Things had been quiet at the Bridge lately, and No. 421 decided to get
his garden tools oiled and ready for spring. He was out in the tool
shed when he heard Oliver, his currier, calling him.

"Hey 421, we has a really important crossing and I need your help,"
Oliver said. "Bluebird just came by and told me we has two ferrets that
belonged to Pie who were crossing. Before we came here to work, there
was a fuzzy that crossed without a greeter. I has to find him. Do you
know anything about him?"

No. 421 thought and thought. "Hmmmm" he said. "Seems there was one
whose name was, let me see, Byron, Myron, no Simon, that's it, Simon.
He lives alone, down by the brook. See if you can find him, and tell
him to meet me at the Bridge. He did not have a greeting when he
crossed, so you stay with him and bring him up."

Oliver was off like a shot skipping over the fields to the brook. A
lone ferret was out drawing water and looked up when Oliver came into
his yard.

"Hello" said Simon, What can I do for you?"

"I'm Oliver, currier for No. 421 Bridge Greeter, and we believe you
have family crossing today," Oliver said. "Can you come up with me and
greet them?"

"I suppose so," Simon said. "What is a greeting, what do I have to do?
I've been alone here for so long, I did not think anyone knew or even
cared about me."

Oliver took Simon by the paw and gave him a hug. The two ferrets
started up to the bridge and Oliver told Simon about the time when
there were no Greeters, and fuzzies were pretty much on their own.

No. 421 had just settled down in his chair when he saw two ferrets
playing on the other side of the bridge. He wondered it these were
the two he was looking for.

"Hello" he called. "Are you Mischa and Piper?"

"Yes, that's us," said a beautiful ferret with soft white fur and
glowing ruby-red eyes. "We were here waiting to see where we should
go. What is this place and how did we get here?"

"Come on over and we'll talk," No. 421 said. "I'm Bridge Greeter No.
421 and my currier Oliver has gone to find some family of yours who
crossed earlier. This is the Rainbow Bridge and it is your new forever
home. Your Mom, Pie O'Pah in on leave right now so I am here to greet
you."

Just then, Oliver and Simon came running up the hill. Mischa and Piper
could not believe their eyes. Simon was here. They had heard so much
about him and about the Rainbow Bridge, and now here he was.

"Simon," that really you," Mischa said. "Boy we heard a lot about you
from our Mom. This is Piper. Can you find us a placed to hang our
hammy's near you? We have a lot of dooking to do."

Simon was smiling from whisker to whisker. "Hi Guys," he said. "Boy, am
I glad to meet someone from home. I thought I was all alone here and I
was not a happy ferret. Look, I have plenty of room at my place -- you
can just move in with me. I have a mound by the brook, and we can sit
in the sun and catch up on all the news."

No. 421 put his paw around Simon's shoulders. "Thank you son," he said.
"This will work out all around. Mischa and Piper will have family to
live with, and you won't be alone anymore. I'll tell Pie O' Pah you are
all together."

The three ferrets started down the hill all dooking at once, and No.
421 took Oliver by the paw and the two went back to their cabin.

Oliver put the kettle on for some ferretone tea, while No. 421 wrote
in his logbook. Mission accomplished, Mischa and Piper will live with
Simon, and Pie, when you see this, and your ferret family is all
together again. Simon is happy that he has family, and Mischa and Piper
will not be alone. No. 421 picked up his seed catalog while Oliver
poured the tea. Spring was coming and he needed to get ready.

[Posted in FML 6613]