For Muldoone, every arrival at the Rainbow Bridge touched his heart
deeply; reflecting back on his own life and all the love his familee
gave to him, and how happy he was during his time on earth, he couldn't
help but think every ferret should have a familee and live full life
with their hoomans.
 
Coming on this day would be a tiny little girl ferret, having lived only
one day following her momma giving birth.  The very young or the abused
fuzzies arriving at the Rainbow Bridge always got to Muldoone, he
couldn't help but think how unfair it was, surely the Creator had another
plan in store for this wee-one, surely she would get to have another
chance at life, another chance at being part of a familee where she
would again be loved and cherished.
 
Never having greeted a ferret that young, Muldoone decided he would
enlist the help of Nanna, Nanna could be stern at time with young
hooligans fuzzies, especially the males but there was never a ferret who
loved other fuzzies more than Nanna.  Realizing what a seasoned veteran
the older ferret was, Mully knew she was the one to ask for help with
this greeting.
 
Nanna and Muldoone spent considerable time the evening before the
designated time of arrival for the wee-one and learning she had been so
appropriately named Angel.  So much to have to prepare for, so much to
have to take into consideration; would she arrive as a day-old kit just
as she had left or would the Creator allow her to grow a little before
she arrived?  No one really knew, Nanna and Muldoone could only speculate
but they knew they must be prepared but anything.
 
Arriving at the Rainbow Bridge to greet the new one coming, Muldoone had
a backpack strapped on holding all the things that "might" be needed for
the wee-one due to arrive; the softest fleece ever, not like anything
found back on earth, no, this was Rainbow Bridge Fleece, you had to hang
on to it otherwise it would float in the air all by itself.  Formula had
been gathered to feed the tiny little girl ferret should she arrive
needing to be fed as a baby kit, Nanna still had feelers out there asking
who had room to take in an wee-one who arrived without her mommy.
 
A warm breeze began to stir and Muldoone recognized it to be the first
hint one was on their way.  The music in the wind had begun to change
and the sad sweet melody could be heard dancing softly on the breeze yet
today it seemed to be more sad than usual.  It sang of a life stopped
before it had really had a chance to start.  The sad sweet song told
the story of both welcome and loss, of love and longing, it sang of the
promise that love was eternal, it sang of the pain of separation, and the
sorrow of an aching human heart.  The Ferret Promise Song played for each
and every arrival whispering to their hearts; "Rest now wee-one, you are
home."
 
Muldoone felt the familiar tingling in his whiskers and he knew another
was coming.  The music in the wind danced all around him as fairy dust
seemed to glitter down from the heavens above and then with a final
flash of intense glowing from the Rainbow, he knew the time was at hand.
 
As he strained to listen, he didn't hear the sound of ferrety-feets
coming across the time-worn planks of the Rainbow Bridge, instead he
heard the steady clop-clop-clop-clop of horses' hooves.  Glancing over
to Nanna to gauge her reaction at what they were hearing, he couldn't
help but wonder, "Did someone gibs wong dwections and a horsie-horse
be coming?"
 
MoonBeam Molly stepped off the end of the Rainbow Bridge and both
Muldoone and Nanna could see she was very solemn and upon closer
inspection, the beautiful gentle white unicorn was crying, MoonBeam
Molly had streams of tears rolling down her beautiful face.  Over time
many many ferrets had been transported to the Rainbow Bridge, that was
MoonBeam Molly's job, but, this time, her beautiful pure heart was
clearly in pain over the tiny little girl ferret she brought.
 
Mully felt his heart catch in his throat, he enjoyed his work, he tried
to be a good Bridge Greeter but sometimes he wished he could be a million
miles away and not have to feel the pain.  Looking over at Nanna, he
could see she had had tears falling onto her furry cheeks.  Finally
finding her voice, she cleared her throat and struggled to speak.
 
"Good morning Molly, I see you have brought us something" Nanna said to
the unicorn.
 
