest of her master, rubbed herself on him, meowed, and stayed close to him.
A passing woman noticed the strange situation and approached. She called for an ambulance. The man was revived by them. After that, he went to a shelter where he was given hot food and a clean bed. He was allowed to keep the cat.
A few weeks later, he was hired as a janitor on the suggestion of a volunteer. It was a little but enough salary. He and Spark shared a small room near the housing office. He was surprised at how drastically his own life had changed.
He gave up fishing. Now he had a job, a home, and most importantly, someone to care for.
