More than 25 years ago, I was living with three others in a house we were
sharing in my home town, Trondheim, Norway.

We also had a cat, Balin, a black and white domestic male cat. A really good
guy who gave us all many pleasant times with his loving, affectionate
behaviour. We all loved him very much.

But you all know that such communities as ours will eventually break up, and
so did ours. I had to join the military service, as all Norwegian men had to
do at that time, another was going off for studies, and the two that was
left, couldn't afford to keep the big house alone, so they went back to
their parents. But what should we do with Balin? The girl living with us (my
ex-girlfriend) said she would take him when she got a place for herself, but
that would take a couple of months. In the meantime Gabriel, a friend of
ours (Californian, really) said he could look after the cat. Great idea.

So, one day I was on leave from the service, I was on my way back to my
parents' house. At that time my parents lived about 500 m from where Gabriel
(and Balin) lived. At that time I hadn't seen Balin for more than two
months... I was walking along the road towards my parents, it was about 9:30
PM, so it was quite dark.

Suddenly I heard a loud cat cry behind me. It was like the cat was calling
for someone. I turned around, and in the middle of the road some 30 m behind
me a cat was sitting: Balin! I started walking back towards him, and he came
running up to me! We sat down, right in the middle of the road, just kissing
and cuddling eachother.... We were both so happy!

I don't know how he recognized me, maybe it was my steps, some special smell
or something, whatever... Finally he got up and started to walk away,
looking back to see if I would follow him. I did, and he lead me down to
Gabriel's house... "Come home with me", he said. He went first, up the
stairs to the second floor where Gabriel lived. He was not at home, but he
hade made a hole in the door for Balin to get in and out as he wanted.

Balin went in, he didn't realize I was too big to get through the tiny hole
in the door... So he came out again, and for one entire hour we sat outside
the door, talking and having a nice time with eachother... I'll never forget
this as long as I live... I guess the Rainbow Bridge can be some of the
same...?

Balin had many good years after that with my ex-girlfriend, and I saw him
many times after that, but the episode on the dark street was so special...