An invasive species in our habitat

 It was no big deal that a bat was hanging around on our front porch. The big deal was that the Wise Woman discovered it.

The Wise woman does not like bats, snakes, spiders, ticks, millipedes and many other creatures that interest me.

Worse, instead of being ready to leap to her defense and evict the bat, I was lollygagging around, miles away. I objected that being in the dentist’s chair shouldn’t count as lazing around with my feet propped up.

But defending myself was pointless. She was not soothed.

I said lamely that bats are primarily nocturnal feeders and that as soon as the sun began to set the bat would fly away.

The Wise Woman was not convinced.

She called a wildlife rescue service. A young woman said that bats are primarily nocturnal feeders and that as soon as the sun began to set the bat would fly away.

The young woman sounded authoritative. The Wise Woman was impressed and tried to make a donation.

Perhaps, as they say in Washington, I need to work on my messaging.

Still, at dusk, my credibility had recovered to the extent that I was assigned the important job of checking the porch to make sure that the bat had indeed flown.

It had.

All’s well in our world. May it by so in yours.