Todd woke up. Huh? What is this…where am I? He slowly opened his eyes. Oh no, I sure took too much cat-nip that time, he thought. Then he remembered, and he was scared. Only a minute though. Beside him stood a tall figure, all dressed in white robes. "Don't be afraid son" it said. "I'm the Guardian, and I'll take care of you."

Todd looked all around himself. What he saw was a room made of mist and a light shining around the Guardian. He wasn't afraid now, only curious. "Of course you're curious" the Guardian said. How'd he know what I was thinking, thought Todd? "I know all things. Yes, even what you're thinking." laughed the Guardian. His laugh was nice. Pleasant. Todd, who loved to laugh, liked him immediately. "Good," said the Guardian, "Because you have a job to do."

A Job? What kind of a job. The guardian told him that Todd was to pave the way for the rest of the group. There would be a group of three. These three, who would have come to the Bridge anyway, were to help their humans. They were to be guardian angels in their own right. "A very important job" said the Guardian.

"Your humans are going to take your passing very hard. They're going to need the strength of you three to help them. You are going to help them get through their own lives. All three of your humans have had a rough time of it so far and you and your two companions have been their comfort and their friends. The humans have really loved all three of you so much that it has been brought to my attention. Not all humans are given this kind of love, so the ones that have this are given their love back in the form of guardian angels."

Well, thought Todd, I'm not taking this any too easy myself! "Not to worry, son" said the Guardian. "you'll be all right. Just wait and see." "Follow me now, and I'll show you to Paradise."

Todd followed the Guardian through the mist and out into a beautiful, open field. Running alongside was a large stream. Over the stream, in the mist, was a wonderful, many-colored bridge. "What you see, son, is the Rainbow Bridge" said the Guardian. He went on to tell Todd the story of the Rainbow Bridge. The bridge that linked the human heaven-world with the one for furbabies. The special place for the wanted and the unwanted pets.

The Guardian led Todd to the edge of the stream. "Look down now son, and tell me what you see". Todd looked and saw his mommy. She was working, but her eyes were swollen and her smile was very forced. She was grooming the animals, but as she greeted each one, she gave it an extra hug. More than she usually did. Todd was very sad to see this. HE was usually the greeter. HE was the one that made the other animals in the grooming shop feel at home. But I need to be there, he thought. She'll miss me too much and she needs me. "Don't worry" said the Guardian. "You'll be with her, just not in the way she's used to."

"Now son, your next partner will be along in four days" said the Guardian. Four days, questioned Todd? (He knew he didn't have to speak) Yes, thought back the Guardian, but those four days will go by in just about four winks. Time is different here, he said. When you just saw your mommy days had already gone by. Go meet the others here he told Todd. But watch carefully…when the mist lights up that means that your new partner is here. Come right away to meet her. Off you go now.

Tinker Toy

Tinker Toy's eyes opened and she saw the Guardian. She wasn't afraid, she rarely was, but she was sad. I can breathe, she thought. How wonderful. Now where's mom so we can get out of here. "Not so fast, little girl" said the Guardian. Little Girl, thought Toy, that's what mom calls me. "Yes, I know" he said. And the Guardian told Toy nearly the same tale that he told Todd. Tinker Toy's heart nearly broke at the thought of being separated from her mom, but the Guardian told her that it was ok. "You'll be with her, just not in the way she's used to". The same thing that he had told Todd.

He led Toy to the magical stream and told her to look into it. She looked and saw her mom. Her mom was just sitting there, staring at the television set. She didn't see it, she just used it as a place to rest her eyes. She didn't move. She just sat there.

Toy jumped into the stream and tried to dive down to her mom. The Guardian gently lifted her out of the water and set her back down on the bank. He laughed. You don't need to do that, he said. Soon enough she'll be all right. But, screamed Toy, she's all alone. She doesn't have anyone to talk to. She doesn't know many people because she always has me! She'll die of loneliness! She'll die of a broken heart!

