Bzzzz-Snap-Crackle!  The intercom on the wall buzzed to life.

"Musty Pete!" A loud baritone voice called out.

After a moment he called out a bit louder, 'MUSTY PETE!!"

I stirred in my hammy, thinking maybe the voice had been part of the
dream I was deeply immersed in. But then I heard it again and realized
who the voice belonged to.

"MUSTY PETE!! WAKE UP!!" the voice boomed.

"Ha-rumph! I'm awake! I'm awake!" I said to the empty room.

"Good morning Musty Pete, sorry to wake you so early, but there's
Bridge business to attend to." said Mr. Big

I stretched...a long and luxurious stretch...Mmmmmm.... it always
feels so good to stretch in the morning.

"What is my assignment today?" I asked [yawning].

"You will be greeting The Count. He will be crossing over in about
40 minutes. So! Rise and shine my furry friend! The Count should be
introduced to Romeo and Juliet, and he will need a tour of the entire
community." He said.

"Very well, very well. At least I have time for some breakfast this
morning." I sighed

I heard Mr. Big sigh as well, then he said..."Have a wondrous day Pete
and don't be late getting to The Bridge."

"Yes sir...er..um..I mean, No Sir...or is it Yes Sir?...I won't be
late." I said.

I spied an open box of raisins on the counter and a bowl of food
leftover from the night before, so I munched on some of that. Then I
took a really big drink of water and started toward The Bridge.

If memory serves me right, Romeo and Juliet are staying at the cottages
out beyond The Meadows. I don't have time to go see them first, but my
little winged friends could carry a message to them. I stepped outside
and looked for flutterbies. At first I didn't see any and my heart sank
a little bit. But then two very beautiful blue flutterbies came right
up to the flower box on my front porch.

"Good morning Musty Pete" they said in unison in their tiny little
fluttery voices. "Did you need us for something?" they asked.

"Good morning!! Yes! I do need you. I want you to fly out beyond The
Meadows and find the cottage that Romeo and Juliet are staying in and
please tell them that Count Chokula is on his way to cross The Bridge."
said I. "Can you do that for me?" I asked.

"Oh yes! Pete! We'll leave right now!" they said as they turned away
and flew off as quickly and quietly as they had arrived.

Now it was time for me to get to The Rainbow Bridge and wait for The
Count.

Meeting a new arrival is always a strain on a Bridge Greeters emotions.
Should we be happy? Sad? A little of both? Will the new arrival be
happy to have made this journey? Or sad they had to leave loved ones
behind? Will they be frightened or serene? You just don't know until
the crossing happens.

Ah! Here is my favorite bench. It is right next to the Rainbow Bridge.
It is always peaceful and quiet, which is why this is where I go when I
need to think, or when I get a bit melancholy missing my beloved Fancy
Ferret. I can enjoy the morning sunrise here, or the evening sunset. I
am almost always treated to a rainbow each and every day [which helps
explain the name "Rainbow Bridge"] and the flowers that grow here are
the most extraordinary gift of nature, the colors are so vibrant and
their scent is like the sweet nectar a hummingbird craves. It is
intoxicating.

And as I sit here and wait for the Count to crossover I am planning
his tour of the community in my head. I think first we will visit the
Community Center, that is always a good place to begin. Then we can go
by the Newbie Dormitories and I can explain to the Count that he may
want to 'live' there for a while until he gets settled. After that I
will swing by Francis Ferrets purple cottage and make my introductions
and then we can go over to The Pool Of Remembrance and I can tell the
Count how the pool works and explain that he can always check in on his
earthly family and his friends. Then we will probably head out to The
Falls, maybe we can have a picnic out there, before we head back
towards The Meadows and try to find Romeo and Juliet. By then it will
be dinner time, and I know I'll be ready for a well deserved nap.

I shut my eyes and gave in to thoughts of Fancy Ferret, my one and
only true love. I wait for the day that Fancy will arrive here at The
Rainbow Bridge, to be with me again. I miss her so very much, it makes
my heart hurt.

A cool breeze washes over me and I can hear the lilting strains of The
Ferret Promise Song being carried on the breeze. I open my eyes and see
a male fert walking across the Bridge. I stand to introduce
myself................

"Good morning! You must be The Count? I have been waiting for you.
My name is Musty Pete. I am a Bridge Greeter and this is The Rainbow
Bridge. Welcome!" I said as I extended one very large paw towards the
Count.

The Count shook my paw and said, "Good morning Musty Pete. This place
is even more bee-yoo-ti-ful than I had imagined!"

I smiled and asked him, "How do you feel? Was your crossing alright?
You know, peaceful, and serene?"

"Oh yes!" he said "It was not scary at all. I thought I might be
scared. But I wasn't...not a bit."

"Wonderful! I am glad to hear it! Well Count, I have a very busy day
planned for us. There are so many places for me to show you and so
many ferts I want you to meet. I guess we should get started, if
that's okay with you?" I asked.

"Yes! Yes! That's wonderful...you lead and I will follow Musty Pete."
said the Count.

So we headed off towards the Community Center. It looked as if it was
going to be another glorious day here at The Bridge, and I wanted the
Count to enjoy it and get as much out of his first day as possible.

He seems like a happy fellow, friendly and full of energy...I think
I'm going to be friends with this fert.

You can send a greeting request to:
[log in to unmask]

[Posted in FML 5593]