Little Moose ...

 Tupe wasn't sure how all this worked, he hadn't been here that long yet, but he'd heard some of the other "littles" talking about this Andrew dude.  Not sure how to FIND him, he set off toward the beautiful bridge he had crossed ... 

... and found himself on someone's lap!!!! And not just ANY lap!  "Hello Little One! Looking for me?" the angel asked, with a smile.  

Tupe was speechless!  Gus appeared at the angel's feet, as did a few other little ratties and mice.  His eyes couldn't BE any bigger!

Andrew reached in his pockets for goodies he knew his little friends would enjoy. Bean finished his morsel and scampered up onto the angel's lap.

"Yep, Dis Andrew! He knows eberyfing!"

"Well, not EVERYthing, but I do keep an eye and an ear out for anyone who needs me. Now what seems to be the trouble, Tupe?" he asked.

"Um, my whiskers are twitching. Like I should know somefing, but I don't."

"Ah. Some of you call it the "quickening".  It's when another of your kind has left his or her life on earth behind, and has come to the Rainbow Bridge. When your length of days on the earth comes to an end, here is where you wait for the humans who loved you.  Time doesn't have any meaning here, it won't seem like an endless wait, but one day you will be reunited with them."

"Do YOU meet everybody?" 

"No, but someone does.  I meet those who are in some way connected to each other. Sometimes by families, sometimes because they met because they knew someone else who is here now."

None of them had noticed a beautiful golden retriever who had joined them, along with a cat, both bringing other "littles" as Andrew lovingly called them, who were deposited at Andrew's feet. Sensing the commotion, Tupe peered over the edge of the angel's lap, eyes wide. 

"CATS?  DOGS?" 

Maggie flopped down on her side, with two fat hamsters using her for a pillow.  The cat thoughtfully washed a paw.

"What you are feeling is the knowledge that another has come, someone you knew, or your people knew."

"Yep, our mamas have this writey box thinggie." This from one of the hamsters. "They know people they've never met.  Our mama knew Bean's people, who knew Marty's people, who knew ..." said Frisky, now distracted by other tidbits produced from Andrew's pockets.  Even for the dog and the cat!  Nofur EVER forgot about those pockets!

"Moose has come, and is about to wake up, perhaps you would like to greet him?" Andrew pointed to a lush green patch of clover away from them a little bit.

"I'll take him, it's a long haul for a Little."  and with that, Misty snatched Tupe from Andrew's lap, and trotted off toward the newcomer.  She dropped him close to Moose.

"Cat spit. I'm covered with CAT spit." Tupe furiously scrubbed his face clean.  This being carried around by a cat thing was just too much. But, with his composure restored, and giving one last dark look at the cat who had brought him here, he turned his attention to Moose, who was stirring.  

The little mouse awoke, and looked around. He saw Tupe, and ... and ... "

"It's okay, she's cool, you're okay ..." said Tupe. "We came to meet you and welcub you.  See that dude over dere? sitting on a rock? Come on, he'll explain it ...  but first, hab a drink from dat creek. Is like nofing you eber tried!"

Giving him something to do gave Moose a moment to collect himself, before being snatched up by the cat, who took both of them back to Andrew, and deposited them on the angel's lap.  

"Welcome, Moose! I see you have met Tupe, and Misty.  Tupe wanted to be here when you arrived."

"But, where is Here, and why am I?" This was all overwhelming. First of all Dad was so sad, and then he fell asleep, and when he woke up there was another mouse looking at him, and a cat, but he didn't hurt any more, he actually felt good ... and ... 

Andrew stoked the little mouse with a gentle finger.  "you and your friends have come to the Rainbow Bridge to wait for the people who loved you on earth. Their length of days is longer than yours, but one day they will come too, and you'll all go through the great Gates of Heaven together.  You have had a drink from Crystal Creek, which flows from the River of Life.  Your Creator knows when even one as small as you has fallen, and keeping His promise to all of His creatures, that one day you would all be with Him and your families in Heaven.  Come, let us go to the Bridge, your friends are waiting ..." and with that, all of them were gone ...

.... and appeared on the beautiful bridge made of every color.  Misty and Maggie hopped off, leaving Andrew holding Moose.  

Moose looked at all these animals!  Mice, rats, hamsters, chipmunks, cats, dogs, guinea pigs, more than he ever imagined existed! His little eyes were wide with wonder.  They all seemed to be chattering at him at once, until Andrew raised his hand ... 

"You need to accept the Creator's promise to you, by crossing this Bridge. It's a big jump for a 'Little', but Maggie is there to catch you ..."  With that, Andrew set Moose down on the Bridge.  

Moose peered over the edge, at all these animals. Big ones, little ones, some he knew, others he didn't, but they were all there to meet him.  He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and jumped, and landed softly on Maggie's golden fur.  

As the others gathered around him, all talking at once it seemed, Andrew thought to himself, how all of them were connected to each other, by one common thread, love.  There was much he didn't understand about life on earth, how there could be violence and terror, as well as beauty and wonder.  But he knew the Creator loved them all, be they mighty or meek, and that this place was their destiny.  He watched as Misty moved away from the others toward the edge of the meadow.  She would be sending her thoughts to her Mama, who would send them on to the people who were mourning the loss of one so dear.  

.... and all was as it should be ...

©Rose Scott

01/2021