The Rainbow Connection

During the eighties and nineties, a poem called “The Rainbow Bridge” began circulating. It tells the story of a meadow where all the pets go who die before their owners. In the meadow, the pets are young and healthy again. The only thing missing in this perfect meadow is their owners. When the owners finally arrive, there’s a joyous reunion between them and their pets. After the reunion, the owners and pets cross over the Rainbow Bridge—together—into heaven.

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“The Rainbow Connection”
– Renee Adele Phillips

Setting: The Meadow at the Rainbow Bridge, August 2021

Clifford reclined his chair and sighed contentedly as he petted the enormous cat in his lap. It had taken him two months, but with plenty of treats and scratches behind the ears, the cat had finally warmed up to him. And now, Clifford’s lap was his favorite place to be. Clifford was just beginning to drift off to sleep when he sensed a presence in front of him.

“Don’t get up,” the presence said.

Clifford recognized the Shepherd—the one who had been entrusted to manage the meadow where Clifford was sitting.

“Oh, thank you,” Clifford said. “I’m not sure I CAN get up. This cat is almost immovable once he’s asleep.”

The Shepherd smiled, leaning down to pet the cat. “Hello, Seamus,” he said.

“Not to contradict you, Sir,” Clifford said, “but he prefers to be called—“

“James. King James,” the Shepherd said. For the first time, the cat looked up. He stretched, yawned, and settled back into Clifford’s lap.

“I see how much he likes you. How do you like it here?”

“It’s beyond anything I could have dreamed. I get to sit in a recliner, in the most beautiful meadow I’ve ever seen, keeping these gorgeous creatures company until their owners arrive. And when they do arrive . . . well. . .” Clifford dabbed at a tear in his eye. “When the animals realize that the person they’ve been waiting for all this time is here, and the owners see their animals again, it’s the most glorious thing I’ve ever seen.”

Clifford remembered his own reunion with his golden retriever, Skipper. Skipper had been sleeping when Clifford arrived in the meadow. He’d seen Skipper immediately and called his name. Skipper had woken up and run so fast and hard into Clifford’s arms that he’d knocked him over. He smiled thinking of how wet his face had been from Skipper’s kisses—kisses he’d missed so much that after Skipper died, he’d slept with Skipper’s old tennis ball for months.

Yet even more joyous than that—and far more glorious—had been Clifford’s meeting with his heavenly Father on the Rainbow Bridge. The Father had welcomed him into His arms, then sent him back down the Bridge to the meadow, telling Clifford that there was a job He wanted him to do. The Father said that when Clifford’s job was finished, and only the Father knew when that would be, Clifford would cross the Rainbow Bridge with Skipper where they would live with the Father in heaven for eternity.

The Shepherd sat down next to Clifford, interrupting his reverie.

“The Father knows which assignments suit us best,” he said. “And today you have a big one. You already know about the first part of your job. It’s what you’re doing right now with Seamus. The second part of your job is the Rainbow Connection. You find an animal who needs a home and connect it to one of the owners whose companions are waiting for them here at the Rainbow Bridge. I think you’ll find it to be the most rewarding work you’ve ever done. I know I did.”

“You?”

“Of course. I was a Rainbow Connector for years before I was promoted to Shepherd. Now I help the other connectors, like you. Speaking of connecting—you must remember, Clifford, that there are no replacements for pets who have died. We aren’t looking for that. We’re looking for places where we can make connections—bonds of love that we can help to forge between needy animals and people. And because this is your first connection, I’m going to help you.”

Clifford looked down at his lap. “It’s about Seamus, isn’t it?”

The Shepherd nodded. “His mom has been inconsolable since he joined us here. They had a very special bond—they were best friends. But the circumstances around his passing were especially hard. Seamus had been sick, but it didn’t appear to be anything serious. So even though his mom didn’t want to leave him, she did—to have back surgery. Afterwards, she couldn’t bend or pick anything up or move in any way, really.”

The Shepherd paused and took a deep breath. “The day she got home from surgery, she and Seamus’s dad realized that Seamus had gotten much sicker while they’d been gone. But it was a Saturday night, and the three vets in the area were closed. So they called a friend of theirs who knows a great deal about cats. She was there within minutes, but by then, it was clear to her and to Seamus’s parents that he needed the care of a vet. So the friend called one of the vets she knew, and even though he was closed, he told her to get Seamus there immediately. Seamus’s mom tried to reach for Seamus, to tell him how much she loved him, but because of her surgery, she couldn’t. Seamus’s dad put him in the kennel, and their friend drove them as fast as she could to the vet. But it was too late. Seamus passed away just minutes later, in the car.”

