A little over a year ago we had a very handsome young fuzzy arrive here from the Hoomin world. His name was Vachon Vincent, and he was just the sweetest, most gentle fuzzy I had met in a long time. But even as gentle as he was, he had a hard time of it in the Hoomin world. His sister fuzzies, BreAnna, Tabitha, and AriAnna, would always pick on him and then go giggle, "Hee hee hee!" Vachon tried so hard to play with them, but they just wouldn't have any of it. Still, even as they were biting his ears, he was a perfect gentleman. But things happen as things happen, and Vachon and his sisters all somehow found their way to the Bridge. Even here, Vachon's sisters were not very nice to him, but they all tolerated one another. The Boss is never very happy when fellow fuzzies can not get along, but he pretty much stays out of it. That doesn't mean, however, that he isn't watching very closely... However, in the Hoomin world, Vachon had two very dear friends, Nicole and Carmen, who were white Chihuahuas. Nicole would chase Vachon, and then Vachon would chase Nicole! Then Carmen would chase Nicole, who was chasing Vachon, and they all ended up in a big heap! They had great fun playing together; so much fun that it seemed that they lived to play with one another. But sadly, things happen as things happen, and Nicole and Carmen left Vachon to go to the doggie Bridge. It was bad enough that Vachon's sisters had left the Hoomin world to go to the Bridge, but now his two best friends, Nicole and Carmen, had to leave for their own Bridge. And while he couldn't get along with his sisters, he still missed them. It was very hard for Vachon for awhile, but then... things happen as things happen, and Vachon had to make his own journey to the Bridge. The Irish setters at the doggie Bridge were planning a St. Patrick's Day celebration there, so the Boss decided that all the Bridges should celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Back down in the Hoomin world, they celebrate St. Patrick's Day by wearing green stuff and drinking green stuff. Everything is pretty much green, and they have fun down there, but you haven't seen St. Patrick's day until you've seen it at the Bridge! First, the Boss makes the entire sky green. Then he makes all the plants, trees, and flowers green. That doesn't sound all that unusual? How about green bark on the trees? How about green daisys? Even the grass was a different shade of green. And since the Boss didn't like being outdone by the Human world, he gave all the fuzzies and furries very special green fur coats. Since the Boss had decided for all the Bridges to celebrate, he decided that they could all visit one another's Bridge. Vachon was very excited because he hadn't seen the two Chihuahuas, Nicole and Carmen, for over a year, and now they would get to come see him! Nicole and Carmen came flying out of the horizon like two maniacal bats, very green bats mind you. Their wings were just a tad lighter green than their fur, but they were unmistakably green. The first thing they wanted to do is find their brother Vachon. They landed right next to Vachon's hidey-hole and pretty soon all three of them were romping through the Bridge, playing Tag. Vachon told Nicole and Carmen about his sisters, and how they still didn't like him much. They were very sad, because they could not understand why anyone would not want to play with Vachon. Nicole and Carmen thought about it for some time, and then came up with an idea. Oh, don't think the Boss didn't have a hand in this one. Nicole and Carmen waited until the middle of the night, and then they flew to BreAnna, Tabitha, and AriAnna's hidey-hole. Vachon was hiding nearby. Carmen called out to Vachon's sisters to come out and play. Slowly, Vachon's sisters emerged from the door, and Nicole flew around behind them and dropped a bucket of green ferretone on all their heads! At first they were mad, and they chased the Chihuahuas, but then they spotted Vachon and they chased him, too. Pretty soon, all the fuzzies and doggies were chasing each other and playing together, something they had never done in the Hoomin world. It was a wonderful thing, and I caught the Boss peeking out from behind a tree, smiling. We all had fun on St. Patrick's day, and Vachon and his sisters saw Nicole and Carmen off so that they could go back to the doggie Bridge. They all talked about how they missed their mom, Debbie, and how they missed Devon, Kyle and Casper as well. They all shed a few tears, but not too many. They were all just glad to be one big happy family. Later on, I saw the Boss. I had a complaint. Green ferretone? That was just not right. The Boss looked at me with a twinkle in his eye and said, "Wait until you see your tea!" Oh, my goodness... Sandee [Posted in FML issue 5190]