The Bridge Kids
At
the
bridge
They
were
playing.
Running,
scampering
and
chasing
a
ball.
One
would
catch
it
in
his
mouth,
charge
through
the
line
trying
to
block
him
and
fling
the
ball
towards
his
teammate.
The
teammate
would
catch
it,
if
he
or
she
could,
then
charge
off
in
a
different
direction
with
nearly
twenty
dogs,
cats,
birds,
hamsters,
gerbils
and
guinea
pigs
following
him.
There
were
hundreds
of
such
groups
playing
similar
games
scattered
everywhere.
There
were
endless
miles
of
hills
and
valleys,
trees
and
bushes,
streams
and
ponds.
The
sun
was
always
shinning,
the
air
was
always
sweet.
Butterflies
and
crickets
and
lizards
were
always
available
for
a
game
of
chase.
This
particular
group
had
been
playing
for
over
an
hour.
Phoebe
had
the
ball
now
and
she
pushed
it
into
a
bush,
deeper
and
deeper
so
only
another
animal
her
own
size
could
retrieve
it.
Phoebe
was
a
hamster.
Until
she
came
to
the
bridge,
the
smaller
animals
couldn't
play
with
the
larger
ones.
The
were
always
left
behind.
But
Phoebe
solved
that
problem
right
away.
She
taught
the
others
a
little
trick.
She
would
see
one
of
the
larger
dogs
running
in
her
direction
and
she
would
quickly
climb
up
on
a
tree
limb
or
rock.
As
the
dog
or
cat
would
go
running
by
her,
she
would
jump
down
on
its
back.
As
soon
as
the
host
animal
would
get
near
the
ball,
Phoebe
would
jump
down,
land
on
the
ball
and
with
her
little
feet
roll
the
ball
out
of
reach.
Needless
to
say,
Phoebe
quickly
became
a
leader
of
the
smaller
crowd.
She
also
became
quite
popular
with
The
Circle.
Todd,
Tinker
Toy
and
Spooky
were
known
as
The
Circle
because
they
had
been
chosen
by
The
Master
to
be
guardians
of
the
loved
ones
they
left
behind.
It
was
a
tough
job
both
mentally
and
physically
but
these
were
three
tough
cats.
They
had
already
been
through
two
harrowing
ordeals
but
all
had
been
quiet
for
some
time
now.
It
was
fun
time.
Time
to
play
and
Phoebe
fitted
right
in
with
the
large
crowd
The
Circle
ran
with.
Toy
especially
grew
quite
fond
of
Phoebe.
Finally!
Another
female
to
be
friends
with.
Todd
and
Spooky
were
great,
but
another
female
was
welcomed.
Gary
and
Greg,
two
gerbils,
were
pushing
the
ball
out
of
the
bushes
so
another
cat
could
swat
it
out
of
the
way
of
the
dogs
when
silence
fell
over
the
valley.
All
eyes
turned
toward
the
bridge.
All
play
stopped.
No
one
moved.
A
figure
was
slowly
appearing
at
the
top
of
the
rainbow
clouded
bridge.
It
was
a
man.
Old,
bent,
afraid.
He
was
wearing
only
a
hospital
gown
and
badly
needed
a
shave
and
a
haircut.
His
eyes
were
cloudy,
his
steps
faltering.
Once
he
reached
the
top
of
the
bridge
and
the
rainbow
surrounded
him,
his
eyes
began
to
clear.
Slowly,
step
by
step,
his
back
straightened.
His
shoulders
drew
back,
his
head
lifted
higher.
His
hospital
gown
grew
into
a
long,
flowing
robe
of
the
most
beautiful
material.
He
continued
down
the
bridge.
The
breeze
lifted
his
dull
gray
hair,
brushed
it
back
from
his
face
and
it
turned
darker,
shinier.
The
once
lined
face,
now
free
of
wrinkles
looked
around,
the
wonder
shinning
in
his
eyes.
Within
the
crowd
gathered,
watching
the
transformation,
Fluffy
B
suddenly
sat
back
on
her
haunches,
lifted
her
proud
canine
head
and
let
out
a
howl
that
reverberated
throughout
the
hills.
She
sprang
up
and
ran
with
all
her
strength
towards
the
figure.
The
man's
eyes
filled
with
tears
of
joy.