Clifford listened, tears in his eyes, as he stroked Seamus’s back.

The Shepherd continued. “Seamus’s dad called from the vet’s office to tell her that Seamus was gone. I know his heart shattered as he said those words. She kept saying, ‘Gone? He can’t be gone. He was just here. And I didn’t get to say goodbye.’”

There was a long pause as Clifford wiped a tear from his cheek. Finally, he looked at the Shepherd. “Why would the Father choose to take him that way? It seems so . . . cruel.”

The Shepherd sighed. “I don’t know, Clifford. There’s so much I still don’t know. So many questions I have. Questions that will all be answered on that glorious day when we’re with the Father.”

“But what can be done now?”

“That’s where you come in. The Father doesn’t always move this fast—it’s only been two months since King James arrived here. But his mom is one of the cases we see where the impact of her loss is causing her to lose her faith. She’s wondering how a loving Father could, to borrow your word, be so cruel. She’s not looking up anymore. And she’s trying to heal from surgery while her heart breaks a million times a day. Seamus’s dad is trying to help her heal while his own heart is breaking. So you see why the Father is asking us to do this now.”

Clifford nodded and took a deep breath. “You said you were going to help.”

“I am. In the future, you’ll be finding the animals and owners to connect. But this time, I’m going to show you the animal that needs a home. And you already know the owner—Seamus’s mom. The reason I’m helping you now isn’t just because this is your first connection. It’s because it’s a particularly tough one. Sometimes in cases like this, we need a go-between—a person on earth to push the connection to happen.”

“Why?”

“If you just leave this kitten on Seamus’s mom’s doorstep, she won’t accept it. She’ll think it’s far too soon after losing Seamus, and she’ll feel enormous guilt—as if she’s already trying to replace him. She’ll find him a home, but it won’t be with her. Trust me, Clifford. This woman is very stubborn. She doesn’t believe she’ll ever love an animal again, and if anyone even raises the subject with her, she shuts them down, saying she doesn’t want to be pushed into something she’s not ready for. So we’re going to do exactly what she doesn’t want us to do—we’re going to give her a push.”

“How?”

“There’s a tiny kitten down there who’s been abandoned by his mother. It’s a very hot day, and he’s not doing well. He’s hungry and scared. You’re going to take that kitten to someone who can push Seamus’s mom into taking him. And keeping him.”

Clifford stared at the Shepherd. “How am I supposed to find a person like that?”

“Take a look at this.”

The Shepherd took an iPad from the table beside his chair and handed it to Clifford.

“An iPad? Really? That doesn’t seem very . . . heavenly.”

“It’s what I’m used to. Here. Look at the screen.”

Clifford took the iPad and looked at it. “Google Earth?”

“Again—it’s what I’m used to. What you’re looking at is a street view of Seamus’s house. It’s changed a bit since that image, but you get the idea. It’s a small town, so if you have an image in your head and the address, you’ll find it. Got it?”

Clifford memorized the screen and gave it back to the Shepherd. The Shepherd tapped away on it or a minute, then handed it back to Clifford.

“This is an alley behind the fire station. It still looks just like that image. Zoom in on the trash cans. See the space between them? That’s where this kitten is.”

Clifford nodded. “So I get the kitten and take him to—“ he paused.

“To the person who can gently push Seamus’s mom into keeping him. Go on with you now. It’s hot, and he doesn’t have much time. I expect a full report.”

Just like that, the Shepherd was gone. Clifford gently pushed Seamus out of his lap.

“I’m off to help your mom,” he said. Seamus’s ears pricked up. “I’ll do my best.”

***************************

Two hours later, Clifford settled back into his recliner. He wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath just as Seamus jumped into his lap and Skipper curled up at his feet. The Shepherd sat down next to them.

“How’d it go?” he asked.

“Well, you were right about the kitten. Tiniest one I’ve ever seen. He looks a bit like King James, here, if someone were to put his Majesty in the dryer and shrink him several sizes. Anyway, I put him in a safe, shady spot in the alley and decided to walk around and see if I could find our kitten-pusher.” He smiled at the Shepherd.

“As I walked, it occurred to me. What about the friend who was with Seamus when he passed? How could Seamus’s mom say no to this woman who had done so much for her? And because the woman IS her friend, she almost certainly knows that Seamus’s mom has been heartbroken and needs a kitten. Problem was, I didn’t know who she was or where she lived. So I went to Seamus’s house and snuck in the back door. I needed a computer in order to find her.”

