Flash and his sister Freda came to me unceremoniously after being dumped out of a car in the alley behind my house 14 years ago.
They were small, frightened kittens, too young to be taken from their mother.
Flash was the bolder of the two, with timid Freda hiding behind him.
I wasn't going to keep them, I already had 4 cats.
But the home I found for them couldn't take them for 2 weeks, and during that time I became too attached to let them go.

Flash had a unique personality, nothing seemed to phase him, he took life in stride.
He tolerated my dog Coco as a puppy, and patiently let Coco play with him.
When Coco got too rough, Flash would meow loudly, and Coco would back off.
He got along with all my other cats - they were all females, and very irritable with each other.
He did defend his territory, often acting like a "real" male, even though he was neutered early in his life.
He sported a thrashed right ear, the consequence of a neighborhood squabble with the cat next door.
He also had a habit of visiting neighbors, I could always tell he'd been visiting across the street when he'd come home smelling of cigarettes
("Flash, have you been sneaking out to smoke again?")

Flash was very vocal, and would carry on a conversation with you eagerly.
He responded to his name with a meow, as well as responding to a human "meow" with his own.
He got his name early when he developed a habit of skittering though an open door...whether coming in, or going out...like a "flash".

Flash passed away peacefully April 21st after being diagnosed with an abdominal tumor several months before.
He continued to enjoy his food and running around the house until his last few days.
He will be missed terribly and remembered always.
He is survived by his sister Freda.