It was a lovely day at de Bridge. SaraFerret was sound asleep in her cottage. What's that you say? You mean greeters sleep? Well of course they do. How else would they be able to do all that they are expected to do. Especially when all of a sudden, she is awakened by a CRASH! and then she looks up to see that yes--it is Dexter, the little boy courier and he has returned from wherever he was. He climbs down out of the hole he has made in her ceiling, holding two crumpled up notes in his paw. He said, "Uh hi SawaFewwet, betcha missed me. I'll help you fix that hole. I guess you didn't do such a good job by yourself before. But anyway I has a note from the Boss that a fewwet or two is cwossing the Bwidge and you best gets over there. You know how upset He gets when you is late. Is there anyone you want me to get?" He handed me the note. (I thought to myself a brief uncharitable thought before I swatted it away--after all this is the Bridge). I quickly read it and sent him on his way. Then I zipped over to the entrance (thinking to myself-I'm late, I'm so late, what am I doing sleeping, why did Dexter take so long to deliver the note?). But a chocolate sable fuzzy with a heavy backpack was waiting for me. So I quickly introduced myself, "Sorry I am a bit late. I am SaraFerret and I am de bridgegreeter. Welcome to de Rainbow Bridge. Dis is your new forever home. Here you have no more pain or suffering. You will have lotsa friends and run on green grass forever. Did I mention de fun and games?" He looked at me and said, "Well, I don't know much except my name is Barney. I don't spose you know my family do you? I betcha they are worried about me and if I am safe. But I am feeling a lot better now. And it is a comfort to know that I have a real true home now and that I won't ever have to go anywhere again." I replied, "Barney, I don't know them, but I am sure they will know you are safe after all I got a note from Daddy Dar. Oh by the way whatever are you carrying in your backpack? Not to worry I am not gonna take it. I am just curious like any other fuzzy. It has been so long since I was on earth that I just wanna see what others bring." So he carefully unzipped his pack and took out a red blanket. Mercy, how did he ever get that thing in there! Oh the Angel helped him. Hmmm! the Angel wasn't here to help him get that back in there so we were gonna have to carry it, cause we sure weren't gonna get it back in there under our own power. Then I told him we had another surprise. He was gonna get wings just like mine, well not exactly like mine, his would be boy wings-specially designed for him. They were great for flying about the heavens--sure beats hopping from cloud to cloud. But as we turned to leave, a tattered DEW fuzzy came racing across the Bridge dooking "Wait for me, don't leave." I looked at the other crumpled note I had received from Dexter and sure enough. But instead, Barney took over, " Hi there you have arrived here at the Rainbow Bridge and this here is SaraFerret and she is the bridgegreeter. I just arrived too. This will be your new forever home. So I guess you and I will be good friends. Now don't you worry a bit about your fur. That will be fixed in just a second. Now what are you carrying in your backpack. I betcha an Angel helped you pack it, didn't she? I had a red blanket in mine. Oh yeah you are gonna get wings just like hers except yours are gonna be boy wings--so you can go flying." "The DEW seemed stunned by this speech and said, "Well hi, both of you. My name is Cubby and I stayed with Daddy Dar for a while. I didn't feel too well and I really had matties in my fur so he had to cut them out. Did you ever have those? I really don't care for ferrets, but I guess I will have to get used to them. Is that all that there is here? No humans? Wonder how Stuart is doing without me? He was the only one I liked." I replied, "Nice to meet you Cubby. Your fur does look nice and white. I recall one big mat I had but it was caused by the surgery I had and I chewed out my stitches. Vet had to glue them back instead of sewing them. My fur never grew back in right again there. You'll get used to all the ferrets here and the only place there are humans are in heaven. This is for ferrets only. Few mice and occasional visiting cats." (Hey these helper ferrets do pretty good. Just give them a few pointers and let them go). Then Cubby decided he would share the backpack secret and carefully unzipped his pack and took out his purple blanket. Cubby said, "You were right, the Angel did help me pack this, but I think I am gonna have to just carry it from now on as we are never gonna get it back it." So Cubby and Barney heaved their blankets over their backs and we three trotted our way down the path to the Wing House where the wings were stored. We opened the door and on the counter were two boxes (of course) Cubby and Barney. Each ran to theirs. Cubby took out his wings--bright purple. Barney took out his--bright red. I helped Cubby put on his wings and adjusted his halo and then he ran to the big vanity mirror and gazed at his reflection and sure enough the fur was all grown out and he was a fluffy handsome DEW once again. Then I helped Barney put on his wings and adjusted his halo and he ran to the big vanity mirror and gazed at his reflection and mercy me, what a handsome chocolate sable stared back at him. All healthy and happy once again. We went out the door and down the road, where we were met by a group of fuzzies carrying a big banner reading "Welcome Cubby and Barney." The two new arrivals questioned them, " We don't even know you, so why are you welcoming us? The spokesferret replied, "Oh we know all about you and your families. We have a party awaiting you. Come on. You are now a part of our family." As they arrived at the cottage, we could see that food was laid out and music was a-playing. Tears formed in both of their eyes as they could see that they were really and truly wanted and loved. Fuzzies came up and introduced themselves and I could see Cubby warming up to other fuzzies. Barney was having a blast dancing. Oh yes, each of their blankets were laid on their hammocks. Each of them were happy in their new forever home. So ended another greeting at the Rainbow Bridge. Lovey and hugs, SaraFerret. bridgegreeter [Posted in FML 6891]