Katom Khatool ...

Andrew watched as Kerry trimmed Katom’s fur.  He knew what was coming, there was no way to warn her or prepare her.  It saddened him. Angels could only do so much.

Katom was grateful for the Person who untangled him from the fence.      

“I am still afraid of people, as they have not always been kind in my life.  But she brings me food. I know she wants to pet me, but I am afraid.”

As a few days go by and only good things happen, “She has made me a soft warm place to sleep.  She continues to bring me food.  I shall follow her about the yard to see what she does ....”

“Perhaps today I will let her cut some mats from my beautiful furs. I have more time to groom now that I’m not faced with finding food.”

“I have let the nice lady catch me and take me to another.  I wonder what will be next?”

Andrew stroked the beautiful orange fur as Katom drifted off to sleep. He listened as the Vet spoke to Kerry on the telephone,  “He has feline leukemia, some abscesses, and is not a young cat.  It would be kinder if ...”

Sometimes he wished he had more power. This was one of those time.  Such a beautiful soul.  He held Katom against him, and faded from sight.

*. *. *. *. *

Tig and Storm were visibly upset, and hunted for Miss Pepper.  They knew her as one of the “elders” and perhaps she could tell them what was going on.

“What you are feeling is the anguish from the person who helped you on earth. Another comes, and you are sensing that”.

“But what do we DO about it?”  wailed Tig.

“Shhh, now, don’t cry.  It will be all right”. Pepper licked his ear as if to offer comfort.  She turned to find Misty headed her way.

“I got the message ... is he here yet” asked Misty, as she tried to comfort Storm.  “Let’s get them to Council Rock.  Andrew will be here soon I’m sure ...

The four kitties headed for the lovely meadow, banked on one side by beautiful oaks, elms, and willow trees, and across to the other side Crystal Creek, where the water was pure and sweet.

And as Pepper had said, there sat Andrew, with Katom on his lap.  “Tig! Storm!  I knew you’d be here, this is Katom.”

Andrew reached into his famous pockets for tidbits just right for kitties.

“They didn’t know what it was they were feeling. We tried to explain, but I’m not sure it helped any”,   Misty added.

“Ah, yes ... the “quickening” as I call it.   Because the three of you came from the same place, you were sensing Katom’s arrival.  You’ll learn to recognize it as it happens.”

Pepper added, “Those of us who lived with my Mama sense when she’s sad, and can usually know if someone comes.  Sometimes we know of others who did not live with our family, because we always can hear Mama’s thoughts.”

“Actually,” Andrew explained, “you’re hearing her prayers.  Because of her “writie box” as you call it, she knows people all over the world, people she’s never met except for the “box”.  You are attuned to her thoughts and prayers, as I am.  Everyone has an Angel.  I am hers, and therefore, yours.”

Katom purred as Andrew stroked his fur.  He was sad, he wished he had let Kerry pet him.

“Tig and Storm came not long ago, Katom, and now you are here as well.  Your time on earth came to an end.  The doctor who checked on you knew to allow you more days on earth would be to allow you to experience  horrible pain.  Though it broke Kerry’s heart, she did the best thing for you, which was to let you come here to us.”

“And we’ll show you how to visit her. ...”.  Misty always loved that part.  Teaching a newcomer how to send thoughts and comfort to those left behind.

“Will I be able to go back?” Katom asked.

“Not as you were, but as a spirit.  When she sits in her chair, she’ll know you are purring nearby.  When she goes to sleep at night, you can watch over her.”  Andrew continued petting the beautiful orange cat.  His mats were all gone, his fur glistened,   “She will know you are safe, and waiting for the day she comes to join all of you.”

“Don’t you think we should go?”  Pepper figured they’d sat there long enough, and the others were waiting at the Bridge.

Andrew rose, carrying Katom, with Tig, Storm, Misty and Pepper close to his robe, and they were gone....

“I see them! They’re here!”  Mouse, Mousie, Maggie and Molly were the first to see them, and the others gathered quickly.

Tig and Storm along with Misty and Pepper hopped down from the beautiful Rainbow Bridge.  Andrew gave Katom a final kiss on the top of his head, and then set him gently down on the Bridge.

