Ginger here. I overheard the Mom-person telling the Big Furry Giant (the Human kits call him "Daddy") that she told my story on the FML Saturday and got lots of nice letters about me! About ME! No one EVER paid attention to me when I lived in that "Pet Store" place, and now I have all kinds of friends! Lao Bear (what a hunk - and a gentleman too!) told me it's proper Human etiquette to say "thank you" when people say nice things about you, so THANK YOU EVERYBODY!!! I like this new place, but I've never seen so many fuzzies in my life! After Mom made sure I would get along o.k. with Lao (what's not to love?) she introduced me to Pinto, Uma, and Fuji, who are "shelter ferrets." I don't know what "shelter ferrets" means, but I think they're just visiting. I noticed that none of them have those snazzy collars with the jingly things and scribbly writing on them. I REALLY like the jingly things, and tried very hard to get Lao to let me have his, but he wouldn't! He is very proud of it, and said I have to earn the right to wear one. He was very mysterious about how I could do that, but I heard the B.F.G. say something about it depending on how well I can "socialize" with the others, so as soon as I find out what that means, I'm going to try to do it so I can have my very own! Pinto and Uma are nice, but Uma told me they're going to live with a new Mommy & Daddy on Tuesday. They're very happy about it, and I think it means I'll get more treats - Pinto is SUCH a pig! Mom let me visit with Gurgey yesterday, though I was a little scared at first. I'd heard that if he doesn't like you, you're in BIG TROUBLE, and once he beat Roscoe (another "shelter ferret") so badly that Roscoe had to go to the vet, and Mom spent weeks nursing him back to health! It turns out that Gurgey's not really so tough, though! He chased me and tried to bite my scruff and drag me for awhile, but I'm MUCH faster and ran circles around him till he got tired and gave up. Now he likes me (and we look a lot alike except he's more silvery & I'm a champagne blonde - Mom says we're probably related, since we came from the same breeder), and he and Lao even slept in my cage with me last night. But he wouldn't tell me about the "mystery of the jinglies" either! Mmmm... fuzzies are SO warm & comfortable, even if I DID get fur up my nose! Next I get to meet Samantha, then Puka. Gurgey said 'Mantha is a bit bossy, but o.k. once she gets to know you, and confided that she used to beat him up when he was a kit. He said she still scruffs him every now & then to let him know who's boss, even though he's MUCH bigger than she is now - but he plays along because it makes the old girl feel better. I'm scared of Puka. She's tiny & very beautiful, with her white fur and flashing dark eyes, but I heard she's a real Calamity Jane, & pure mean if she thinks you're trying to move in on her territory. But then, those Pet Store Humans said I'm mean too - "meaner than a snake & twice as fast." I'm not, really - it was just all those rodents & terrifying HANDS!!! I'm learning not to be so afraid of Hands, 'specially when they have treats in them. I LOVE treats, and even let Mom pick me up without wearing gloves yesterday (Lao said I had to, 'cuz it was her birthday & ferrets are supposed to be 'specially nice to Humans on their birthdays). She was really proud of me for being so brave, and I got extra treats for not biting her (even if she did scruff me a couple times - I HATE that!) That B.F.G. is another matter - he's just SO big, and has fur on his face and a loud voice! I THINK he's nice, and Gurgey really likes him, but I'm keeping my eye on him for awhile longer! Well, I could tell you a lot more about this new place, but I think B.I.G. might not like it if I go on too long on the FML :-). I'll write to all you nice folks again soon! Ginger [Posted in FML issue 1484]