Fluffy
B
jumped
towards
him
and
nearly
knocked
him
down.
The
two
of
them,
after
saying
hello
in
their
own
special
way,
turned
and
began
to
walk
back
over
the
bridge.
They
walked
together,
once
again
young,
strong
and
proud.
Neither
looked
back
as
they
disappeared
into
the
rainbow
haze
at
the
top
of
the
bridge.
The
Circle
looked
at
each
other
and
the
rest
of
the
crowd.
The
look
was
one
of
sadness
that
it
wasn't
yet
their
turn,
and
yet,
at
the
same
time,
a
look
of
happiness
that
it
would
be
one
of
them
one
day.
Slowly,
the
noise
began
to
pick
up
and
the
games
started
again.
On
Earth
Saturday.
The
worst
day
of
the
week.
Always
so
busy
and
so
very
stressful.
So
many
animals
to
groom,
so
many
people
to
pacify.
I
can
get
through
it,
she
thought.
I
always
do.
She
swept
up
the
fur
littering
the
shop
floor
as
the
door
opened
yet
another
time.
Oh,
in
a
second.
Just
a
minute.
I'll
be
right
there!
Her
helper
had
called
in
sick
and
Donna
didn't
feel
too
well
herself.
As
she
bent
with
the
dustpan
to
sweet
up
the
fur,
her
own
cat,
Erin,
rubbed
against
her
leg.
Immediately
she
calmed
down,
took
a
deep
breath
and
rubbed
his
head.
She
glanced
over
to
where
Jimmy
was
calmly
grooming
himself.
I
just
don't
know
what
I'd
do
without
you
two,
she
thought.
The
customer
was
getting
impatient
so
Donna
quickly
went
to
the
front
of
the
shop
and
took
care
of
business.
The
customer
was
happy
with
the
way
her
big,
floppy,
long-haired
dog
looked,
but
was
a
little
irritated
with
having
to
wait.
If
only
Todd
were
here
Donna
thought.
His
antics
and
playfulness
would
have
kept
the
customer
busy
while
Donna
finished
what
she
was
doing.
Well,
he's
not
so
just
quit
thinking
about
it.
She
couldn't
help
thinking
about
him
though.
Him
and
his
catnip!
That
brought
a
smile
to
her
face
as
she
went
back
to
cleaning
up
after
the
last
customer
of
the
day.
The
shop
was
empty
now.
Just
her,
Erin
and
Jimmy.
The
door
opened
yet
again.
Drat!
Why
didn't
I
lock
it
and
flip
the
Open
sign
to
Closed!!
A
woman
stood
there
holding
an
immaculately
groomed
poodle.
They
both
looked
down
their
noses
at
a
slightly
rumpled
Donna.
"Please,
said
Donna,
No
smoking
in
here
and
we're
closed.
I'm
sorry"
The
haughty
woman
flipped
an
ash
on
the
hardwood
floor
and
took
another
deep
puff
from
her
120mm
cigarette.
"Surely
you
have
time
for
one
more,"
the
woman
said.
"I'm
sorry,
replied
the
exhausted
Donna.
We're
closed.
It's
after
six
and
we
close
at
six."
"Well,
Claudette
only
needs
to
be
combed
out.
We're
attending
a
dinner
party
tonight
and
she
needs
to
be
combed
out,
and
her
nails
done.
Surely
you
can
manage
that!"
the
lady
snapped
while
still
puffing
on
that
cigarette.
That
did
it.
Donna
snapped
right
back
"NO.
I'll
be
glad
to
make
you
an
appointment
for
another
time,
but
not
tonight.
And
again,
Please
No
Smoking!"
Donna
walked
past
the
woman
towards
the
door.
She
opened
the
door,
turned
the
sign
to
closed
and
stood
there
waiting
for
the
woman
to
leave.
A
noise
outside
caught
Donna's
attention.
A
crowd
of
children
had
gathered
around
a
flashy,
black
limousine
parked
right
outside
.
Unseen
by
Donna,
the
woman
had
flipped
her
cigarette
into
the
trash
container
behind
the
desk.
The
woman
stuck
her
nose
further
into
the
air
and
stalked
by
Donna,
out
the
door
and
into
the
limo.
