‘I feel like the light has gone out of my life, I will never forget him’ – James Bowen.
How terrible would someone feel if he found out that the only hope, happiness, and best friend of his life had left him for good? We can never imagine but James, who was a heroin addict, had a fractured relationship with his parents, while fighting the battle of drug addiction, he had a decade of homelessness.
In 2007, James met a very beautiful ginger cat, he had many injuries and was certainly homeless when he showed up in the hallway, outside James’ one-bedroom flat. James took him in and spent 30 pounds to treat his injuries and when Bob ( James named him ) was healthy, James fed him and took care of him.
He looks very sassy in his scarf
Every morning, James had a positive and beautiful reason to wake up – Bob. Both of them used to wander around the streets while selling ‘the Big Issue’. Now, James was free from addiction because of the love and responsibility of Bob. In 2012, James published a book ‘ A Street Cat Named Bob’, in which their lives and togetherness were described. Then, a sequel came ‘The World According to Bob’, not only were both books best sellers but also was published in 40 languages.
Hi, fives all around for a job well done!
In 2016, the book inspired a film where Luke Treadway played the lead role and Bob also made a feature in the film (The Director confessed that no one could play good enough than Bob himself. He was too good.). Now the worst day of James’ life June 15th, 2020 had come, the 13 years friendship had come to an end, Bob went missing and James and his girlfriend ran out to look for him. Two days passed, and then James got a call from the vet. He was shaking while listening to that his only best friend got in an accident and had passed away. James’ world stopped spinning.
Mr. Bob was clearly royalty-worthy
In 2020, ‘A Gift from Bob’, another sequel released but Bob couldn’t make an appearance in the film. We can only hope that Bob is ruling the cat’s world up there and has been watching his human James. May he rest in peace.
Bob hi-fived anyone who deserved his love
None of us knew Bob, but for James, he was an angel who accidentally made an appearance in James’ life and changed his miserable life into a successful one. Due to the release of the books and movies, James is now addiction-free and happy but dealing with the loss.
Busking on the streets of London
Bob’s toys and his food utensils are still in James’ house, James lives his life with Bob’s memories while he declares that he has felt Bob’s presence in the house, He felt Bob’s tail brushed through his leg and saw a flash of gingerness around the stairs. ‘He is never coming back,’ James’ trembling words reflect his grief.
Rest in Peace
“Bob saved my life. It’s as simple as that. He gave me so much more than companionship. With him at my side, I found a direction and purpose that I’d been missing. The success we achieved together through our books and films was miraculous. He’s met thousands of people
and touched millions of lives. There’s never been a cat like him. And never will again…I feel like the light has gone out in my life. I will never forget him.”
IMAGE COURTESY: A Street Cat Named Bob