The month of December is a busy time of year at the Rainbow Bridge. Ferrets were spending more time at the rainbow's edge peeking in on their families, every ferret missed home during the month of December. Angels were scurrying here and there in preparation of the big night, so many things to do and time was running short. Ferrets took full advantage of the fact angels could be easily distracted and they could also be forgetful. More and more lately a message was heard on the loud speaker "Angel #37 or angel #164 is missing a halo so will the guilty ferret please turn it in" and next thing you know you see a halo being rolled along by a ferret nose taking it back to the rightful owner. During the month of December the Boss even set aside a couple of days and declared them snow days, He made it snow at the Rainbow Bridge and the ferrets loved it, all that snow to run through! But the best part was rolling snowballs; the ferrets would break up into groups of 5 or 6, roll up snowballs, stand one on another's shoulders and then throw snowballs at the angels which they rarely ever hit their target; ferrets are notorious for their bad eyesight not to mention the fact it never failed, the ferret on the bottom of the stack would get the giggles at the wrong moment and the whole bunch would come tumbling down. Mostly the angels just caught the snowballs and rolled them back to the ferrets, angels were always around for ferret games at the Rainbow Bridge, not just in December but all year long. Thinking about his own familee as he made his way to the Bridge that morning, Muldoone wondered what kind of a celebration his familee would have on the big day. Muldoone remembered getting a couple new pieces of bedding every year, new toys, there were always treats galore for everyone and if they all behaved (which as anyone who has ferrets know that is an impossible feat for a ferret no matter how hard they try) they all got to have some of mom's yummy turkey. Mully was sure his mom made the bestest turkey in all the world. Thinking about his familee and missing them, Mully couldn't help but get tears in his eyes but he had a job to do. A new ferret was due to arrive that morning, a fuzzy by the name of Buttons would be coming. Arriving at the Bridge and taking his place, he didn't have to wait long until he felt the first stirs of the breeze. The Ferret Promise Song was dancing on the wind and then the words began to swirl all around Muldoone. The words of the melody told a story; a story about a ferret that was very very loved by his familee, a ferret whose life ended suddenly and much too early. The song told of many tears and a human heart that ached from the grief and wondering what more could have been done. But the words of the song also repeated the promise given to us all by the Creator and in that promise we are assured love is forever and that we will be together again someday. The light flashed brightly once more and then the sound of ferrety feets could be heard making their way across the time-worn boards that made up the Rainbow Bridge, connecting that other world to this one; the world which held fuzzies of every size shape and color. The Ferret Promise Song played for each and every arrival, whispering to their hearts; "Rest now wee-one, you are home." Coming slowly across the Bridge was a sable-colored male ferret and he was carrying a stuffed toy rabbit and dragging a blue blanket. It was always so nice to see ferrets arriving with things from home; the ferrets arriving with backpacks that smelled suspiciously like raisins, dates, and various other ferret goodies, those were the ones Muldoone tried to give a closer inspection. Mully stepped forward to greet the new arrival. "Welcomes to da Wainbow Bwidge Buttons, I be Mr. Muldoone, officialist Bwidge Gweeter" and he leaned forward offering his nose to the newcomer in a friendly greeting. The new arrival sat down on a nearby toadstool that grew freely at the Rainbow Bridge. With eyes big and round he surveyed his new surroundings. For a long time the little ferret didn't say anything and Mully was getting a little concerned when Buttons finally spoke. "So dis be da pwace da odders came to?" Buttons asked Muldoone. "Da odders?" Mully replied back to him. "My mom say dat Socks, Oreo, Skylar, and Weasle comes here" Buttons informed Muldoone. "Uh yeah kid, dis be da Wainbow Bwidge dat all fewets come to. And yur mom sends a specialist messagus for you, she say she woves you very much and she be twying to finds out why you gots sick and hads to come here" Mully to him. "And so you not gets wonesome, here be yur fewet fwiends, comes out guys" and with that Socks, Weasle, Skylar, and Oreo pounced on Buttons and were firing one question right after another. How is mom, how ebery body be on earff, we be missing dem a wot." Lots more ferret giggling, ferret kisses, wild weasel war dancing going on and it was quite a reunion held by all. ~~Muldoone~~ Caring for your ferrets at the Rainbow Bridge. [Posted in FML issue 5093]