Things had been very hectic at the Bridge and No. 421 and Oliver were
taking a little break. Oliver was snowboarding with his friends on the
Otters mudslide and No. 421 was home by the fire, catching up on his
reading. He heard a slight tapping on the windowpane and went to the
door to see if it was Bluebird.

Bluebird was fluttering her wings to keep warm, when No. 421 opened the
door; she rushed into the cabin and perched on her special perch by the
mantle. She always had the best heat there.

"Well Bluebird," No. 421 said. What brings you out on a night like
this"? Bluebird began to feel toasty and warm so she spread her wings
and said, "I'se here with a ticket for you. We has another ferret
crossing and his name is Charlie. The Receiving Angel sent me to fetch
you and send Oliver to find Codo and Ayla."

Okay Bluebird," No. 421 said. "When you go back, stop at the Otters
mudslide and tell Oliver to meet me at the Bridge."

Bluebird chirped a cheery good bye and was off to the mudslide.

Oliver had just started down the slide when he saw Bluebird flying in.
"Oliver," she chirped. "Hey Oliver, that you? Come over here; I have
a message from The Receiving Angel and No.421."

Oliver had finished his run and was walking back to Bluebird. "Okay"
he said. "What is it that you need?"

Bluebird handed him the ticket and told him to go find Codo and Alya.
"Then take them to the Bridge," she said.

Bluebird flew off and Oliver went back to his friends. "Hey Billy," he
called. "Do you know where Codo and Alya moved to?"

Billy thought for a minute -- "They were in the cafE a few days ago --
I think they are over by the ledges."

Oliver picked up his snowboard and started off for the ledges. He
thought a minute and decided he could cross-cloud snowboard and get
there faster.

"Boy what an idea  -- I should have thought of this sooner," he said.
Back on the snowboard, Oliver was whizzing along and passed two ferrets
all bundled up building a snowman.

"Hi fellers" Oliver called. "Have you seen Codo and Alya anywhere
around here?"

The two ferrets stopped building the snowman and looked at Oliver. "We
are Codo and Alya," one of them said. "It is really cold out here so
we had to wear lots of clothes. What can we do for you?"

"You have a family member crossing at the Bridge and you need to be
there to greet him," Oliver said. "Bluebird said his name is Charlie."
Alya and Codo just looked at each other in stunned silence. Then Codo
hugged Alya and said, "Let's go. Charlie is coming and we need to greet
him."

The two ferrets ran by Oliver and Codo picked up Oliver's snowboard as
they passed. "Thanks for the ride." Codo called back. "See you at the
Bridge."

Oliver was stunned. He would have to run all the way and he wasn't sure
he could catch them. He started after them, but they had a good start
and were almost flying. He decided to take the short cut over the
ledges and get ahead of them.

No. 421 was at the Bridge when a lone ferret came over and stood by his
chair. "Might you be Charlie," No. 4321 asked.

"Yes, I'm Charlie and I would like to know where I am?"

"Son, you are at the Rainbow Bridge," No. 421 said. "My currier Oliver
has gone to bring Codo and Alya here to greet you. I wonder what is
taking him so long."

Just at that moment, Codo and Alya arrived at the Bridge in a spray of
snow. Standing the snowboard up against a tree, Codo rushed over to
Charlie and gave him a big hug. "Charlie Boy, you look great," he said.
"Alya here is a great cook and if you don't have plans, you can move
right in with us. You and I will have great fun."

"Sounds like a plan," Charlie said. "What's this board we rode on? Do
you think we could use it to go home?"

"Sure," Codo said. "Oliver is somewhere along the trail, we can pick
him up and take him to his cabin. Jump on, hold tight to Alya and we're
off. Hey No. 421, we'll be back tomorrow with a letter to send home.
Right now, we want to get back and get Charlie settled in."

And with that they were off in a flurry of snow. Oliver was trudging
along the trail almost to the cabin, when he saw them flying down the
hill. He began to wave both paws frantically but, Charlie, Alya and
Codo were blowing up so much snow, they did not see him. They flew by
him and covered him in snow. He was now wet to his toenails. He decided
to go home and try to dry out. He trudged up to the cabin, and saw that
No. 421 had arrived before him, stoked up the fire and had the kettle
on for tea. He hurried up the steps, and shook off most of the snow.

No. 421 had just finished the entry in his logbook, Mission
Accomplished, what a group they are. Life should get more interesting
around here now that Charlie and Codo are together again.

Oliver came in the door, ice on his whiskers, and wet to his toes. He
took one look at Oliver, closed his logbook and poured the tea. That
boy could get himself into more trouble than anyone else at the Bridge.

[Posted in FML 7326]