“I imagine you found one. Seamus’s dad is—“

“Obsessed with computers? Yes! I found every kind there is. I remembered Facebook, so I signed in. My account is still active!” he said, wonderingly. “Anyway, I found Seamus’s mom’s page. It’s private, but she has a blog that anyone can read. I read all the entries from June until now, in August.”

“And?” the Shepherd said, encouraging him to continue.

“I read some comments on her blog that had been written by people who obviously live in that same town. And their pages weren’t all private, so it didn’t take long to find the friend. Did you know everything she does for animals? She feeds feral cats. She traps them so that she can get them neutered or spayed. She takes in animals that people have abandoned and fosters them until she can find homes for them. All at her own expense. So I Googled her and found her address. I got the kitten from the alley and put him in my cardigan pocket to get him to her yard. He’s weak but he’s a fighter. Squalled at me the whole way there. Reminded me of this one,” he said, patting Seamus affectionately.

“I put him under a bush in her yard and waited,” he went on. “But the kitten had used up all his energy hollering at me. When she came out of her house, he didn’t make a peep. So I did.”

“You did?”

“Yep. I crawled under that bush and squalled just like he had. Sounded like a whole flock of seagulls was under that bush. And it worked. She found him. Within an hour or two, she was at Seamus’s house. She told his parents that she’d found the kitten, and it needed a home. She said she’d give them an hour or so alone with him, and she left.”

Clifford smiled as he told the story.

“You were right about Seamus’s mom needing a push. She fell in love with that kitten the minute she saw him—I know that look. But she told Seamus’s dad that she wasn’t ready for him. That she didn’t want to go through ‘all of that’ again. The whole time she was talking, she was holding the kitten close to her chest, rubbing his face against hers as he purred. And then she said it—‘If it were anyone else who brought me this kitten, I’d tell them no. But how am I supposed to say no to her? After all she’s done for us? I can’t tell her I don’t want him.’ Seamus’s dad said, ‘She knew Seamus and she knows you. Maybe she knows better than you on this one. That you actually do want him. And need him.’”

The Shepherd laughed. “I can’t imagine that went over well.”

Clifford smiled. “It didn’t at first. She started to argue. But then she looked down into the kitten’s eyes and said, ‘Fine. But only on a trial basis.’ Seamus’s dad leaned in to pet him, and I could tell he knew that this wasn’t a trial. They both were already in love with that tiny little thing. And when their friend came back, I knew she could tell, too, before they even said they wanted to keep him.”

“Well done, Clifford. I couldn’t have done better myself.”

“Is he going to make it? I mean, the friend said she would care for him through the next few days until he’s a bit stronger. But when I was holding him, I had the strangest feeling. Like he was sicker than any of them knew.”

The Shepherd sighed. “He is. But they won’t know it until it’s almost too late.”

“Almost?”

“Almost. Rian—that’s what Seamus’s mom named him—Rian is going to teach her some lessons and remind her of some truths during the ‘almost.’ When she’s at her weakest—when it looks like she’s going to lose Rian so soon after losing Seamus—she’s going to be forced to find the strength to go on. And she’ll remember that the only way she can find it is by looking up. When she finally does and finds the strength she so badly needs, she’ll realize that the Father never turned His back on her. That all those times when she thought He wasn’t listening, He was as close to her as He’d ever been, planning the gift of Rian and collecting every single one of her tears because He loves her that much. I find so often, Clifford, that we foolishly wait for the ‘almost’ to force us to look up for the strength we need and don’t have. And for the love we need so badly but are so afraid to risk.”

“But she does risk it. And Rian lives?”

“Let me show you something. This, next to the reunions and connections, is the best part of our job.  We get to see our connections just one time. We can see how Rian and his mom are doing right at this minute, on this November night. Are you ready?”

Clifford nodded in anticipation. The Shepherd got out his iPad again and said, “Here. Look.”

Together, they looked at the screen. Seamus’s mom was lying in bed, with Rian curled into the nook of her arm. She was petting him, his cheek resting on hers. It looked like a peaceful, beautiful scene until Clifford noticed that tears were streaming down her face.

“Why is she crying?” he asked.

“Listen closely.”

Clifford listened. And he heard her whispering, over and over again, “Thank you.”

“And do you notice something else?” The Shepherd asked. “She’s—“

“I see it! She’s looking up.”