Oh
well,
Donna
thought,
there
went
dollars
right
out
the
door.
I
could
have
charged
her
double,
even
triple.
But
she
was
such
a
snot
and
I'm
just
too
durn
tired.
Erin
and
Jimmy
ran
up
the
stairs
ahead
of
Donna.
She
slowly
climbed
one
step
at
a
time.
She
knew
she
still
had
things
to
do,
but
she
could
do
them
in
the
morning.
She
had
put
the
money
away
in
the
safe,
but
she
still
had
to
tally
up
the
accounts,
put
the
supplies
away,
mark
what
she
needed
out
of
inventory,
empty
the
trash
and
gather
up
the
laundry.
It
can
wait.
I'm
just
too
tired
tonight.
She
was
alone
tonight.
Her
husband
was
away
and
she
had
the
house
all
to
herself.
She
fixed
a
frozen
dinner,
spent
a
few
minutes
at
the
computer
catching
up
with
her
email
while
she
ate,
then
she
headed
for
the
shower.
In
less
than
an
hour
she
was
curled
up
under
the
covers,
Erin
and
Jimmy
by
her
side.
In
the
morning,
she
thought.
I'll
catch
up
in
the
morning.
She
fell
asleep
to
the
sounds
of
happy
purrs.
At The Bridge
Right
in
the
middle
of
a
game,
Todd
stopped.
His
nose
lifted
high,
his
whiskers
twitched.
His
head
tilted
and
every
inch
of
him
quivered.
What's
wrong
Todd?
Nothing,
he
silently
said.
I
thought
I
smelled
something,
but
I
guess
not.
They
went
back
to
playing,
but
Todd
just
wasn't
all
there
for
the
game.
His
eyes
kept
drifting
towards
the
special
stream.
He
would
smell
the
air,
then
shake
his
head
and
start
playing
again.
Todd
was
a
large,
happy
and
carefree
cat.
His
special
talent
was
the
ability
to
get
humans
and
animals
to
do
things.
He
could
organize
anything
and
was
usually
the
leader.
Spooky
was
slightly
smaller
and
was
considered
to
be
the
sweet
one
-
everyone's
friend.
Tinker
Toy
was
like
her
name,
very
small
for
a
cat
and
quite
dainty.
But
she
was
the
adventurer.
She
had
the
daring
and
courage
to
try
what
most
others
thought
unsafe.
Sometimes
she
would
attempt
things
that
even
Todd
wouldn't
do.
Toy
felt
better
now
that
she
was,
what
she
considered,
equal
in
size
to
the
boys.
With
Phoebe
perched
on
her
back,
Toy
felt
as
big
as
the
boys.
Phoebe
would
crouch
down
low
and
hang
on.
Their
colors
were
similar
so
sometimes
it
was
hard
to
notice
that
there
were
two
instead
of
one.
Phoebe
and
Toy
charged
ahead
to
the
ball,
but
still,
Todd
got
there
first.
He
swatted
the
ball
towards
a
large
Sheppard,
but
missed.
His
eyes
snapped
towards
the
stream.
He
stood
still.
The
stream
was
normal.
There
was
no
shimmering
light.
What's
wrong?
Phoebe
quietly
asked
Toy.
Tinker
Toy
explained
about
the
special
stream
and
the
signal
that
would
appear
when
The
Circle
was
needed.
When
that
signal
comes,
Toy
said
to
Phoebe,
I'll
have
to
leave
you.
I'll
be
needed
back
on
earth
and
I
can't
take
you
with
me.
But
you'll
be
ok
here
and
I'll
be
back.
The
Sheppard
was
ready
to
play,
so
others
in
the
crowd
resumed
the
game.
The
Circle
stood
quietly,
watching
the
stream.
Phoebe
jumped
down
and
ran
to
the
others.
Todd
crept
closer
towards
the
edge,
his
nose
twitching.
I
do!
I
smell
smoke!
Toy
and
Spooky
slowly
followed.
A
shimmering
light
began
to
form
around
the
special
place
in
the
stream.
The
Circle
came
closer.
Todd
looked
in,
fearfully,
then
spun
around
and
faced
the
others.
Come
on
guys.
We've
got
work
to
do.
Lets
go!