Having never heard MoonBeam Molly speak before, not ever really thinking
what she would sound like or even if she could speak, she had the most
beautiful clear gentle voice Muldoone had ever heard.  You could not only
hear the love in her voice for the wee-one she had brought, but love and
gentleness seemed to radiate from her.  Being in the presence of this
wondrous creature, Muldoone could smell the scent of jasmine, magnolias,
and honeysuckle that seemed to all blend delicately together and surround
MoonBeam Molly in a strange kind of mist.
 
"Good morning Nanna and Muldoone" Molly told them, "yes I have a tiny
passenger; she is the newest resident to the Rainbow Bridge."
 
Lowering herself to the ground to make it possible for Nanna and Muldoone
to climb up to the basket she had on her back containing the tiny little
girl ferret, MoonBeam Molly very gently unfolded her second set of
smaller wings that had cradled her precious cargo, keeping the tiny
little ferret safe and secure for the flight from her world to the
Rainbow Bridge.
 
Pulling back the soft beautiful fleece covering the basket, Muldoone saw
her first and he immediately fell in love with the wee-one.  Sitting in
the center of the basket with mounds of fleece tucked in all around her
so that she was in a sort of cocoon for the trip over, here sat this tiny
little girl ferret.  She was so beautiful, a miniature of so many other
ferrets but the most expressive feature was her dark luminous eyes that
seemed to peer deeply into Muldoone's soul.
 
Reaching gently into the basket to lift her out, the wee-one allowed
herself to be pulled close to Muldoone and she tried wrapping her little
short arms around his neck.  Mully instantly felt a combination of both
love and pain in his heart, never had he been witness to one so small,
so young, arriving at the Bridge.  The tiny ferret clung to him as he
climbed back down on the ground.
 
Standing there with tears running down her furry cheeks, Nanna reached
for the wee-one but Angel hung on more tightly to Muldoone.  Trying to
shush the little girl's whimpering, he did his best to reassure her she
was safe and he would not let anything happen to her.  Finally she
relaxed her grip on Mully and allowed herself to be taken by Nanna.
 
Taking the wee-one as if she was accepting the most fragile thing in the
world, which to Nanna at that moment she probably was, she whispered to
Muldoone to take off the backpack he was wearing and get her something
to eat from the contents of it.  As Nanna turned away, Muldoone was no
longer in the little ferret's sight and she began to whimper again so
Nanna quickly turned back around so she could see Mully again and the
wee one stopped her crying.  Offering her tastes of various things, the
little girl finally settled on some duck soup and she ate hungrily.
 
Looking up in time to see a shimmering shape beginning to take form at
the Gate, Muldoone recognized Mz SunnyFerret.  SunnyFerret was a very
special ferret at the Rainbow Bridge, she had a heart overflowing with
love for all ferrets, especially for the ones who arrived and were having
difficulties making the adjustment and having to accept being gone from
their families.
 
SunnyFerret's fur glistened in the sunlight and to those who didn't know
her.  she could have been mistaken for a goddess of some sorts.  Her
crystal blue eyes held a wisdom and sorrow along with a beauty that
took Muldoone's breath away.  No one ever grew tired of gazing upon the
beautiful face of Mz SunnyFerret; she had an outward beauty that
reflected her inner beauty, her peace, and her gentleness.
 
Approaching the tiny gathering; Muldoone, Nanna, and the new arrival
Angel, SunnyFerret greeted them.  "And what do we have here?" she asked
as she offered a warm smile to the little ferret girl.
 
"Good morning Sunny" Nanna told her, "this is our newest Rainbow Bridge
resident and her name is Angel."
 
"Well aren't you a pretty little girl" Sunny said to Angel "and what a
beautiful name.  Turning to Mully, "Muldoone could you please take Angel
so Nanna and I can talk??  Take her and tell her all about the wonders of
the Rainbow Bridge, we won't be long."
 
