| We sat together in the back yard and remembered Hiss-Spit. Mom told us funny stories about when she was a kitten and when she had kittens herself. I even laughed at some of the stories, even though I was sad at the same time. �Our kitty is back together again with Puffin, her sister,� Mom told us. �Puffin went to the Bridge last year, and the two of them are probably playing chase with each other and dancing with mice and squirrels.� Zoe jumped up and exclaimed, �Oh, I want to go to the Bridge!� She thought the part about the mice and squirrels sounded too good to be true. Mom smiled. �You�ll go someday, Zoe, but not just yet. Every living thing has its own special time to go, but your time is not now.� �When will I go to the Bridge, Mom?� I asked. �Oh, Sailor,� Mom patted me on the head. �You won�t go for a long long time.� �How will I get there?� I found the idea of this journey exciting and a little scary. �And me,� Zoe chimed in. �How will I get there?� Mom�s voice grew soft with a catch in her throat. �You, Zoe, will fly to the Bridge on the leading edge of winter. And Sailor, you will be called by the Good Shepherd to herd His sheep until I arrive.� �We won�t all go together?� I asked, and felt nervous and unsure. Mom explained, �I�ll probably send you both on ahead of me just like I sent Hiss-Spit on ahead today to wait for us.� I started to drool about leaving Mom and being alone. �But, Sailor,� Mom said, patting me under my chin, �you won�t be alone. You�ll be with your doggie Mom and with Roxy, your doggie step-Mom, and with all the dogs and cats you have had ever known and loved who have gone before you.� �The Bridge is not a lonely place, Sailor,� Mom went on. �You will not be unhappy. In fact, this place might be your favorite place to be. It�s pretty special.� I couldn�t imagine a better place than here with Mom, but she is always right about this stuff, so I stopped drooling. Zoe jumped to her feet. �I can�t wait to get to the Bridge and run in harness and be the lead sled dog and never get tired or thirsty.� She thought this was the perfect way to pass the time until her people arrive. �Mom, what happens if a dog�s people all go to the Bridge at different times?� I asked. �Once a dog is in heaven with one of his people,� Mom explained, � he may go back to the Bridge any time he wants to greet his other people and escort them into heaven.� �Oh, good,� I was relieved. �And guess what?� Mom smiled. �Some people who have had many dogs are greeted by all of them together and the reunion gets loud and a bit crazy.� This made me wag my tail, and Zoe began to bounce between Mom and me with excitement. �I�m pretending to greet you at the Bridge!� she told Mom. �I�m leading a hundred other dogs and cats to say hello. Jump on my dog sled! Let�s race into heaven!� I chuckled at that and rubbed my head against Mom�s shoulder. Mom gave me a hug. I had a sudden thought. �What if a dog is unhappy at the Bridge without his special person?� �Don�t worry, Sailor,� Mom said, �If a dog misses his human too much, that dog is allowed to go back to earth. Once there, he will be invisible.� �Invisible?� I asked. �You mean she won�t know her dog is there? She can�t see her?� �She won�t see him, no, but she�ll know her dog is at her side,� Mom said, �She�ll be able to feel the fleeting touch of a cold nose in her palm and see the rippling grass part to let her ghost dog run by.� �Mom, I will be your ghost dog,� I announced, feeling much better about the whole thing. She hugged me and said, �I know, Sailor. You will be the best ghost dog on earth.� �And at the Bridge,� I told her. She smiled through her tears and nodded. |
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| HISS-SPIT AND THE RAIINBOW BRIDGE (con't) |
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