©Ferretowned, Sept 2000

"The ferret’s going into respiratory arrest. Let’s get her into oxygen."

Sandy heard the words as if from a great distance. She felt her tired body lifted and placed into a large glass-looking case. She didn’t understand what was happening to her. She felt so terrible inside. The only thing that kept her going was her momma’s whispered words "Take care, sweetheart. I love you" as she was handed over to the vet.

Suddenly Sandy became aware of a presence inside the case with her. She lifted her tired head and recognized the ferret standing in front of her. "Gizmo!" Sandy cringed a little, as her and Gizmo had never really gotten along well while he was alive.

"It’s OK, Sandy. Momma sent me here to look after you." Gizmo spoke gently to her with his head cocked to one side. "She was worried that you wouldn’t understand and that you would be scared. So I am here to comfort you."

"I don’t understand, Gizmo. What’s happening to me?" Sandy asked with fear in her voice.

"You are preparing for a journey to the Rainbow Bridge. I will explain it all to you when we get there. For now, just relax and sleep. I’ll be by your side the whole time." And with that Gizmo lay down next to Sandy and wrapped his body around her to warm her.

"Thank you, Gizmo. That feels nice." Sandy sighed and closed her eyes.

"That’s it," the phantom voice said, "her heart has stopped. She’s gone."

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Sandy began to wake up. She realized that her body wasn’t hurting anymore. She started to stir, and Gizmo sat up beside her. When she looked down, she realized that she was not in the glass box anymore, but on bright green grass. She looked up and saw a beautiful blue sky full of large, fluffy white clouds. She turned to Gizmo with many questions, but no longer fear, in her eyes.

"What’s going on? Where am I?"

Gizmo patiently began explaining the story of the Rainbow Bridge. He showed Sandy the beautiful wooden bridge that simply exploded with color. Then he pointed out the numerous animals running about. "See that group over there? They are waiting for momma, too."

A few feet away a sweet-looking sheltie dog sat smiling at the new arrival and her friend. "That’s Mandi, momma’s old dog," Gizmo said. Next to the dog was a black and grey cat with a gerbil and a hamster riding on her back. "Those animals are also waiting for momma. That cat there is Muffin and on her back are Chickers and Scratchy." Gizmo leaned in closed to Sandy’s ear and whispered, "Don’t tell anyone, but I’m the one responsible for Scratchy being here."

Sandy giggled and looked to the next animal. "What is that?" she questioned her friend.

"That is Nikko. He is a plated lizard. He is also waiting for momma." Gizmo replied.

"Wow," Sandy exclaimed, "she sure has a lot of animals waiting here for her."

"Yes, she does. And I have a feeling there will be many more before her time comes," Gizmo said knowingly. "Now when momma’s time has come, she will arrive here at the bridge. She will gather all of us up into her loving arms and carry us across the bridge with her."

"That sounds nice," Sandy began, "but I miss her. What if I want to see her now?"

Gizmo let her to a large sparkling pool of silvery water. "Then you come to this pool and gaze into it. It will show you momma whenever you want."

And Sandy gazed into the pool and saw her momma sitting on a chair outside with her face lifted to the sky. "Why does she look so sad, Gizmo?"

"Because she is thinking of you and how much she misses you right now," Gizmo replied.

Just then another ferret approached. "Hi, Sandy! I’m Sandee!" And both ferrets giggled. The other ferret continued, "I am here to make sure you made it to Rainbow Bridge OK. I can also pass along any message you want to your mommy back home." Sandee smiled and waited for a response.

Sandy thought a moment. There was so much that she wanted to say to her momma. "Tell her I’m feeling so much better. Ummm, tell her that there’s lots to do here and Gizmo is with me. Tell her that I miss her very much and that I love her very much. Tell her I want to give her a kiss and a hug, too."

Sandee nodded and went off with her message.

"Well, Sandy, that’s about it. Get comfortable and have fun. Everything here is for you to enjoy. If you need any help or get lonely, we’re all here for you." Gizmo gave her a big hug and wiped a tear from her face.

"Thanks, Giz, but I think I’m going to sit here for a little while longer."

Gizmo nodded his head and turned to join the other animals that were still sitting nearby.

Sandy gazed into the pool again to see her momma. Another tear fell from her cheek and into the water. It began raining gently where her momma was, but her momma kept her face turned up into the rain and smiled.

"Thank you, momma, for rescuing me and taking me into your heart and loving me as much as you did. I will always be there in your heart when you need me, just as you are always here in this pool when I need you. Take care, sweet momma. I love you."

And with that Sandy turned and ran to join the other animals playing in the grass.