Pete was just finishing his dinner when Mr. Big alerted him to a new
arrival that would need to be met at the Rainbow Bridge.  Pete patted his
full belly and decided he could take an after-dinner nap later on.  "What
is this ferret's name, Mr. Big?" asked Pete.

The voice crackled with static over the loudspeaker, "His name is Slinky,
brother to Dexter and Cinni, loving friend to Pia, whom he had to leave
behind.  Slinky has been ill and his human parents made the difficult
decision to help him cross over the Rainbow Bridge."

Pete sighed, "That is very sad, I hope they can find comfort knowing that
Slinky will be with his brothers, Dexter and Cinni."

Mr. Big continued, "You'd better get going Pete, Slinky's arrival time
is in just a few minutes."

Pete replied, "I'm on my way Sir." as he walked out the door and headed
to the Rainbow Bridge.

Pete could hear the Ferret Promise Song lightly playing on the breeze.
He heard this beautiful music right before each greeting.  It was
haunting and sad, and inspirational and beautiful all at once.  As Pete
rounded the bend in the path that leads to the Bridge he felt a little
bit sad knowing how much Slinky's humans loved him, it must have been
very hard for them to say Good Bye.  Pete approached the Rainbow Bridge
feeling a bit melancholy, wondering if Fancy might be crossing one day
soon.

As he looked up, he saw a young ferret on the Bridge.  Pete greeted him
saying, "Well, you must be Slinky!  I've heard so much about you." he
extended a paw to the new arrival.

Slinky shook Pete's large paw and said, "I am Slinky.  Who are you?"

"I am Musty Pete, I am a Greeter here at the Rainbow Bridge." answered
Pete.  "Your friends Dexter and Cinni have been waiting for you to get
here."

Slinky's eyes brightened and he smiled, "I heard stories about this
place, I often wondered if it was real.  My human Mom & Dad told me I
would come here and be with my brothers again.  I wasn't sure it was
true!"

Pete explained to Slinky, "This is the place where all animals come to,
then we wait here to be reunited with everyone we have loved and left
behind.  It is a wondrous and magical place, I am sure you will be very
happy here."

Slinky smiled at that and asked, "Where are Dexter and Cinni?  Can I see
them now?"

"Yes!  Yes!  Of course!" answered Pete, "We can go see them now if you
like." Slinky said he would like that, very much.

So together they walked from the Bridge towards the Newbie Dormitories
where Pete had last seen Slinky's brothers.

Slinky said, "Yes, I think you are right Mr. Pete, I am going to like it
here."
[Posted in FML issue 5261]