“Now you must jump!  Accept the promise our Creator made to all of us, man and beast ... that one day we’d cross the Bridge to be reunited with our human family, and go through the Great Gates together for all eternity”.

Andrew smiled at Tig, who had really studied all he could find out about this place.

Katom looked at all the animals gathered to meet him. Cats, dogs, birds, wild critters like foxes, and bandit faced trash pandas, all of them as far as he could see.  They all looked at him happily ready to welcome him.

With one last look back at Andrew, Katom closed his eyes, and leaped gracefully off the Bridge.  As Andrew faded from sight, he knew all was well.  He felt the pain and sorrow of Kerry and the people at the veterinary clinic.  It was hard for them.. There were no tears here, these sweet animals would be loved, and cared for until they were reunited with the people who had loved them.  He watched as Katom went to the edge of the meadow, with Misty on one side, Pepper on the other, telling him to close his eyes, and purr as loudly as he could.

“I’m okay, Kerry, I’m here with the others.  I love you, and thank you for loving me.  Thank you for sending me here. I’ll see you in your dreams .....”

Andrew wiped a tear of his own.  All was well. It was as it should be.  As it was promised ..... “when even a sparrow falls ....”

© Rose Scott

What if ....

Misty was puzzled.  There was lots to learn, and much to understand. From a kitty’s purrspective life here was rather simple.  When something happened to you on Earth, you ended up here. To wait. But what if ...

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

Laverne

 Pepper and Mouse were snoozing in the afternoon sun, when they were interrupted by a scratching sound.  And another sound they couldn’t identify.  As they awoke and looked at each other, not sure how both of them dreamed the same thing, they noticed the source of the odd sounds.  It was a chicken, scratching in the soft earth, and clucking quietly.

“Did I wake you?” She asked, though not sorry, as it had been her intent.  She needed answers. “Are you in charge of things here?”

Mouse giggled at that, and studiously licked a paw to avoid having to answer.  She knew Miss Pepper often THOUGHT she was in charge.  The others lovingly called her “Sergeant Pepper” from time to time. 

“Well, yes, I guess,” she answered, looking around to see if anyone would challenge her.  “You’re Beauty, aren’t you? You came to us last week?”

“I am.  And I don’t know how any of this works, but you see, I’m feeling kind of weird. Like I ought to be DOING something about something, but I don’t know what.”

With a startled oof, she was scooped up, and deposited on the lap of the person? Angel? She had met when she first got here. When she didn’t know was where “here” was.  

Mouse and Pepper giggled.  “You’ll get used to that.  Or not.  Andrew hears our thoughts before we even think them sometimes. And he’s always where we need him to be, and then he takes us where WE need to be, and it all works out.  Eventually.”

As Andrew stroked the beautiful feathers, Beauty calmed down.  He produced chicken size treats from a pocket, and kitty treats from another.  Beauty wondered just how many pockets he had.

“Oh, enough, never worry?”

“Huh?” If a chicken could blush ... “I didn’t say anything ...”

“You don’t have to.  He knows what you’re thinking, before you think it,” Pepper explained.  

Mouse piped up, “What you are feeling is that another comes soon from your earth family.  Maybe you would like to be there for her?”

“What happened?” Beauty asked.

“One of your Christie’s chickens developed a problem that earth science couldn’t fix, and so Christie is sending her here to us.  I think if you look toward the creek you might see her?”

Beauty scrambled off Andrew’s lap, and headed toward the creek, just as a new chicken appeared out of nowhere.  “Laverne? Is that you?”

Laverne looked up to see her friend coming toward her as fast as a chicken can go.  “Beauty! Where are we? You’re here too! Where is here?”

“We’re in the meadow, by the creek, and there’s the rock and that’s Andrew sitting on it, and the cats won’t hurt us, and then we go to a bridge, and then we jump off, and there’s other animals, but the foxes won’t hurt us, and He knows when even a sparrow falls and ....”

Andrew’s sides shook with laughter.  It was always fun to watch a newly arrived critter meet another. The explanations were perfect!!

The two chickens went back to the rock where Andrew sat, composing himself.  He reached into a pocket and produced more snacks as the two birds warily watched the cats sitting beside him.

“What is this place?” Asked Laverne.

