Early morning at the Bridge has Muldoone already up and getting ready to go and greet the new arrival. Trying once again to conquer his hammy-head-hair, Mully sighs and gives up. It be no use he mutters to himself, I gets one side under da cap and da odder side jumps out. Why won't da Boss fixes my hair? I would wike to habe hair wike odder fewets and nots habe to wears dis cap. Heaving another big sigh with the realization he was whipped, out the door he goes heading for the Bridge to greet the new comer. Muldoone took his work very seriously and he tried hard to be a good Rainbow Bridge greeter. Mully was troubled about the young ferrets arriving at the Bridge; their time had been cut short, their days in the sun ended too soon. It was the abused ferrets that broke Mully's heart, touched his heart deeply, they had done nothing to deserve the treatment they got, all they wanted was a soft touch and a kind word and the opportunity to be a happy little ferret just like any other fuzzbutt. There is a special place the abused and frightened ferrets go to when they arrive; they go to stay with Mz. SunnyFerret until they felt comfortable enough to be a part of Ferret Village located at the Rainbow Bridge. Not long after arriving at the Bridge, Muldoone hears the sound of a soft melody dancing softly on the breeze. The Ferret Promise song sang of time cut short, it sang of love and broken hearts, the song spoke of the promise made to each and every ferret by the Creator, and it whispered to the heart of the wee-one arriving, "you are home." The flash of light subsided and then Mully heard the unmistakable sounds of ferrety feets coming across the planks of the Bridge; Molly the winged unicorn had delivered another ferret to the Rainbow Bridge. "Hello Jack and welcomes to da Wainbow Bwidge Mully says to the young ferret, I be Mr. Muldoone, da officialist Bwidge Gweeter." The young ferret known as Jack sits down to study his new surroundings. For a long time he says nothing just drinking all the sights before him and breathing in the sweet smells of raisins, dates, Foamy Fries and other treats there at the Bridge. Finally young Jack found his voice and spoke. I not apposed to be here ya know, it not be my time to come, I wanted to stay wif my familee a while longer. Can you fixes me and sends me back Mr. Muldoone?" "No Jack, I be sworry, I no can dooes dat. Whens you comes here, you stays here until your hooman-bean cwoss ober." Bending down to be on eye level with the little ferret known as Jack, Mully begins to speak to him softly. I no can sends you back but you habe fwiends here, I be told yur buddies JD, Shelby, and Knightman be here and dey be 'cited bout seeings you. Just then a blur of fur comes streaking past Muldoone and there at his feet was a fuzzy pile of ferrets; they were doing the weasel-war-dance, dook, dook, dooking, giggles, tickles, laughing, hugging, and kissing up a storm. "Wooks wike yur fwiends finds you Jack" Muldoone tells him. The ferret known as JD struggled to his feet and trying very hard to compose himself. "Mr. Muldoone, cans you pwease wet up shows Jack 'wound da Bwidge? I knows you 'appose to be da one showsing him 'wound but we would wike to do it." "Yeah chimmed in Shelby and Knightman, wet us shows him wound and we shows him how to peeks in on our familee. Pwease Mr. Muldoone, we shows him 'wound and you be fwee to go takes a nap." Muldoone thought for a minute and then decided it wouldn't hurt anything even though technically it was his job to show the new ones around at the Bridge, but the idea of a mid-morning nap sounded good. "Okays you cans shows him wound, just be on da wookout for Nanna" Mully explained to them. Heading down the path in the direction of his bungalow and thinking about a nap, Mully stopped to look back at the four ferrets and the wild reunion they were having. Everyone was so very very happy and Muldoone found it very ironic in that there had to be pain for one or more humans; Jack's familee on earth and that same pain caused such happiness for others, Jack and his three friends here at the Bridge. Mully hoped someday the Boss would explain this and many other thngs to him. ~~Muldoone~~ A buddy to all ferrets who have passed and watching over your fuzzbutt angels from the Rainbow Bridge. [Posted in FML issue 4851]