On
Earth
While
Donna,
Erin
and
Jimmy
slept
in
the
big,
warm,
comfortable
bed,
the
smoldering
cigarette
in
the
wicker
wastebasket
had
come
alive.
The
still-burning
tobacco
had
caught
the
paper
on
fire
and
the
flames
were
now
consuming
the
wicker.
Smoke
was
filling
the
air
as
the
flames
leaped
towards
the
wallpaper.
The
smoke
alarm
was
in
the
hallway.
Twice
a
year
it's
batteries
were
changed
out,
but
no
one
had
noticed
the
faulty
wire
buried
deep
inside.
The
alarm
had
never
worked.
Not
since
the
day
it
was
installed
years
ago.
It
had
been
tested,
and
it
worked
then,
but
the
wire
was
to
the
sensor
itself
and
the
only
way
to
test
that
was
to
hold
something
smoking
up
near
its
range.
It
did
not
sense
the
smoke
filling
the
entire
first
floor.
The
Circle
What
is
it
Todd?
What's
wrong?
Fire,
Todd
shouted.
At
MY
house.
Come
on,
we've
got
to
move.
Fast.
Todd
ran
into
the
shimmering
light
over
the
stream,
Toy
and
Spooky
right
behind
him.
They
emerged
from
the
light
to
the
street
outside
of
the
combination
grooming
shop
and
living
quarters.
Smoke
was
now
billowing
through
every
tiny
crack
under
doors
and
windows.
Yellow
and
orange
flames
could
be
seen
behind
the
first
floor
windows.
Yet
the
street
was
silent.
Not
a
sound
was
heard.
Spooky!
Get
the
neighbors
awake,
Todd
snapped
as
he
started
into
the
house.
Toy!
Find
a
way
down
from
upstairs!
But
Todd,
asked
Spooky,
what
are
you
doing?
I'm
going
in,
he
said.
No!
Todd!
You
can't
do
that,
Spooky
cried.
Todd
paused
for
a
second,
turned
to
Spooky
and
said,
Spooky,
you
know
I
can't
be
hurt.
Don't
worry
about
me.
My
mom's
in
there.
My
brothers
too.
You
know
I've
got
to
do
this.
Todd
turned
and
vanished.
Come
on
Spooky.
He'll
be
alright,
said
Tinker
Toy.
You're
the
only
one
that
can
wake
people
up.
They've
got
to
call
in
the
fire
alarm.
Let's
go.
Spooky,
with
one
last
look
towards
the
burning
house,
turned
and
vanished
towards
to
nearest
neighbor's
home.
Toy
started
her
hunt
for
an
escape
route. This
isn't
going
to
be
easy
she
thought.
By
the
time
she
had
completely
circled
the
house,
she
thought
she
had
found
a
way.
Spooky
had
projected
himself
towards
what
he
thought
would
be
the
bedroom
of
the
neighbors.
He
found
himself
instead
in
a
child's
bedroom.
He
didn't
want
to
waste
a
single
minute,
so
he
ran
through
the
entire
upstairs
until
he
found
the
master
bedroom.
He
began
to
knock
things
to
the
floor,
hoping
to
make
enough
noise
to
wake
the
sleeping
couple.
The
woman
woke
first,
her
child
on
her
mind.
She
sat
up
in
bed
and
called
her
son's
name.
He
didn't
answer.
Spooky
knocked
over
a
lamp
by
the
window.
Her
eyes
few
in
that
direction
and
what
she
saw
scared
her
so
badly
she
could
hardly
move.
She
caught
her
breath
and
began
to
shake
her
husband.
Within
minutes
the
fire
department
had
been
called,
the
couple
and
their
two
children
had
gathered
their
important
belongings
and
had
evacuated
their
house.
The
husband
had
run
to
waken
the
other
neighbors.
He
and
two
other
men
had
run
towards
the
burning
house.
The
flames
were
too
high,
the
framework
of
the
entire
downstairs
was
beginning
to
burn.
The
upstairs
was
now
filling
with
smoke
and
the
flames
were
traveling
upwards.
Todd
had
landed
smack
in
the
center
of
Donna's
bed.
He
couldn't
wake
her.
The
smoke
and
carbon
dioxide
had
entered
the
room
and
in
their
deep,
exhausted
sleep
Donna
and
both
cats
had
inhaled
enough
of
it
to
render
them
nearly
unconscious.