”Everything that Beauty told you is true, though there’s a little more to it than that.  When the earth was new, our Creator made all the birds of the air, the animals on land, and the people who were supposed to care for them.  He was pleased.  Then, when the people stopped caring about themselves, or anything else on the earth, the Creator washed it all off, except for two of every living thing.  He was a little ashamed of his anger, and so he made a promise that He would never do that again, and he set a beautiful rainbow in the clouds as a sign of that promise,” Andrew explained.

Pepper added “And then we cross that rainbow, which is really a bridge, and we wait for our people, and when they come we all go through the Great Gates to be together for all time.”

“Come, the others are waiting for us ....”. And with that, a chicken tucked under both arms, two cats at the Angel’s feet, all of them vanished ...

....and appeared on the Bridge.  Pepper and Mouse hopped off, as Andrew set the two chickens down at his feet.

“Now it’s your turn! You must accept the Promises the Creator made to all of us:  That He would know when even a tiny sparrow fell.  So, jump off the Bridge!”

Maggie often helped the smaller creatures at this point, as her lovely golden retriever fur made a soft landing! She wagged her tail, and said “I”m ready!”

The two chickens tumbled off the Bridge onto Maggie’s back, and then slid to the ground. There were introductions all around, the two wide-eyed chickens trying to take it all in.  There were foxes, and deer, cats, dogs, birds of more colors than even there Rainbow.  As he faded from view Andrew thought again about these wonderful animals and birds he had come to love as his own.  They were a family, they were HIS family.

Mouse slipped away from the others and went to the edge of the Meadow.  “Mama, they’re ok, they’re here with us ... tell Cristie, ok?”

The woman smiled in her sleep.  All was well ....

©Rose Scott

Tig

Stormy hunted for Misty, his new friend, with a troubled look on his face.  He’d only been here a day or so, and there was so much to learn. Spotting her snoozing in the morning sun, he trotted to her, and licked a folded ear.

“Mmmm, that feels good.”  Misty opened an eye to see who was there. “Stormy!  You’re up early, what’s happening?”

“I feel funny.  Kind of tingly.  Like I ought to be knowing something.”

“Ah.  Familiar thing.  Boy, you’re going to get a crash course in all this stuff!  Andre....”

“Hi sweetheart, you called?”

“Dang it, Andrew, give a girl a break! I didn’t even finish calling your name and you’re here.” Misty flounced herself down, trying not to be peeved at him.

Storm looked from Misty, to the Angel, and back to Misty. “I don’t understand one bit what’s happening.”

Andrew scoped him up and settled on “council rock” as the kitties had named it some time ago.  “I know what you are experiencing, and it was inevitable that you would, just hoped we’d have a little longer to bring you up to speed on how things work!”

Soothed by the angel’s touch, he said “I was all tingly.  And my nose whiskers twitched. But I didn’t twitch them. They just TWITCHED.”

Andrew chuckled. Not at him, but at his description.

“Another comes, from where you were. Perhaps we should greet him! Would you like to do that?”

“But how will I know where he is? Or who it is? Or when he’s coming?”

“Look over by the creek! I think you might find who you’re looking for.”

Sure enough, there sat a grey and white tabby, doing the familiar kitty stretch.  He had been in a wire box, and then he went to a place where people touched him, and then he got sleepy, and then he woke up here, wherever “here” is.  But as with all cats, the first lessen they learn as little kittens is “when in doubt, wash”.  SO, he did just that.  First one paw, then the other, and scrubbed behind his ears as well.  Hearing the creek’s noises, it occurred to him he was thirsty, so he padded to the edge, and lapped the cool water.  “MY is that good!” He thought. Much better than the water in puddles!

He turned around to take stock of the situation he found himself in, and saw a familiar kitty trotting toward him.

“Storm!  You’re here too!  But where’s HERE?” He asked.

“I don’t understand it all myself yet, but come with me, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

The two trotted toward Andrew and Misty.  “This is Andrew, he’s an angel. And this is Misty. I’m not exactly sure if she’s an angel too but here they are, and they’ll explain, because I’m still confused.”

Andrew picked up the tabby and settled him on his lap.  “Tig, is it? I think that’s what Storm called you.”

