Hi, all- It's been a very busy week here for us! I met a little guy coming across the Bridge. His name in life was Bilbo, but here in the Afterworld, he wants to be known as Bilbo, Master of Cats. No problem! But I didn't have the heart to tell him that we already have more than a thousand guys here who wish to be known as "Master of Cats"! His Brothers in Fur Storm and Spunky assure me that Bilbo really did have a way with cats, it's not just ego on his part. Storm and Spunky waited for Bilbo with me. They told me about the adventures they had as part of the Merry Crew of Mayhem, their Mommy Rebecca's Business. There was a *lot* of love in their home! Well, Bilbo has his tail again, it's very long and straight and good. He can also see again, as well as when he was a kit! Bilbo, Master of Cats, Storm ,and Spunky all strapped on their wings, and headed off overhead to the Chicken Gravy Pool that bubbles from beneath a pink and gray granite boulder in the forest. It's very quiet there, and still beneath the trees. I wished that I could have joined them, but I knew that they were going to meet with the entire Merry Mayhem Crew for a sort of private party, and I wanted to give them their privacy! I met two little guys who came across the Bridge at almost the same time, Bay and Storm. I had new hammies for them, also wings and a little mouse for Bay, and a knotted up sock for Storm. The mouse and the sock had been their favourite toys in the World of the Living. Of course, they have these things with them here, now, too! Their Business was waiting for them with me, EZ, Draco, DW, and Snapper. Well, the six of them had a really loud and rowdy greeting, to say the least! There was wardancing and dooking and sniffing and popping! The grass wound up all crushed beneath their feet. Some paws even got stained green from all the commotion! We all went to where the Business has been hanging their hammies for quite some time, virtually within sight of the Fruit Bar! Bay and Storm got their gear stowed away (except for the mouse, Bay doesn't go anywhere without the mouse) and they all commenced to feast! There were wonderful things to eat! Watermelon, honeydew chunks, rasins, prunes, apple slices, and even spiced apple rings! We gorged until our bellies were round and hard, then we all lay down in the soft grass for a blissful long nap! What a marvelous afternoon that was! I also greeted a little guy that I was kind of worried about. His name was Mickey, and his Brother and Sister in Fur waited for him with me. Oh, Mickey was certainly restored to his full vitality, but over the next few days...I don't know. He just seemed too quiet, too sad. Nobody could tell what was wrong, and Mickey wouldn't say. I'm not even sure that he knew what was wrong. I decided to keep him close to me for a few days, and I am so glad that I did, because something wonderful happened... It all started when a little guy named Blaze came across the Bridge. His Business was waiting for him, Nobleman, (who had waited for two years), Frolic, Sterling, Pepsi, Big Fun, and Rinkydink. Well, they had a very happy greeting. Lots of nose touching and nuzzling! Blaze was so happy and excited to see all of his Brothers and Sisters in Fur, especially Nobleman! Afterwards, Blaze came up to me and made a very unusual request. I've only seen something like this happen one other time, and that was long ago. Blaze wanted to spend his time in the Afterworld as the most beautiful thing that he could think of. A butterfly? Nope. A peacock? Nope. A big orange and white ornamental koi fish with whiskers from Japan? Nope. All he wanted was to be a firefly, a little flying star with wings in the night sky. He asked if I could arrange that with the Big Boss. Well, we were all really surprised by this, but I said that sure, I'd go ask the Big Boss. The Big Boss said yes, Blaze could be a firefly, but he'd have to be one in the plant and insect Afterworld. There are no insects, here. If he ever got tired of being a firefly, however, he was welcome to come back here and be a ferret with us. Mickey had been standing not too far away throughout this whole negotiation. Remember that I said I was keeping him close? Well, after the Big Boss said what he did there was a big commotion. Everyone was talking at once! I saw Mickey walk up to Blaze and speak to him, but I wasn't paying too much attention, I was trying to quiet folks down. Finally I could hear myself think again, and Blaze called over to me "Can Mickey come be a firefly, too?" Well, that reduced everyone to silence. *Nothing* like that had ever happened before! Mickey looked at me with hope and expectation shining in his eyes. "They are so beautiful" he said quietly. I'd never seen his look so alive! "Please ask", said Blaze. Well, I took a deep breath and went to talk to the Big Boss again. If you ever travel to the plant and insect Afterworld, you might notice that among all of the greens, all of the rustling grasses and prickly cactus pads and the roar of crickets, there are two twinkling points of light. Their jewel like abdomens emit a warm, yellow glow. They signal to one another, and they are never far apart. Blink,Blink! Blink,Blink! Sometimes they fly through the warm, humid night and light upon the same shiny broad bananna leaf. Sometimes they fly in dizzying circles with others of their kind, shining their little beacons beneath the dark canopy of the pines. They are never, ever alone. They have each other. Sandee [Posted in FML issue 4421]