Reaching out to take the wee-one, Angel immediately melted into
Muldoone's arms.  Having to choke back the emotions he was feeling,
Mully began telling the little girl ferret all about life at the Rainbow
Bridge.  Sitting down on a toad stool that grew freely all over at the
Rainbow Bridge Village, Muldoone began to try to explain to new arrival
that she would go to stay with Mz SunnyFerret so she could learn all
about being a ferret.
 
"NO" immediately came from the little girl ferret, "wants to stay wif
you" and she then threw her short stubby little arms around Muldoone's
neck again and began to sob.
 
"Buts Angels" Mully tried to explain to her, "Mz Sunny Fewet teaches you
bout being a fewet.  She teaches you bout weasely-war-dancing, she
teaches you bout waisins, she teaches you bout..."
 
Again from the little girl ferret came a loud "NO.  I wants to stay wif
you" and she held on even more tightly sobbing.
 
"Oh dear" came SunnyFerret's response having overheard what the little
girl ferret had said.  Sitting down on a toad stool beside the one
Muldoone and Angel were sitting, SunnyFerret began to try to explain all
the wonderful things she had at her bungalow the wee-one might enjoy.
 
Angel continued to sob and had her little short arms wrapped tightly
around Muldoone's neck.  "Angels, pwease no cwy, I comes to bisit you
ebber chancie I gets" Mully told her.
 
Again from the wee little girl ferret came a clear "NO, wants to stay
wif you."
 
Trying again to get through to her and why she needed to go with
SunnyFerret, Muldoone told her about all the fun things at SunnyFerret's,
all the neat things she would learn, all the fun games, and especially
about 'Tone.
 
"Tones" Angel asked Muldoone, what be 'Tones?" she wanted to know.
 
"You not knos bout 'Tone?!" Muldoone asked her.  "I tought ebery fewet
kno bout 'Tone."
 
"Dooes you wike 'Tone?" the wee-one asked Mully.
 
"Yes" he answered excitedly, "Tone be gud stuff and I teaches you bout
'Tone" he promised.
 
"You comes to sees me?" Angel asked him in a tiny dejected voice.
 
"Yes I comes to sees you, I pwomise" and with that Mully hugged her
close and gave her a tender kiss on her tiny forehead.
 
"Angel, are you ready" SunnyFerret asked her, "would you like to come
with me now and see where you are going to live?"
 
"Cans he comes too?" Angel asked pointing to Muldoone.
 
"Sure he can come" SunnyFerret told the tiny girl.  "Muldoone comes to
visit ferret at my bungalow all the time and Angel, you are one very
lucky little girl, Muldoone has been asking for a long time if he could
come and live there but it is only for very special ferrets like you."
 
"Mully be special" the little girl offered in defense of the one she now
loved, "he be my fwiend."
 
Muldoone's heart swelled with love for Angel when he heard her say this
about him.  Holding the tiny little girl ferret in his arms, down the
path they went.  This would be the first day of a whole new life for
Angel and possibly for Muldoone as well.
 
Glancing over to Nanna, SunnyFerret was surprised to see Nanna's body
heaving from great wracking sobs.  Approaching her special friend, Sunny
whispered to her, "Nanna I am so proud of Muldoone, you have done a
wonderful job training him to be a Rainbow Bridge Greeter, and he is
one in a million."
 
"No Sunny" came Nanna's answer through tears, "I only taught him how to
show up on time and what he was suppose to do, I never taught him about
love, he already had a full heart, ready to give to those needing it,
love cannot be taught."
 
The two ferrets embraced and SunnyFerret helped Nanna dry her tears.
At that moment Nanna too felt immensely proud of Muldoone and knew the
Boss had chosen the right ferret for the job as Junior Bridge Greeter,
but come bedtime, when Nanna couldn't find her favorite green flannel
nightgown, she would smile and remind herself that he was still Muldoone
and always would be.
 
~~Muldoone~~
Caring for your ferrets at the Rainbow Bridge.
[Posted in FML issue 4978]