“Yessir, I’m Tig. Short for Tiger. There was a nice lady taking care of us, and then I went somewhere,  and fell asleep, and woke up over there. And here’s Stormy, but he died a few days ago ....”

As the pieces fell into place, Tig grew silent.  If Stormy is here, yet Stormy died days ago, then am I dead too?

Andrew comforted the confused kitty.  He could hear Tig’s thoughts, but gave him time to sort them out a little himself.

Misty broke the silence, “Storm came to us a few days ago, and now you’re here, and now we go to the Bridge, and then we jump off, and we wait for our families to come and then we go through the Gate!”

Andrew couldn’t stifle the laughter.  Tig looked from Misty to Storm, and then to Andrew, totally confused.

”She’s right, I guess that’s the Readers’ Digest version.”  As the puzzled cats looked at him, he continued.  “You see, when first the Creator made the earth, and all the plants and animals that live upon the earth, everything was beautiful.  Then Man started doing things that made the Creator mad, and in that anger, He washed everything off the earth,  He saved two of everything however, and when He got over being angry, he made a promise that he would never do that again.  He created a beautiful rainbow, a token of his promise, that He would provide a place for all of us for when our number of days upon earth had been done.

“This rainbow is a beautiful bridge.  All the living creatures who have died have had to cross that bridge, thereby accepting the Promise made to them.  Critters who had been pets will wait for their families to come and be reunited, and then go through the Great Gate into Heaven.”

Tig thought about that for a minute.  “But what if you didn’t have a family?  What if you were a bunny or a fox?  What if you were a homeless kitty?”

“He knows when even a sparrow falls,” replied the angel.  “Come. the others are waiting for us.” With that Andrew picked up Storm, and with a cat under each arm, and Misty close against his gown, they vanished ....

.... only to appear again on a beautiful bridge, made of every color of the rainbow.  Misty hopped down to join her friends.  Andrew set Storm and Tig down upon the Bridge.”

“I already jumped off when I got here, but I’ll jump with you if you’re scared,” offered Storm. Tig looked in utter amazement at the gathering of animals below him. Cats, dogs, birds, wild life, as far as he could see.

“You’re sure about this?” He asked.  “But who will WE meet?”

“Why, Kerry, of course! She took care of us and saw to it we were fed, and warm.  She knows about this place.”

Tig thought about that for a moment.  They hadn’t been “pets”, living in the house, sleeping on the beds, but there was that person who seemed to love them, who took care of them.  “If you’re sure, then I’m ready.”

With that, Tig and Storm jumped off the bridge and were met with nosie rubs and purrs from the waiting cats, and all the others.

As Andrew faded from sight he thought again about the bonds these creatures had with man. Some lived the life of luxury in man’s homes, others were cared for but allowed to run free.  Once again he marveled at the animals’ ability to grasp all that the Creator wanted them to understand.  It was as it should be.  As he looked  back, he saw Misty move away from the crowd to the edge of the meadow.

“Mama? Tell Kerry Tig and Storm are here with us, and they’re okay.  They have much to learn but we will teach them.  Tell her not to worry ....”

... and as the clock struck 3, the woman typed ....

©Rose Scott

Storm ...

“Um, Andrew?”  Misty knew their angel was always in hearing distance of even the softest of whispers, and today was no exception.

“Yes dear one,” he replied.

“How do you DO that?” she asked, as she realized she was no longer basking in the sun with the others but was now on his lap as he sat on the rock the others had dubbed “Council Rock”.  Slightly flustered, she studiously scrubbed a paw. (“When in doubt, wash” had been one of the first lessons she had learned as a kitten. Not only hygienic, it also gave a moment to compose oneself in odd situations.)

Andrew stroked the little Scottish Fold. He enjoyed his charges so much, and had learned much from them. “Something on your mind?”

“Mama was reading on the writie box this morning, and was sad. A barn kitty had died. Would he have known how to get here? Can he be with us? Where do I go to find him?”

Andrew chuckled. Misty hadn’t been here all that long but she was quick to learn and always full of questions. Today was no exception!

“You forgot the most important thing!”

“Huh?”

“That our Creator knows when even a sparrow falls.  Look over by the creek!”

