Hi, all. I met a little girl coming across the Bridge. Her name was Cleo. She came across the Bridge with confidence, and whiskers uplifted in a smile. She said that she had been dreaming about the Bridge for a while, and was happy to finally be in her new forever home. Well, I got her some wings and a new hammie. Then I asked her where she wanted to go, what she wanted to see. She said that she wanted to pick out a good home first, and then decorate it. I knew just the place! I brought Cleo to the Field of Sofas. The Field of Sofas has roughly the same acreage as sixteen football fields added together! There are all kinds of sofas there as far as the eye can see, and patches of multicolored wildflowers blooming between them. There are fancy reclining sofas, old fashioned shiny horse hair ones, quilted velvet victorian ones, as well as harvest gold and avacado green ones from the seventies. Some are in mint condition, others have been extensively...shall we say....renovated? Renovated by FERRETS for our comfort! Upholstry shredded for long scratching and digging binges, stuffing falling out of the bottom, cushions chewed open and the soft contents carried away for bedding...You get the idea! Well, Cleo chose an overstuffed loveseat in cream colored corduroy, the best fabric for showing off your shed fur! I got under it with her and helped her rip the fabric out from underneath it. It was hard work! Fortunately, her nearest neighbours, the Business from the blue denim casual sofa to the left came over to say hi, and to lend a paw. With their help, we tore out a laundry basket sized load of foam rubber chunks, and loosened a few springs. We all took a breather, and we got to chatting. Cleo told us some funny stories about her Mommy, Angie, and the playing they used to do. I reassured Cleo that some day, a long time from now, she would see her Mommy again. Cleo said she'd customize her her very own sofa just for the occasion! I met a little guy coming across the Bridge, too. His Business was waiting for him with me. They were a pretty rowdy bunch! Oliver was wardancing, he stepped on Fancy, who bit Leo, who then backed into Seth, who ran for it, but got caught and tackled by Gabby and Fuzzie! There was so much commotion that we almost didn't notice when Mr. Burton came across the Bridge at last! Mr. Burton and I just moved aside and let the Business continue to frolic. What a sight! We walked away together for a stroll, leaving the Business to calm down on its own. It was a good day for a walk. It had rained the night before, leaving the sky fresh washed and clean smelling. There were still raindrops caugt in the grass, shining like little diamonds in the sun. Mr. Burton and I both noticed that our feet were getting sort of damp, so we hopped up on top of a large flat stone, and lay down to chat. Mr. Burton told me about his life, about the bad hoomins who abandoned him, and then the good hoomins who loved him and took care of him and his Business. His Daddy Jim was a total pushover when it came time to give out treats. Mr. Burton gave me his very best "I'm starving!" face and I laughed so hard I thought my eyeballs were going to fall out! Jim fell for it every time. You just have to love that in a hoomin. Mr. Burton and I made plans to meet up later in the day and have a late lunch at the Fruit Bar. Fresh watermelon chunks! Bananna hunks! Honeydew! Cantaloupe! Rasins! Cold stewed prunes! I can hardly wait. In the meantime, I can see Mr. Burton off in the distance. Fuzzie is riding his back! Oliver and Fancy are playing tug of war with Mr. Burtons new wings. Leo and Gabby and Seth are running in giant circles around everybody! I think I'll, ah, stay over here for a while! Sandee [Posted in FML issue 4434]