C.J. Darling - Monster In The Dark

The Mustela Secret Service

By C.J. Darling

Copyright 2019 @ C.J. Darling

To my mother, who taught me to read

and writeand to love doing both

and to her beloved bulldog, Scarlett OTerror,

who helped to make her life complete.

Are we all here? Good. Then let tonights meeting of the Mustela Secret Service begin.

Old Nova calmly groomed her long whiskers while four small furry bodies emerged from the darkness and formed a half-circle around her sleeping mat. Bright little eyes stared at her in the dim red light cast by a nearby heating lamp.

The farmhouse seemed strangely quiet as the five agile ferrets who made up the Mustela Secret Service happily chirped out their nightly ritual. We are Mustela, we are ferrets. We are small and we are fast. We were given life to play and have fun. Our sacred duty is to cause mischief whenever we can. When we cross the Rainbow Bridge at lifes end, we will pass over happily, knowing we have lived full and playful lives.

Above them, Quincy the Iguana groaned. Every night, it was the same old routine. Those annoying little dust-mops woke him from a sound sleep and chanted the same stupid thing. Why couldnt they ever think of something new to say? He wished the Humans had put his tree on the other side of the house, so he didnt have to listen to them.

Now theyd boast about all the trouble they caused that day, as if it was something to be proud of. He couldnt see why the Humans let them get away with stealing toys and crunchy treats, or making nests in their clothes drawers. He couldnt see why the ferrets wanted to do it, either. An Iguana spent his time sleeping in the sun, eating when he was hungry, and sleeping some more. That was the proper way to spend a day.

Before cinnamon-furred Taz could start talking about his days pranks, Nova cleared her throat. I know some of you are wondering where the Humans have gone, she said, and looked straight at Goliath. The black-coated giant was their youngest member, and had never seen a Christmas before. Every year, the Humans take Smudge Dog with them, and go to visit their Cousins who live up north. This year, they also took Spot Dog, his mate Missy Dog, and their new puppies with them.

Why? Maggie, their clever white thief, was several months older than Goliath, but she was just as curious.

What are Cousins? Zephyr chimed in. Her silvery coat gleamed in the dim light. She was very proud of her ability to see further and run faster than any of the other ferrets. When the Mustela Secret Service had a Mission, she was their Scout.

Taz was the only ferret who could talk to any animal, even young Boy Human. Hed spent all that morning talking with Boy, so he knew the answer to Zephyrs question. Cousins are Humans, too. Theyre friends of Mom Human and Dad Human. Boy Human has Cousin friends, too. When Spot Dogs puppies are old enough, some of them will go live with the Cousins.

Oh! Goliaths black eyes went huge with dismay. I thought they could all stay here with us!

Nova shook her head. The farm is very large, but not large enough for ten big dogs. Spot Dogs puppies would not have room to run and play. Theyll be happier with their own Human pets.

When will they be back? Maggie wanted to know. She couldnt wait to sneak into the Human pantry and steal lots of yummy treats. All the ferrets loved to steal and hide things in their cozy nests. That was the best part of being a ferret. But no other ferret could sneak through tiny holes or hide whole boxes of treats the way Maggie could. Thats why her Secret Service code-name was Bandit.

The Humans always leave for three days. As Leader of the Mustela Secret Service, Nova had lived the longest, and knew more about the Humans than anyone else. When they come back, theyll put lots more boxes under the Christmas tree. And they always bring back lots of special yummy treats for us.

Taz licked his lips. He loved popcorn. The day before Christmas, Dad Human always made a big bowl of it, and he let the ferrets have some. Then he poured butter on the rest, and Mom Human and Boy Human helped him eat it.

Christmas was only five days away. He could almost taste that fresh, crunchy popcorn already!

Goliath had never tasted popcorn before, but he was hungry, too. He was always hungry. While the other ferrets talked, he snatched a brown chicken pellet from the nearest food bowl and munched on it.

Suddenly he reared up on his back legs. Who will feed us while the Humans are gone? he squealed.

Get down, Goliath! Maggie grumbled. Werent you listening to Leader? Dad Humans friend, Harvey Man, will be coming by every day to feed all of the animals who live here on the farm.

Thats right. Nova knew Goliath got scared easily, but he was still very young. In time, he would settle down, and learn about courage and bravery. Boy Human filled all our bowls before he left, so we have plenty of food. Harvey Man will give us more tomorrow. And our Human pets will come home on the day after that. No one will go hungry.

Old Nova was very thin because she had nearly starved when shed been a baby. Her Human pets had been mean and cruel, and had moved away and left her behind. No one had come by every day to give her food for a long time, and shed nearly died.

Mom Human and Dad Human had rescued her and made her healthy again, but she was the smallest ferret in the Mustela Secret Service. Taz and Goliath were more than twice her size. And Goliath was still growing.

If Nova wasnt scared of being left to starve, Goliath thought, he wasnt going to be scared, either. He was an Agent in the Mustela Secret Service. Agents never admitted if they were scared.

But he still snatched another chicken pellet from the bowl and hid it under his sleeping rug. Just in case.

The other ferrets pretended not to notice.

Now, Nova said, brushing her whiskers against Tazs, what do you have to report?

The new cat finally talked to me today, Taz grinned. She says her name is Cupcake! Her old Human pets got tired of brushing her long hair, so they drove her out of the City to find her a new home. When they saw our farm, they left her here.

No wonder shes been afraid to come out of her hiding place behind the bookcase, Zephyr said with a sigh. She must think no one likes her at all!

She doesnt like us, Maggie scowled. I tried to play with her, and she hissed at me.

Old Nova knew what it was like to be lost and afraid. We need to give her more time. She may never like us, but when she gets used to us, at least she wont be scared anymore.

Missy Dog let me sniff her puppies this morning before they left, Goliath said with a smile. One of them licked my face! He shivered all over with delight at the memory.

Maggie and I war-danced in the living room, and got in the Humans way while they were packing to leave, Zephyr said proudly. They had to step around us very carefully.

Leader, Maggie asked, leaning forward, will we have to stay in our cage the whole time Mom Human and Dad Human are gone?

The farm ferrets were lucky, and they knew it. Their cage was huge, so big that it took up one entire wall of the Human living room. It was big enough to hold three dozen active ferrets. Carpeted ramps rose from one floor to the next. They loved to run up and down, from the top all the way to the bottom, and play with the toys on each level.

Bright colored hammocks hung from the ceilings, and there were plenty of warm fuzzy blankets for the ferrets to snuggle inside. Two different food bowls and water bottles hung on the white wire bars of every single level, so no one ever had to wait to eat or drink.