Bat At It. . . . Again

Just when you think it's safe to rest your weary  head after a week away from home you are reminded of why you shouldn't. Although we've been home a week since our vacation our "reminder" showed up unannounced.  (That's what happens when you make mention of it on your way home ~ you jinx yourself.)

Last night The Hubs and I had to run to Sam's Club to pick up a couple things.  The Boy left while we were gone (leaving TV on and front door open ~ so glad we have honest neighbors).  When we got home we went about our business ~ which actually consisted of watching "The Shooter".  Love that movie.  After the movie, The Hubs went up for his shower, came back down and we locked up the house, having no idea what time the Boy would be home. We trust our neighbors, but not the "Night crawlers".  We literally had just laid down when we heard The Boy pull up.  We heard him rustling around and I think Hubs and I both hit that doze state just before sleep.  Next thing I know it sounds as if an all out brawl broke out downstairs!  I heard fussing and running of feet.  The Hubs ~ who never hears anything (or so he says) was even a bit worried. He called down asking what was wrong.  No answer.  What on earth was going on down there?!  Hubs gets up (another rare thing) and goes into the hall way and calls down again.  I can hear The Boy, but can't make out the words.  Then I hear Hubs say it:  B. A. T.

So it begins.  The Hunt. I was in a quandary as to whether or not I should leave the safety of my room.  I could stay in there and lock everyone out and let them deal with the Creature, or I could suck it up and go help. Who am I kidding?  I'm as worthless as a plugged nickel when it comes to Bat Hunting.  So I ventured downstairs ducking and dodging thin air.  You know, just in case. This isn't my first rodeo, but it evokes the same anxiety every, single time.   I cautiously assess the situation, intending to interrogate The Boy (he may have been hallucinating). I find The Boy on the kitchen floor, on his stomach,  looking at his phone. He seems all chilled out.  However, he has positioned himself between the counter and the stove, feet pointing to the wall and facing the living room where he had encountered the Creature.  What was he thinking?  Where was he going to run if the Creature had decided to enter the kitchen? He had pinned himself into a corner.  Seems The Boy, The Ben, The Beast had been squashed by The BAT.  I questioned as to whether he really saw it or not giving the fact he wasn't being very co-operative.  The Hubs backed his sighting ~ he saw it when he came downstairs.

The rundown:   Ben:  *I came home, got some chocolate milk, kicked back on the sofa with the intentions of watching some TV.  I caught movement out of the corner of my eye over by the fireplace.  Then I saw it, circling the living room.*  It was more than he could handle.

The Hubs, in the meantime, is frantically searching (not for the Creature) for the tennis rackets.  They can't be found anywhere.  So as The Boy and I are scanning the downstairs, Hubs goes in the basement and retrieves two crab nets.  They try to hand one off to me.  Nope, not happening.  We searched and peeked and scanned every area we could downstairs. We were all CSI with our flashlights.  Hubs even went outside with his trusty, high lumen flash light to check the windows ~ (Um, Hubs, I think they call that creeping.  I'm not bailing you out if the Sherriff rides by.) you know, just in case the Creature was trying to leave.  Nothing.  I think he needed some fresh air and a moment to think. 

That leaves us one thing to do.  Go to bed.  I'm a mess.  I can't sleep with my head under the covers. Some how I end up with a crab net on my way up.  What am I suppose to do with this?  Sleep with it?  Because if I put it anywhere in the room that means I will have to get up and retrieve it while The Creature is flying around.  I don't know.  That doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I feel I can't breathe.

The Boy did clean up the chocolate milk that catapulted out of his cup and onto the love seat, pillow and floor.  That would have been the brawling noise and sounds of fusing we heard earlier. (Actually, it was him running and cussing the bat.)  One cannot think of being careful or quiet when eluding flying creatures!

We decide to close all doors upstairs in case The Creature decides to take flight. But. . . . what if it is already up there and we close him in with us???? (hence the crab net, I suppose)  So, we opt to turn on the AC.  Don't know how that's going to help, but if it makes The Menfolk feel better, sure, why not.  We, meaning The Hubs, gets the windows down upstairs and proceeds back down to the scary place.  I hear him say in a quiet voice:  "I found him."  Is he quiet because it's flying, or is it perched somewhere obvious, like on the back of the couch?  Nope.  He had closed him up in the window.  The same window I had checked earlier. (I'm sweating).  He didn't mean to.  It had worked up between the top and bottom trying to get out and got caught when he lowered the window. 

I told The Boy The Creature had been contained.  The Hubs said he was rather small.  The Boy begged to differ.  He said it was the biggest bat he had seen, holding his hands about 14 inches apart. All I can envision are the bats from Jumanjii. 

Yep, this looks about right.

Needless to say, I DID NOT SLEEP WELL.  Suppose it had a friend.

What is it anyway with bats and our house?  I'm not Motel 8.  I don't "leave the light on".  But an even bigger question:  How.  Do.  They.  Get.  In????

Side note:  Do you know bats are protected?  You CANNOT kill them. At least around this area. True story.