Mom!
Todd
screamed.
Mom,
please,
please,
wake
up!
Mom!
Todd
was
frantically
running
back
and
forth
over
the
quiet
bodies
of
his
mom
and
his
brothers.
They
were
still
breathing,
but
he
couldn't
wake
them.
He
had
to
do
something
and
do
it
fast.
Todd
pulled
the
blankets
off
with
his
teeth.
He
pushed
Jimmy
out
of
the
bed
and
onto
the
floor.
Then
he
started
on
Erin.
He
rolled
him
over
and
over
by
head-butting
him
until
he
too
crashed
to
the
hardwood
floor.
Both
cats
began
to
wake.
The
air
was
easier
to
breathe
closer
to
the
floor
and
they
slowly
realized
that
something
was
very
wrong.
Todd
screamed
at
them,
but
they
couldn't
hear
him.
Erin
you
big
goofball,
get
your
butt
up
here
and
help
me
with
Mom!
Jimmy,
come
on!
Help
me!
Please,
please
he
cried.
No
one
could
hear
him.
Todd
began
to
head-butt
Donna.
He
pushed
and
pushed
but,
small
as
she
was,
he
couldn't
budge
her.
He
grabbed
one
of
the
blankets
with
his
jaws
and
dragged
it
to
the
bathroom
and
into
the
tub.
He
turned
on
the
water
and
pushed
the
blanket
under
the
tap.
He
ran
back
into
the
bedroom
to
see
Erin
and
Jimmy
with
puzzled
looks
on
their
faces.
They
had
seen
the
blanket
fall
from
the
bed,
fly
across
the
room,
through
the
bathroom
door
and
had
heard
the
water
turn
on,
but
they
couldn't
see
who
was
doing
it.
They
felt
themselves
pushed
and
prodded
towards
the
relative
safety
of
the
water
in
the
bathroom.
They
huddled
together,
so
scared
they
didn't
protest
the
pushing
and
shoving.
Just
as
Todd
was
running
back
to
the
bedroom,
Toy
appeared
in
the
bedroom
window.
This
way
Todd,
she
cried.
The
garage
is
made
of
concrete
block.
It
hasn't
caught
on
fire
yet.
We
can
go
through
the
window
to
the
garage
roof
and
then
down
from
there!
Todd
looked
at
the
window
on
the
other
side
of
the
room,
then
he
looked
back
at
Donna,
barely
breathing
on
the
bed.
Come
on
Toy,
help
me,
he
yelled
and
ran
back
to
the
bathroom.
Together
he
and
Toy
dragged
the
soaking
wet
blanket
to
the
bed.
They
put
it
over
Donna's
face
and
body.
Todd
and
Toy
ran
to
the
window
and
pushed
until
they
got
the
window
open
enough
to
let
some
of
the
smoke
out,
Toy
kept
pushing
to
get
the
window
up
further
while
Todd
ran
back
to
Erin
and
Jimmy
and
head-butted
them
over
to
the
now
open
window.
Erin
and
Jimmy
had
no
choice,
they
were
pushed
down
to
the
garage
roof
below.
Spooky
met
them
on
the
roof
of
the
garage.
Spooky's
talent
was
being
able
to
communicate,
silently,
with
both
humans
and
animals.
Without
knowing
why,
Erin
and
Jimmy
jumped
from
the
roof
to
the
ground,
completely
unharmed.
A
woman
in
the
crowd
gathered
below
scooped
them
up
and
took
them
inside
her
own
home.
She
had
seen
the
window
open,
but
no
one
was
there.
Then
the
two
cats
came
flying
through
it.
She
was
still
shaking
her
head
as
she
explained
this
to
her
husband.
On
the
bed,
Todd,
Toy
and
Spooky
gathered
around
Donna.
Spooky
whispered
something
into
Todd's
ear.
He
had
heard
several
of
the
children
talking
in
the
crowd.
He
related
the
conversation,
quickly,
to
Todd
now.
They
could
hear
the
fire
truck
sirens
in
the
distance,
but
they
couldn't
wait.
The
entire
upstairs
would
be
aflame
in
minutes.
The
hardwood
floor
was
already
nearly
too
hot
to
touch.
They
had
to
act
NOW.