No, little girl, she won't. That's what you, Todd and the next one are going to see to. Now you just relax and go to meet Todd and the others. You're the adventuresome one, Todd is the personable one and you two must wait for the third one. You have four months to wait, but they will go by in four winks. Come on now and meet Todd, he's been waiting for you.

Toy lightly pranced over to where Todd was waiting. Hum..she thought. A gorgeous red tabby - all of that beautiful fur. I can see why they call him Mr. Personality.

Yeouser! Thought Todd. This tiny little calico is the one that has all of those adventures? She's too small! She can't do any of those things that the others have been telling me! Todd looked into Tinker Toy's eyes and immediately he knew the truth. She was what she was. Full of fun and not afraid of anything.

She was looking back, watching the mist, waiting for her mom just one more time. Todd walked ahead of her, then turned his head to wait for her. Come along, he said. We have work to do. She turned toward Todd and followed him. Work to do and to wait for the third one. She was ready. They walked towards the beautiful field side by side.

And now Spooky opened his eyes. He had been so sick, but now he felt strength running through him. He looked around and saw the Guardian. The white-robed figure came to Spooky and held him close. "Don't be afraid little one" he said and proceeded to talk to Spooky the same way he talked to Todd and Toy.

But to himself, the Guardian thought that this one was so young….Well, the Master knows what he's doing. This is the sweet one that will complete the trio. Those other two will need this one. Todd has made friends with every other kitty here - uncountable thousands of them. That boy just loves everyone. Tinker Toy has mastered every tree, every climb and has chased everything there is to chase, always dragging Todd with her. It's time those two met their partner.

The Guardian led Spooky to the stream. When Spooky looked in, he saw his mom and dad, sitting side by side, praying. A candle was burning and Spooky knew it was for him. Spooky started to cry. The Guardian softly told him all that he had told the other two. That his mom and dad would be ok and that Spooky would become a guardian angel to look out for them. But Spooky would need the other two in order for it to work.

Me? Said Spooky? "Yes, you" said the Guardian. "The other two need your sweetness to round out the circle. The Master has said it is to be." But, but…I'm not strong, said Spooky. I'm young, and I've heard of these two. They're well known back home. Todd knows everyone and Tinker Toy does everything. How will I fit in? "Don't question the Master" said the Guardian. "He created everything and he knows everything. He has decided that your humans would need the help of all three of you. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but they would each need you in ways that go beyond grief. So you must be ready for this when it comes."

The Guardian brought Todd and Tinker Toy into the mist to meet Spooky. Spooky looked at the two of them. But they look so happy, he thought. Spooky knew that these two had been sorely missed back home. He knew that they had been loved deeply and truly - almost as much has he had been. So how could they be so happy? Oh, he thought, the Master. The Master had touched them, just like his mom and dad had said the Master could. "They are happy, said the Guardian, because you are here" "Now the circle could be complete and your work will begin"

Todd and Tinker Toy took Spooky between them and led him over the hill to the beautiful field. They introduced him to their many, many friends. They took him on some of their many adventures. Through it all, Spooky spread his sweetness. He added a depth to Todd's outgoing personality, which gave it more meaning. He gave meaning to Toy's adventuresome ways, which gave them more depth.

The three soon grew to be one. They went everywhere together, but always watched the stream. When a certain light misted over the stream, it was their call to come quickly. Together they would run, fast, to see what was happening. One by one, each of the humans that had loved the three so much, would be needing them.

All of the friends that Todd had made would be needed to pull strings in this direction or that. All of the adventures that Tinker Toy had would be needed to open this door or that one. All of the sweetness that Spooky had would be needed to pave this road or that one. All three of them were necessary. The Master was right.

So there they are. Playing in the sun, chasing butterflies and lizards, but always watching for that certain light misting over the stream. One of their humans might be calling for help and the Master would be counting on them to see it through. They had better be ready.