“Oh it’s just awful and I need to go get Beauty, but I don’t kow how, and I watched Mama on the writeybox and water came out of her eyes, and ...”
Andrew thought for a second, then said “I see. Hmm. OK, well, we’ll go, I’m sure the others will be ready when we return ...”. He picked up the little cat and was gone.
“Where is she? how do we find her? there’s so many feathers ...”
Andrew spoke sofly to a frightened spirit, a lovely black beautful chicken eyes wide with terror and frozen to her spot. He blocked the view from the carnage behind him and spoke softly to her, as he scooped her up and tucked her under his arm just the way a chicken loves best. “Shhhhhh. It’s all right now. Everything will be okay ...”
Misty was hissing at a large dog, not realizing the dog couldn’t see her, but was confused by what she heard ... and then the three of them were gone.
As Andrew settled on his favorite rock, he stroked the silky black feathers back the way they were supposed to be, and made soothing sounds for the rattled chicken. “It’s all okay now. We’ve got you.”
Her heart-rate slowed to normal, and she looked around taking stock of things. Who was THIS, and why was he holding her, who are all these CATS who had shown up silently, and where on earth was HERE?
“I can help with some of that!.” from a beautiful Sicilian Buttercup. She had heard the commotion and came down from the Great Gate beyond which she lived with the man who raised her.
“You are here! In the meadow that leads to the Rainbow Bridge. This is where everyfur, everyfeather, every critter comes, to learn about the Promises!”
Andrew spoke. “She’s right. All of our Creator’s family are precious to Him, and He knows when even a sparrow falls. Your fate was unexpected and unfortunate, but here you will be well and happy, and wait for the wonderful day of days when you are reunited with Cristie. Time has no meaning here, so it will not seem all that long to you.”
“... and you can be here with us, and we have a lot of fun just doing nothing!!! Just being who we are!!!” this, from another kitty, one they all seemed to look to for guidance.
There were dogs, too, and at first Beauty felt tremors of fear at seeing them. “We will not hurt you. We once lived with your human too. You mustn’t blame Laci. It wasn’t YOU she attacked, it was the idea of “a chicken” or “prey”. I know she’s sad, and ashamed. She’s afraid Christie won’t love her the same as she did. If you could find it in yourself to forgive Laci, it would help.”
“FORGIVE HER??????? You must be NUTS!!” Beauty fluffed out all her feathers, making her look twice her size. It was all Andrew could do to contain his laughter as he held her and soothed her again.
“I AM NOT GOING BACK TO THAT DOG!!”
“But that’s the good part! You don’t have to! We send our thoughts and love to our families on earth all the time! You can do it all from here, and we will teach you. “
“You need to let Cristie know you are all right, and beautiful, and ... and ...”
Andrew chuckled. “I’m sure she gets the idea. Come, we must go to the Bridge now.” And with that, he rose, and all of them vanished ...
.... and reappeared on the most beautifully hued Bridge anyone had ever seen. Way off in the distance a great gate glistened in the morning sun. There was a man standing near the gate, as if waiting for someone,
Andrew sat Beauty down on the Bridge. “It’s up to you, now.” he said.
The other animals gathered around below the bridge, all encouraging her at once. “You must accept the Creator’s promise to you that you will be cared for for all time, and one day united with those you loved.”
Beauty was puzzled, looked up at Andrew, and down at all these cats, dogs, birds, and even chickens! ducks, ponies .... and over there wildlife! FOXES!! oh dear!
The lovely buttercup looked up and said “Just jump. Trust us. You will be fine. No one will hurt you here. I will visit, but right now I’m going back to my person who’s waiting for me by the gate. He thought you might feel better with another chicken welcoming you, so he sent me down to the Bridge. Bye for now ...”. and off she went to the Gate, and perched on the shoulder of the man waving to all the animals at the Bridge.
Just then a tiny blue finch flew up on the Bridge, and sat at Beauty’s feet. “I’m Buddy, and my family’s cat bit my head off!!! “
At that, laughter broke out, and a tattered eared black cat mumbled “It wasn’t personal”.
Maggie moved to the edge of the Bridge ... ‘Here, jump down on me, I’m a soft landing spot.”
And before she knew what was happening, she found herself plopped on the back of a golden retriever (who really WAS soft!). All the animals and birds gathered around her to welcome her.
As the din calmed down, Misty said “It’s time. We will show you how to send your love to Christie, and to forgive Laci ... you’ll feel much better when you do.”
They moved to the edge of the meadow, closed their eyes, and opened their hearts ... across the miles, across time, across human knowledge of such things.
“It’s okay, Mom, I’m fine, all my feathers are where they should be. Don’t be too mad at Laci, I’m sure she didn’t mean it. I’ll wait ... you’ll come for me, right?”
As the angel faded from view he thought about these animals, the bond they had with their Creator as well as the bonds they had with their human companions who loved them. Sometimes he envied those humans, and thought how wonderful it would be to have such a friend himself. And then he heard it.
“I can hear you thinking, Andrew, and you KNOW better! humpf. You have all of us, and we love you.”
Once again, Miss Pepper had the last word ...
©Rose Scott
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