Pato and Snowball were two friend/brother ferrets.  They lived with their
family in a funny place that was called "Utah....." or, as Mama put it
"Behind The Zion Curtain...." They lived together, played together, ate
together, drank together, did everything together.  When Hubert joined them,
they welcomed him with opened ferrety arms.  They were quite a happy little
family.
 
One day, Pato and Snowy got in an argument.  Who knows over what really, and
who really cares.  The reason doesn't really matter.
 
Pato would snap at Snowy when he would go and try to say "I'm sorry,
friend/brother, what did I do?"
 
"Don't you ever even talk to me again, you traitor.  I don't want to play
with you anymore." Hissed Pato.
 
Snowy would crawl away, devastated, and talk to Mama and Hubert.  "What did
I do, why won't he forgive me?  I'm sorry.  I've tried everything I know.  I
gave him first chance at the food, the water, I don't sleep in the hammock
when he wants to like we used to, I don't go under the couch when he's
there.  Well, not on purpose.  We do live in the same house.  Why can't we
be friends?"
 
Mama and Hubert would try to talk to Pato.  Pato would hiss at them "Don't
talk to me about him......" Soon they gave up, because it upset Pato so.
After all, they loved both of them, and didn't want to fight, too.  Soon,
Mama and Hubert were almost afraid to talk to Pato, he was so upset.
 
It hurt everyone who watched to see the two old friends/brothers fight so and
be unable to help.  Mama and Hubert would pray "At least, let them be able to
talk, to be civil.  It hurts our little family so.
 
One day, something "miraculous" happened.  Pato was in the laundry room,
sleeping in Andy's dirty socks and underware.  This also happened to be
Snowball's favorite room, too.  Snowy was nosing around, looking behind the
dryer.  He heard the washer go on, and watched as Mama shut the laundry room
door.  "Oh well, he thought, I'll go sleep in Andy's underware until Mama
comes back.  It won't be long, cause the warm thingy ain't on yet." Up he
goes, and runs right into Pato.
 
"I thought I told you to stay away from me.  Can't you understand?  What's
wrong with you?" He hissed.  He jumped from the laundry, only to find the
door shut.  He turned and looked at Snowy.  "What did you do?  You did it
on purpose, didn't you?''
 
Soon, outside the door, Mama could hear hisses and squeeks and all kinds of
tusseling.  Since Hubert was by Mama's feet, she knew it was Pato and Snowy.
Hubert yelled "Mama, Mama, get them out!  Make them stop!"  Mama said, "No,
Hubert, we're going to let them sort it out for a few minutes.  I'll listen
and make sure no one gets hurt.  There somewhere where they have to talk
now."
 
In around five minutes, it got quiet.  Mama opened the door.  There was Pato
and Snowy, asleep in Andy's smelly socks and underware, together.  Pato was
even licking Snowy's neck.
 
We don't know what they said.  We just know they finally decided that they
had to live together and needed to work things out.  In all things ferrety,
there needs to be peace and communication.
 
I decided to tell you all this story, cause it sounds like one of them
"parables" out of that book that Mama reads with lots of stories from a
really great teacher that Mama loves.  And some of us here are fightin' and
fightin' and won't be friends.  Or at least agree to visit and not hiss and
bite each other.  We's all here to help each other, ain't we?
 
Besides, you "hoomans" could learn a thing or two from us ferreties.  You
have to talk and "fuss things out".  Then, if it don't work, just don't hiss
and poof your tail.  Do what you have to, but don't make no big deal out of
it.  Agree to disagree.  Friends or foes, breeder or not, U.K. or American
or......
 
Get the picture....
 
Hubert
"Behind the Zion Curtain"
[Posted in FML issue 2220]