Andrew silently scooped Misty up into his arms, and settled himself on “Council Rock” as some of them had dubbed it. She didn’t fuss at him this time, if anything she was relieved that he knew she needed him without having to try to explain.
“I visited Mama.” She said, without her normal enthusiasm.
“I know you did, sweetheart.”
“Of course you do. You know everything”.
It was unusual for Misty to be cranky, but Andrew understood her, and comforted her as best he could “Not everyone believes, sweetheart, but we really don’t know who does and who doesn’t. That’s between the Creator and each person who ever walked the earth.”
“But someone comes, and I don’t know how to help her. How will she find her way?”
“She’s already here, love ... over by the creek. She’s sleeping now, but she’ll awake soon.” Andrew understood what had this sweet kitty troubled. Sometimes the answers weren’t satisfactory enough, and he had a hunch this might be one of those times, but he would do his best.
“I should be there when she wakes up” Misty said, looking over at the little dog snoozing peacefully in the sunlight. “Peanut should be here, too.”
“I already am, Mist ...”
Sure enough, the plump little dachshund sat at their feet. “Andrew brought me.”
Misty rolled her eyes. Was there anything he COULDN’T do? But this wasn’t the time to go into all that. She simply filed it away in her mind, on the ever lengthening list of things she wanted explained.
Sensing her thoughts, the angel chuckled. She was quite the corker. Some of his charges accepted everything across the board, with no questions. Then there was Misty. He stroked her head, right behind her little folded ears, just as she liked best.
“What’s up, Sis? Why the long face?”
“You’re the one with the long face. MINE is round.” She pouted.
Andrew laughed at them. They were quite the pair. Never as close as Mouse and Maggie were, but still bonded. Indeed Peanut DID have a long nose, as most dachshunds do. But she was most lovable because she was never in a sour mood!
“So, what’s the plan? Do we have one?” Peanut looked from one face to the other. She saw a little dog by the creek, who was beginning to stir. “Maybe we should just ‘wing’ it?!”
Andrew groaned at the pun. “‘Wing it’ sounds good.”
With that, Misty hopped off Andrew’s lap, and together with the dachshund, headed over to the newest arrival. As they grew close, the little dog stood up, faced them, ready to growl!
“Oh dear, maybe she doesn’t like cats.” Misty hung back a few steps, and let Peanut take the lead.
“Welcome Mitzy! We’re glad to see you!”
“Who are you, and who is that CAT that’s with you?” The little dog wasn’t about to take any ‘stuff’ from anyfur, no matter what!
“Well, your length of days upon the earth has come to an end, and now you are here with us until you are reunited with Diane. But come with us, there’s someone you should meet.” Peanut touched noses with the little dog, and after the customary sniff, the three of them headed back to Andrew.
“Welcome, Little One!” Andrew picked up the little dog, and settled her upon his lap. From the famous pockets came dog treats, as well as something for Misty.
“Who are you?” Eyeing the pocket for ‘seconds’, Mitzy thought to herself ‘I must remember about those pockets.’ “And where am I, and where’s Mama?”
“Peanut was right, your time on earth came to an end. You were unwell, and it was time for you to come to us. This meadow is one of many where new travelers come. The creek over there is Crystal Creek, which flows from the River of Life, that comes from beyond the Great Gates of Heaven.”
Mitzy nosed in the area of the wonderful pocket, and sure enough, another goodie was brought forth. “Are there more dogs there?”
Andrew smiled. “Dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, guinea pigs, as well as wild life.”
“And Chickens. Don’t forget the chickens”. Peanut had been particularly intrigued by the arrival of not one, but two chickens in the past week. And a visit from Grampa! He brought ANOTHER chicken.
“Yes, chickens. Every creature who draws breath comes here eventually. The Creator knows when even a sparrow falls.” That was a particular favorite verse of Andrew’s. It was in the Book that man has on earth.
“But then what. I don’t want to be here, I want to be with Mama.” Suddenly this wasn’t quite the adventure it had seemed to be at first. “How do I go back to her?”
“You can’t. You wait here for her, with the rest of us. When HER march of days ends, you will be reunited and go through the Great Gates of Heaven to be with the Creator for all time. This was His promise.”