And as she turned to look, Andrew closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them. There in the lush grass by the creek bed was a gray cat Misty had not seen before, just waking up. He stood up and stretched: first reaching as far forward with his front feet, then as far back as his back feet could reach. Then, as all cats do, he sat with tail curled around him, and washed his paw. Then he scrubbed his face with that paw, and repeated the process with his other front paw. Having finished with his ablutions, he padded softly to the waters edge for a drink. ‘My but this is good,’ he thought, so much sweeter than the puddles he’d find after a rain. Satisfied, he turned to take stock of things.

There was no barn in sight. Just a beautiful meadow, and over by a grove of trees a huge rock. On that rock sat a man, well, he looked like a man but he was dressed rather oddly, and on his lap sat a tabby cat with a white shirtfront and curiously bent ears. Storm trotted toward them cautiously.

He wasn’t afraid at all, though common cat sense dictated he should be. “Merow ?”

 “Hi, I’m Misty, and this is Andrew, and you’re okay, because He knows you’re here, and there’s lots of food, and it never gets cold, and ...”

That did it. Andrew loved these characters so much, especially when they got carried away explaining things. Laughing, “Misty is right but let’s back up and start over,” he said, reaching a hand toward the gray cat, with a tasty treat for him.

“All of the Creator’s creatures have a set time of days on the earth. When one has completed those days, Heaven’s Gates are opened.

“Some creatures live with man in his home as companions, others live as wildlife, away from man. Some are in between, like yourself. But all have been promised a life hereafter. Your role was to help maintain the balance between the wild and the domestic.

“Your work on earth has come to an end. Now you are here, where you will never be cold or hungry or alone again.”

 “So now we take Stormy to the Bridge?”

“Yes!”  With that, tucking Misty under one arm, and scooping up the other kitty to be held under his other arm, the three of them faded from sight ...

... and appeared on a beautiful Bridge made of every color of the rainbow. Andrew put Misty down first. Holding the gray in his arms, he spoke.  “Look before you!”

Blinking in amazement he saw cats and dogs, foxes and rabbits, owls and mice, birds of more colors than he had ever seen. “What IS this place?”

Misty hopped off the Bridge to join the others. A dainty grey and white kitty spoke: “Welcome! You have heard from Andrew, an angel of death, that your life on earth has ended. This is not a sad thing! For now you must accept the promise and covenant our  Creator made for all of us, that we would join Him and live forever here, where there is no pain, no sadness.

“The last thing you must do is accept that promise and jump down from there.  We will teach you the rest.”

The gray cat looked up at Andrew for confirmation. With a nod and a warm smile, he kissed the top of Storm's head and set him gently down on the Bridge. With one last look up at the angel, he closed his eyes tight, took a deep breath and jumped.

As Andrew faded from sight he smiled at the group below. It was a lot to take in, when one had not been taught these things as a kitten. But he would learn, and he would be well provided for as all of them were. This was the Great Promise. All was well.

Misty moved away from the others too the edge of the meadow.  “Mama? It’s okay!  Stormy’s here with us and we’re 'splaining it all to him.  Mama? Will you come soon?”

The woman was smiling as she typed ...

©Rose Scott

Black Beauty ...

Misty ran as fast as she could to where they usually found Andrew.  “Whoa there Little One, why the rush?”

“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

book reviews ...

There have been two reviews so far of my book "The Tenth Life".  I'll share them with you:

J Lee Quinn

5.0 out of 5 stars A Certain Delight!

Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2020

Verified Purchase

Rose Scott's "The Tenth Life" is a series of short stories that will appeal to the young (and the not-so-young) in differing, but meaningful ways. It's not at all difficult for me to imagine sharing these tales with a smallish, wide-eyed grandchild perched on my lap. And I challenge any grown readers to ponder the adventures of this book's gifted, talented creatures without breaking out in a big smile and reliving some cherished critter-related moments unique to your own lives.

Personal preferences are put aside here. Cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, winged avians, domesticated or wild.....all have a place in God's creation and bring joy to so many others their own special ways.

The Lord shepherds us all.

Enjoy!

Thank you for your feedback.

Joy

5.0 out of 5 stars Animal lovers take heart!

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2019

Verified Purchase

Just read The Tenth Life- a great book for pet lovers and heartwarming stories as well! This book will be an excellent gift for children and all animal enthusiasts.

Thank you for your feedback.