Today, Rosie accompanied me to the bridge to await Minka's arrival. Rosie was twiddling her paws, waiting patiently until she arrived. Out of the warm glow Minka came forth. Rosie danced and danced until Minka leaped off the bridge and onto her. Rosie told her that there were other friends waiting for her, but they were napping. Minka was appalled at this and after I introduced myself, she asked if we could go see them. Minka took right to her wings, and without so much as a lesson, she took right to the skies with us. With the wind blowing through her halo, we ascended to the hammies in the clouds. There Cinnamon, Pepper, Sabrina, Wrigley, Zoey, Jillian, Marble, Snoopy, Casey, Pebbles, Rosie all were napping in a big nest with smiles across their faces. With a scowl, Minka grabbed a piece of cloud and wrung it out on top of them. Soaked and stunned they all jumped up to see Minka standing before them. They were joyful to see Minka had arrived. But Minka was annoyed. She said they were wasting good time sleeping. And she told him to grab their halos so they could spend some time together. I told Minka, that there was lots to see and endless time to see it in while she was waiting on her mommy. Minka shot the little ones a look, then smiled at me and announced that she would find plenty to do. I took a break and told them that I"d meet up with them later to show Minka the soup bowl, sofa city and the rest. What came next was told to me by Rosie later. Minka asked the others where the doggies stay. Rosie, immediately (or so she says) said, "Oh no, Minka, I know what you are thinking ... don't!" The others out voted her and asked that Minka take them on an adventure to the doggie place. So off they went, slinking and sneaking through the tall grasses of the meadows. Past the daisy field, the stream where the mink fish, and then the woods where the badgers burrow. They finally came to doggie land. Hiding in the brush, they stung grasses all through their fur for camouflage (including Rosie because she was keeping an eye out for Mink ... or so she says). They dodged in and out from behind balls, giant bones, and finally ... the doggie bowls. Minka proceeded to lift one kibble after another out of a bowl. She told the others that this was how it was done. They began passing kibbles down the line and handed the last ones to Rosie. A bloodhound, caught a wiff of them, rose from his sleep and with great huffs began to take in the smells. Minka let out a great war cry, laughed, and dashed away with the last kibble. The other ferrets scattered and the shocked bloodhound barely knew what hit him. Everyone toted the kibbles back to where the ferrets live, and handed them out. I couldn't believe that they'd go through all of that trouble to only give away most of the bounty. But Rosie said that Minka claims that the treat is only half of the thrill. Rosie says that Minka claims that there will be many more raids and thrills. But Rosie has assured me, that she would notify me right away after ... er before Minka ever acts out again. Personally, I think the mischief has only begun and that was a warm up. I think she is fine tuning herself and putting the others in training so that she can give her mom an eternity of smiles when they meet once again. Sandee [Posted in FML issue 4985]