They
pulled
the
soaking
blanket
from
her
face.
She
had
been
able
to
breathe
cleaner
air
through
the
watered
filter
of
the
blanket
and
now
that
the
open
window
had
cleared
away
more
of
the
smoke,
she
was
getting
more
oxygen.
Todd
began
to
head-butt
her
in
the
face.
Spooky
was
whispering
to
her
ear.
Toy,
not
knowing
what
else
to
do,
was
jumping
up
and
down
on
top
of
Donna.
Donna
took
a
deep,
shuddering
breath.
Then
another.
She
opened
her
eyes,
closed
them,
then
opened
them
again.
Smoke!
No!
She
jolted
upright,
knocking
all
three
of
the
Circle
to
the
floor.
She
was
awake
and
alert
instantly.
Donna
flung
the
wet
blanket
away
and
began
to
scream
for
Erin
and
Jimmy.
Spooky
flew
to
her
shoulder
and
began
whispering
to
her
again.
Todd
was
head-butting
her
legs
toward
the
window.
Donna
was
stumbling
over
things
she
couldn't
see
and
somehow
she
got
the
feeling
that
her
little
ones
were
all
right.
The
window
was
open!
She
hadn't
left
it
open
last
night.
She
knew
that,
but
now
wasn't
the
time
to
wonder
about
it.
The
smoke
was
denser
now
and
the
floor
was
so
hot!
She
ran
to
the
window
just
as
flames
were
licking
at
the
bedroom
door.
Todd
disappeared.
Tinker
Toy
had
materialized
next
to
the
three
men
neighbors.
They
had
gotten
a
ladder
and
were
positioning
it
on
the
front
of
the
garage.
Toy
knocked
the
ladder
over
and
nudged
it
towards
the
side
away
from
the
house.
With
all
her
strength
she
pushed
that
ladder
while
the
men
tried
to
pull
it
back.
This
is
the
heaviest
ladder
I've
ever
seen,
one
man
said
and
stood
back.
Spooky
appeared
at
the
man's
ear
and
began
to
whisper
to
him.
Hey!
Come
on,
shouted
the
older
man.
Over
here!
The
roof
slopes
and
we
can
get
up
easier
from
this
side!
Just
as
they
got
the
ladder
into
position,
Donna
began
to
climb
over
the
window
sill.
There
was
a
four
foot
drop
down
to
the
sloping
garage
roof.
She
had
on
her
heavy
flannel
pajamas,
but
no
slippers.
Her
feet
were
blistered,
her
eyes
red
and
sore,
but
she
threw
her
legs
over
the
sill,
turned
herself
around,
held
onto
the
sill
and
let
her
body
slide
down
until
her
feet
touched
the
roof.
Two
of
the
neighbors
had
climbed
up
the
ladder
and
were
there
to
catch
her
as
her
blistered
feet
gave
way
beneath
her.
Her
throat
was
raw
and
her
lungs
hurt.
She
couldn't
talk.
She
slumped
in
their
arms
just
as
the
upstairs
of
the
house
collapsed
in
a
huge
burst
of
flames.
The
garage
roof
was
catching
fire
now
and
the
three
of
them
had
to
get
down
that
ladder
fast.
Two
fire
trucks
and
an
ambulance
pulled
up
just
as
the
men
were
trying
to
maneuver
Donna
to
the
ladder.
Within
seconds
the
Fire
department
had
hoses
trained
on
the
fire
behind
them
and
more
men
were
rushing
up
with
more
ladders.
The
ambulance
was
readying
the
gurney.
Donna
was
carried
down
to
safety.
The
EMTs
put
her
on
the
gurney,
but
she
was
fighting
them.
My
cats!
She
cried.
Erin,
Jimmy!
A
neighbor
came
up
to
her
and
explained
that
they
were
fine.
Not
to
worry.
But
the
safe,
my
money
and
papers!
The
insurance
papers,
everything,
everything...gone,
she
sobbed.
The
EMT
tried
to
reassure
her
that
if
she
had
insurance
she
would
be
covered.
Donna
would
not
be
comforted.
She
knew
the
little
policy
she
had
paid
on
for
years
would
never
take
care
of
everything.
She
again
collapsed.
