Hope was adopted along with her sister Faith from an animal shelter in Lincoln, NE. A bit of detective work uncovered the fact that they were born in a pet shop that raised its own animals: the same pet shop where AGS Member Kylee D. had purchased her beloved girls Audrey and Ramona. So Faith and Hope went home to join the Twin Squeaks Clan.

Hope lived many happy years with her sister, enjoying Kylee and Jason's attention, lots of out time, and time on her wheel. Eventually, however, Faith passed over the Bridge and Hope was left alone. Undaunted, Hope continued a happy and energetic life as a single gerbil. I first met her at the Omaha, NE Midwest Show, at which she was creeping up on four years old. In her snug, cozy, beautifully outfitted home, Hope ran, pranced, stood up, and otherwise charmed all attendees at the show. Her age was catching up with her, and Hope had trouble balancing on her wheel now. When I got back to New England, I sent her an enclosed Wodent Wheel, which steadied her and led to many more hours of joyful running.

Hope lived on through her fourth birthday in fine fettle, but eventually, a series of minor illnesses began to slow her down. She never lost her cheerfulness or good nature, and died peacefully at the human-equivalent age of 102.6 years. For me, Hope defined everything that is precious about an older gerbil - her endless good cheer, acceptance, and joy in the simple things in life. Would we could all age as gracefully as Hope did.

Hope - Dec. 25, 2003 - Jan. 31, 2008 - You will be missed by many. - Libby

Frostbite was an amazing gerbil to me. His Parents where SB'S Midnight Magick & SB's Faery Realm. His temperament and "butterfly mottled markings" intrigued me to try and duplicate gerbils of the same even mottled pattern. Frostbite was entered in the 2005 NE show and took first in the mottled class. He was unable to return to the ring due to excess grooming of his tail by his mate. He was a real winner to me anyway so it really didn't matter to me. Frostbite was a huge gerbil and passed that along to his offspring no matter what mate he had at the time. His son SB's Archer took white belly class 2007 NE show, and he is survived by many of his children and grandchildren and his brother Pyramid.

Frostbite will be sorely missed here at StoryBooks, but we will still be working on his line of butterfly mottles. - Christine

Rest in Peace - Sept. 26, 2007

Gimpy was one of my first two gerbils. She was a beautiful little thing. Light brown with white and ruby eyes. She was Speedy's lifelong companion. They have been together since they were pups. She was a gentle soul. She rarely climbed into my hand but when she did, it was special. She did not like to be held much or climb on my shoulder. That was Speedy's job. She loved her paper plates. She was the main nest builder. She started having respiratory problems in November 2005. I don't think she ever quite over it. Her breathing became extremely labored on February 14, 2005 in the morning. She took her last breath a little after 9:00am EST. I would never think that a little gerbil could fill my heart so. You are in peace now. Wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge little one. - Diane

Andrew.... I couldn't even to begin to describe him.... he was everything a gerbil could be... sweet, kind, caring, and friendly He was a great gerbil....

He was a good-sized gerbil about 10+ inches, the runt of the litter at first, and about 1.3 ounces, and our first gerbil, but he surpassed 4 gerbils, his brother SnowBall, his lil' friend, Squeaky, his two girl friends, Angel and Snowflake... and now him... he was a good 5 year old gerbil that will never be forgotten, I hope that all of you have room in your hearts for this amazing, fantastic gerbil that i think everyone has had but still... if you could have met him he was an amazing, one of a kind, radiant, friendly gerbil that was so tame if he was dropped he would climb back up to your shoulder. He survived a tumor, 2 illnesses, and a cut up stomach, he has lived a good life and i hope that people like you could have an experience like this one. he will always be loved. He tought me so much that another gerbil could have never had. I love you, you will be missed deeply.  Love,  The Revis Family
Lauren Revis "I miss you bud, don't forget me."

We will always remember the first time we ever saw Sugar. It was August 31. We were at Coral Reef pet store and Jade had won a gift certificate for $10.00. She was supposed to get cat food or stuff for Simba (our cat). As soon as we saw Sugar we knew he belonged with us forever. We don`t know exactly when Sugar was born so the day we got him we count that day as his B-Day.

We saw Sugar in his cage with his family but instead of him sleeping with the rest of his family he was digging. When Jade picked Sugar up he ran to her shoulder and tried to escape. When Sugar, our dad, and us got into the car he was digging and running around in his box. Daddy bought his cage. Jade helped pay with her gift certificate. Sugar came free with his cage.

On October 6th 2005 it was a Friday. We always played with Sugar for at least 10 minutes every night and kiss him. When I brought Sugar out of his cage he was very cold. Jade held Sugar and he still tried to escape but was much slower. She thought that he was just cold. Last Christmas we bought Sugar a Teeter- Totter. I always told him it made my day when he would run through it. Sugar then went to his Teeter-Totter and ran through it one last time; he came out lying on his side looking at me with strong but tired eyes. I ran to get my mom and a warm towel. When Mommy came in she held Sugar and he died right in her arms. I heard Jade scream a deafening cry and I knew he was gone. I ran upstairs and cried to our little baby was gone. The towel is still sitting on the bed from when I brought it up.

The next day we buried Sugar by out by our gate. He was wrapped in a crocheted white blanket with a thin purple cloth wrapped around him with a white and red rose bud on either side of him inside of a precious moment’s box. Flowers were cut from our garden and arranged on his "flower bed".

Sugar our little sunshine may you rest in peace and always be free of your 4 cages, and be able to "chew up" any thing you want for as long as you want. You are free and you have officially escaped. Thank you for Three unforgettable years! You are our first Gerbil and even if we eventually get more gerbils we will always love you the most. We love you Sugar if I had the chance to do this again I wouldn’t do any thing different.

Wherever you are I hope there are tons of sunflowers seeds, chicken nuggets, and every thing your heart desires. See you later baby from Jade, Kirsten, Mommy, Daddy, Ryan and Jacob.

WE LOVE YOU

Sparrow was a beautiful nutmeg gerbil, born at Gerbilmania (NY), who came to New England in Spring of 2005 with a big litter of agouti babies, and a belly full of more. For the next five months she travelled back and forth between ABC Gerbils and Shawsheen River Gerbils, raising more babies with her new mate, Star. She was gentle and even-tempered, and with Star began producing lovely, rich self-colored babies and pretty spotted babies with big white bibs. On September 22, she went into an unusually difficult labor which required surgery. During the surgery, it was determined she had a cervical tumor. She was humanely euthanized on September 24, 2005. Sparrow, the nutmeg gerbil, is greatly missed.   -  ~Libby & Donna~