(a little background; I created this story from the inspiration of many
of the ferrets who were cared for while The Ferret & Dove Sanctuary
existed and this cute tale has become a regular tradition that I still
post every year to the FML. So with especial thanks to all those who
love ferrets and sincerely understood and heartfelt thanks to all
shelters, here is the story of...)

Little Secret, the Santa Ferret,
by Susie Lee

Oh, sure, everyone knows Santa's obvious animal friends, the reindeer,
and all their names and most of their magickal attributes, but did you
ever know about Santa's best little Ferret friend? Well, maybe not
before now, because little Secret has been, well, Santa's special
little Secret! A little white ferret who likes to snuggle up under the
beard (fluffs it out nicely, too! :) or curl warmly under his hat, or
even blend in with that wooly white collar and "Secret"-ly watch out
for Santa's back while he's unpacking you-know-what for good children
on you-know-when!

Little Secret is a magickal ferret, of course, and has been with Santa
since the very "beginning", bequeathed to the Jolly Old Elf by a
grateful farmwife from centuries and centuries ago. Secret's special
magick is in helping Santa get into houses with no chimneys by
squeezing flatter than flat under the tightest door (much flatter
than not-as-magickal ferrets who so dearly love to try to squeeze
under any doors they can fit. )

and leaping with a magickally merry extra-high ferret-bounce to touch
his little nose to any lock so that it will open for Santa and then
close and re-lock safely afterwards. (Aha! say all the city-folks,
Now we know how Santa gets into umpteen-gazillion apartments! He had
a special Secret, all along!) .

Ah, but how did we ferret out Santa's Little Secret? All our ferrets
did it...knowing a magick ferret when they sense one, nearly every
ferret tail in the shelter went merrily a-wagging with excitement and
joy until Little Secret swiftly touched a friendly nose in greeting
to every one. Then ,as quick as a ferret, Little Secret raced back
to Santa and in a blink was back up to blend around his white wooly
collar, with a little tail-wag farewell of his own to wave back.

So take good care of all your ferret friends...they know a Little
Secret!

Now you can still see a couple of pictures of Santa holding little
Secret, his ferret-friend at this site;
http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/ferret_rescuer/index.html

[Posted in FML 7256]