As
the
EMTs
were
giving
pure
oxygen
to
Donna
stretched
out
on
the
gurney,
a
long
black
limo
pulled
up
to
the
end
of
the
block.
The
police
immediately
came
up
to
it.
A
tall,
haughty,
yet
bewildered
woman
stepped
out,
checkbook
in
hand.
Somehow,
she
explained
to
the
policeman,
the
dispatch
for
this
fire
came
over
the
regular
radio
station.
I
heard
about
this
poor
woman's
plight
and
I'm
making
this
contribution
to
her.
She
wrote
out
a
check
for
cash
for
six
figures
and
handed
it
to
the
policeman.
Please
make
sure
she
gets
this,
she
snapped
and
disappeared
back
into
the
limo.
Todd,
in
the
backseat,
gave
the
poodle
a
high-five
and
jumped
to
the
curb.
He
calmly
groomed
his
whiskers
to
cover
his
smile.
At
The
Bridge
Todd,
Spooky
and
Tinker
Toy
came
through
the
shimmering
mist
at
the
special
river.
They
were
bedraggled,
tired
and
smelled
like
smoke.
The
crowds
were
gathered
on
the
hillsides
waiting
for
them
and
right
down
in
front,
at
the
edge
of
the
stream,
was
Phoebe.
She
had
not
moved
since
they
had
left,
just
a
minute
or
two
ago.
Or
it
seemed
like
just
a
minute
or
two,
Phoebe
thought.
But
they
were
so
tired
and
worn
out!
Oh,
sighed
Phoebe,
I
guess
I'll
get
used
to
all
this
soon.
The
three
of
The
Circle,
helping
each
other,
stepped
from
the
mist
to
the
ground.
Toy
and
Spooky
were
ready
to
go
take
a
nap,
but
Todd
held
back.
He
tearfully
stared
into
the
mist
at
the
special
stream
and
watched
as
the
ambulance
pulled
away
with
Donna
inside,
the
check
tucked
into
her
hand.
He
watched
as
his
brothers
were
handed
over
to
the
people
from
the
Safe
Shelter
to
wait
until
Donna
was
able
to
pick
them
up.
He
watched
as
the
investigators
began
to
examine
the
smoldering
ruins
for
the
cause
of
the
fire.
He
watched
as
the
police
questioned
the
children.
The
Master
stood
at
Todd's
side.
Gently,
The
Master
said
to
Todd,
come
away
now
son.
She'll
be
all
right.
Thanks
to
you
she'll
be
set
for
the
rest
of
her
life.
They'll
find
that
woman
and
the
next
check
she
writes
to
your
mom
will
be
for
much
more
than
six
figures.
With
that
and
the
insurance
money,
she
can
relax
and
retire.
Your
mom
will
build
a
nice
home
on
the
same
land
and
she
and
your
brothers
will
adopt
all
the
strays
the
law
will
allow.
The
Master
laughed
as
Todd
chuckled
at
the
thought
of
his
mom
surrounded
by
dozens
of
dogs,
cats,
birds,
hamsters,
gerbils
and
guinea
pigs.
Just
like
I
am
here,
he
thought.
He
and
The
Master
walked
away
from
the
now
quiet
stream.
On
Earth.
Donna
slowly
came
awake
from
the
surgery.
Her
foggy,
anesthetized
mind
smelled
something.
Fire!
No,
not
fire.
What
is
that
smell?
She
thought.
Cat
nip!
That's
what
it
is
Cat
nip!
Todd!
Todd,
where
are
you?
She
woke
further,
remembering
the
horrible
night
before.
She
brought
herself
fully
awake.
She
remembered
everything
now.
The
flannel
pajamas
she
had
worn
in
to
the
hospital
were
laying
on
a
chair
by
the
bed.
The
check
from
the
woman
was
propped
up
on
the
nightstand.
It
had
been
endorsed
with
her
name
that
the
policeman
had
gotten
from
the
neighbors.
Donna
ignored
the
check.
She
reached
over
the
side
rails
of
the
hospital
bed
for
the
pajamas.
She
brought
them
to
her
face.
Under
the
odor
of
smoke
was
the
faint,
but
unmistakable,
smell
of
cat
nip.
With
the
pajamas
hugged
to
her
side,
she
fell
into
a
deep,
restful
sleep.
The
end.
