It was a lovely afternoon at de Bridge. SaraFerret was playing ball with her kits, Serena and Isabel. Of course they threw it so far that she had to run and find it. There it was--right behind the raspberry bushes--doesn't it figure. Just as she leaned in to get the ball, she heard the flutter of wings above her and all of a sudden, CRASH!!!!!!! Into the bushes she went with a little boy courier named Dexter on top of her. Dexter managed to get off and she struggled to untangle herself from the thorns--OUCH!!!!! Dexter had a note in his paw and said, "OOPS! SawaFewwet, didn't mean for that to happen. Just wanted to deliver this note. A fewwet is cwossing the Bwidge and you is the next one up to gweet him. Although by the time you get thwough messing awound he will pwobably be lost. You best wead this note and hustle over there before the Boss gets upset with you. Is there anyone you wants me to get?' He handed me the note and I read it and told him to get the right ones and where they should be. Then I looked at myself (berry-stained and covered with thorns) and sighed. Ah well no time to waste with cleaning up--even my wings were stained (great impression I would make on newcomers). Off I flew to the entrance and no fuzzy was there. Oh heavens I had lost him. He must have wandered off. I checked the description: white patchy fur, black eye, kinky tail. Hmmm. Then I saw him behind the gilded lilies. So I went up to him and introduced myself, "Hi I am SaraFerret and I am de bridgegreeter. Sorry I was not right at the entrance when you came across. This is your new forever home. Here you will have no more pain or suffering. You will run on green grass forever and have lotsa friends. Did I mention de fun and games?" He looked at me like I had dropped out of the sky somewhere and said, "Hmmm, you sure look funny. Does everyone here look stained like you." I replied, "No, I had a slight accident with a wayward courier who hasn't figured out how to fly and land at the same time and I ended up in a raspberry bush. Usually I am rather well dressed and cleaned with fancy wings, not ratty looking like this. I apologize for not looking my best." Just then Louie and Tazzy flew up and Meeko was so happy to see them and they all looked at me. And of course Louie asked me what had happened and all I said was, "Poor Dexter. He means well. Maybe he needs glasses." They all started laughing as they knew me. Louie asked Meeko if I had told him about the wings he was going to get. Meeko said, "Nope." Tazzy said, "Oh you just wait; those wings are gonna be so cool--great for flying about the heavens--sure beats hopping from cloud to cloud." So since they had completed my task I told them all to follow me. All of us went down the garden path to the Wing House where the wings were stored. We opened the door and all managed to squeeze inside (very small bldg) and on the counter was a big box marked "Meeko" He opened the box and took out his wings-Black with silver streaks and silver tips-oh so very perfect for a fuzzy who had been through so very very much. Tazzy helped put on his wings and of course Louie adjusted his halo. Then he ran to the big vanity mirror and gazed at his reflection. For the first time he saw how handsome he was, Then he turned to us and said, "Gee I wish my Mommy could see me now" Then I gots an idea. We went out the door and down the path to the Misting Pond. We sat down beside the cool clear water and with one swish he saw the vision of his Mommy Wendy appear. He got so excited he started waving and dooking with all of his might. "I love you Mommy. Thank you for taking me home from the shelter. I tried to be the best ferret in the world for you. I found my friends here. I am safe here and I feel so much better and the place is really nice and they are telling me about the fun things we can do. Oh yes, I have real pretty wings now--you wouldn't believe the colors they picked for me and soon I will be able to fly. Thank you for staying by my side while I passed; that was so kind of you." Then he began to throw hugs and kisses and laid them on a nearby shooting star which was headed to your house and by the time you should read this it should have landed there. And with another swish the vision was gone. We left there and went down another road led by Tazzy and Louie who seemed to know where they were going. There were sweet williams and blue cornflowers everywhere and pink daisies all along the path. Then all of a sudden in a clearing there was the cottages where they lived. So many fuzzies were running in and out of one cottage. You could smell the food and hear music a-playing. Then a group came up to introduce theirselves: "Hi, I'm Hanky, I'm Bedlam, Annabelle, Marshmallow, and of course Diggy." They said the rest of the others were just friends who had dropped in for the welcome to the bridge party. Meeko asked, "A Party to welcome me?" Tazzy answered, "Well, of course! You are a very special ferret!" They took us all into the cottage and OH MERCY, the food--you would not believe! Chocolate this and that! Meeko's eyes just bugged out. He leaned over to me and whispered, "Are you sure we are sposed to eat this?" I answered, "Yes, we can eat this stuff now, mainly at parties. But you would get bored eating it all the time. Here drink this pepsi, I dearly love this stuff or try this sweet iced tea. I used to steal this from my mommy when I was on earth. Notice the straw. The straws make it really fun--sorta reminds you of home when we usta steal it then." Meeko was stuffing a chocolate bar into his mouth and had glass of iced tea with a straw when a young lady fuzzy asked him to dance. He mumbled something through his mouthful, but said something to the effect that he would after eating. I stayed for awhile, but realized I had to get home and do something about my wings and my stained body, So I gave Meeko a brief hug and waved all a good bye, I dropped by the Lily Pond to wash off the stains and get the thorns off, No hope for the wings. So I headed for home. When I arrived there was Dexter with a new set of wings for me and an apology saying he would try to do better. He helped me put on my new wings and I felt much better. Dexter went back to the courier cottage feeling that he had done his good deed for the day. So ended another greeting at de Rainbow Bridge. Lovey and Hugs, SaraFerret, bridgegreeter [Posted in FML 6985]