Long journey for Blackie

Press, 5 December 1989, Page 12

Long journey for Blackie

By

ANDREW MCKENZIE

Std 6

We once lived in Little River (Banks Peninsula). Across the road from us lived an elderly man called Reg. Amongst his animals he owned a cat called Blackie.

In 1986 my family shifted into Christchurch and a short time after Reg sold his farm and shifted to Gore Bay. He took with him his cat, Blackie.

Unfortunately Reg took ill and had to come back to Christchurch. He went to Princess Margaret Hospital. He then asked us to look after his cat Blackie, and we were only to pleased to do so. Blackie stayed at our house for about 5 days

over all. He left for one and a half days and returned. He went away again but returned. The third time Blackie did not return. Reg was discharged from Princess Margaret and eventually went back to Gore Bay. He felt a little lonely without Blackie. As the weeks passed he often thought of his cat. Nine weeks had passed since Reg had left Princess Margaret. The next day Reg felt like doing a little gardening. He went to the shed, opened the door and there was Blackie. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Reg picked up Blackie, returned inside, rang us up and told us of Blackie's incredible 140 km journey.