In Loving Memory Of Isolde Jenkins

Eatbugs was sitting with the rest of his friends listening to Picnic's stories. "Did you really do tricks for cheese?" asked Moki. "Well, ahem, I really like cheese", said Picnic, who's nose leather turned a shade of pink. The kiddens all laughed. Eatbugs was about to ask a question when a strange feeling came over him. He shook his head and tried to ignore it, but the feeling wouldn't go away. Something, someone was reaching out to him. He closed his eyes and pursed his whiskers in concentration. Suddenly he understood. "NO", he cried. The other kiddens all turned to look at him. "MY HUMANS!", he cried, "NO". "What is it, Eatbugs", asked Imbri, but Eatbugs couldn't answer him. There was something wrong with his humans!

He jumped to his feet and looked around him. He had to do something, but didn't know what. He cried out again, "Mommy Mary!, I've got to find her". He took off running, his heart pounding so that he didn't notice the change in the music of the air. Neither did he notice the kiddens gathering. He blindly ran until he found himself at the gate. He looked wildly around, "MOMMY MARY", he cried again. "It is all right, Eatbugs", said the grey striped Little Bit, "We are here". Eatbugs looked up at her and blinked, "What's wrong with my humans?". The dog dog Penny licked Eatbugs and said gently, "Shhhh, it's always hardest when it is our humans who hurt." Eatbugs didn't understand. He looked around him. They were all there, Penny, Little Bit, Ophelia, Wort, Wookie, Astoreth. All those who had greeted him. Gathering quietly behind the group were Puppie, Picnic, Lucky and all the new friends he had made here. Eatbugs finally understood and bowed his head in sorrow. He had felt the pain of the humans when a new kidden arrived, but it had never been like this. He closed his eyes and tried to send his thoughts to Mommy Mary, to tell her that he was here and that he would greet her kidden. He hoped that she could hear him.

The music began to swell around him, the sad sweet song that was all too familiar. He watched as the lights began to shimmer with color and the flash of blue light appeared. When the light faded, his aunt Isolde sat there. She didn't move for a moment, as if she was afraid. "It's all right, Isolde", said Little Bit, "The pain is gone now". Isolde turned her blue stare on Little Bit with a doubting look in her eyes, but as she moved she realized that it was true. Her body was whole again, her legs were strong and the illness that had taken so much from her was gone. As she looked up at the kiddens surrounding her, her eyes fell on a strange but familiar face. The kidden stepped forward, shyly looking at Little Bit "Go on," said Little Bit, "We are all family here." The kidden approached Isolde and offered her nose in greeting, "I am Puppie", she said, "Welcome friend, to the Rainbow Bridge". Isolde's eyes lit up, "Puppie!". One by one the kiddens greeted her. Isolde noticed an amber and cream kidden sitting with his eyes closed and his whiskers pursed. "Eatbugs?" she said, "What's wrong?" He opened his eyes, "I'm trying to tell Mommy Mary that you are home." Silently, Isolde closed her eyes and joined him.

© Copyright 1992 Constance Jenkins. All Rights Reserved. The author retains all copyright and intellectual rights to this work. It may not be printed in whole or in part without express written permission.