“Oh.” Mitzy sat still for a moment. She thought about these things, and knew her Mama didn’t really believe in all this. “What if ..”
Andrew petted her again. “What goes on in the heart of man is between man and his Creator. We don’t always know what man believes. We think we do, and sometimes man tells others of his kind that he doesn’t believe in all this. All I can promise you is there are no tears in Heaven. If your mama truly does not believe, you will not know, nor will you be hurt.”
“So, if she believes, then what?”
“When the earth was young, man wasted the gifts the Creator had given him. Man took things for granted, and forgot all about them. This angered the Creator to the point where he put two of every living thing in a big boat, along with a family who had never stopped loving Him, and keeping His rules. Then the Creator washed off the earth. Destroyed it all.
“Sorry for what He had done in anger, He made a promise that He would never again do such a thing. He made a great rainbow, as a sign to all on earth of that promise. Since then, those who believed were taken into Heaven upon their death, to be with the Creator for all time.
“Man would be united with his earthly family, including animals he had loved. All would be together again never to be hungry or cold, unwell or alone.”
Mitzy grew silent. She had never heard her mama speak of such things. What if Mama didn’t know of all this?
Peanut rolled over on her back for a belly rub. Andrew knew JUST how to do it. “That’s the best part! Your mama DOES know! All she has to do is accept it!”
“Will I ever see her again?”
“Of course! You can go to her when she is sleeping. You can send your love to her whenever you want, we’ll show you how. And if she closes her eyes, she’ll hear your nails upon the floor, or the little snuffing sound you make. She will hear your thoughts.”
With that, Mitzy perked up a little. “How do I do this? Can we do it right now?”
“Hold on, Little One, first things first! Come. It is time.”
“Time for what?”
“You’ll see!” The kitty with the curious ears spoke at last.
As Andrew rose, Mitzy tucked under his arm, Peanut and Misty close to the hem of his gown, they were gone from sight ....
.... and appeared again upon a beautiful Bridge made of every color of the rainbow. The cat and the dachshund hopped off, to take their places with the other animals who were all gathered together. Arrivals were always days of joy and celebration! There were dogs, cats, birds, little critters, even fish carried in gourds of water! Mitzy had never seen the likes of such a thing! And wild animals too! Foxes, deer, wolves, and creatures she had no idea about.
“It’s time Mitzy! You must accept the promises the Creator made, and jump down from the Bridge to be with all of us!” This from a beautiful golden retriever, upon whose ruff sat two fat hamsters.
Mitzy looked up at Andrew. “You’re sure about this? Is there ROOM for everybody?”
Andrew smiled. “Our Father’s house has many rooms! Yes, I am sure. Your new friends are waiting. They will teach you all you need to know. And I will be only a thought away whenever you need me.”
“You got THAT right!”
“Katie! HONESTLY!. You are totally without ...”
“Don’t fuss at her so, I know what she means.” Andrew smiled at Miss Pepper. One of the oldest (in earth years) here, she often was the one unofficially ‘in charge’ of the others. Katie, the large tiger cat and Pepper had lived together. Pepper’s ‘rules of proper deportment’ were lost on Katie, who always said what was on her mind, no matter what!
“So I accept and I jump? Will Mama know? What do you mean ‘rooms’?”
“Yes.” As Andrew faded from view, the little dog looked down at all the happy faces. There was much to understand, that was for sure, but she wasn’t frightened, not at all. Taking a deep breath, and closing her eyes, she hopped off the Bridge and was immediately surrounded, everyone welcoming her at once. The birds above were all singing their best songs. It was all amazing!
Misty moved away from the others, to the edge of the meadow. “Mama?” She purred with all her might. “She’s here with us, and she’s okay. We will teach her how to send her thoughts to her mama just like we do. Andrew says we are not to worry about the rest, that everything will be okay in the fullness of time. I don’t know what he means, but he always seems to be right.
“I love you, Mama ... “
As Andrew faded from view, he marveled again at the bonds between these creatures and the people they lived with. He had often wished he could ...
“ANDREW! You KNOW better!”
If you listened closely, you could almost hear angel laughter ....
©Rose Scott
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