Gone Batty (Part 1)

So one evening while the two little ones were spending quality time with the MN state bird (the mosquito) and #1 was camping with the neighbors, Jack and I were enjoying some peaceful time home alone, sleeping. When the phone rang. Still slightly conscious I hollered at my hubby who had just entered the first 10 minutes of REM sleep (or is it non-REM sleep? I really did pay too much for that psychology class I slept through). I was sure it was my sister calling from and ER (my kids are more accident-prone than normal children), or worse yet, someone had surely died. Who calls at 11 o’clock with good news?

He groggily tossed the phone at me.

“Hello?”

“Tina, I’m freaking out and I don’t know what to do!”

“Wyn?”

“I thought there was a bird in my house, but it may have been a bat. It’s probably a bat, but I’m going with bird so I don’t totally flip out. I tried to prop open the door and chase it out of the house with  the broom, but I had a blanket over my head and didn’t actually see it leave the house. I’ve checked everywhere, twice, and can’t find anything, but I’m totally freaked out it’s still in my house. Lance is gone fishing. What should I do?”

“Leave. Move out.” (Helpful, right?)

“Would Jack come over and see if he can find it? Seriously, I’m not going to be able to sleep. I was going to go get one of the neighbors, but all their lights are off. I don’t want to wake them. Will Jack come over? I would REALLY appreciate it.”

Now, my friend, Wyn, has always been this level-headed strong woman. She lived by herself long enough to deal with all sorts of things I’ve never had to. She can re-glaze a storm window and isn’t afraid to tackle most home improvement projects on her own. However, the sheer terror in her voice made it completely obvious that she was not kidding.

So, I took my life in my own hands…

“Hey, Jack, you want to go bat hunting at Wyn’s?”

“WHAT?! NOW?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”

I knew he wouldn’t be crazy about being woken for such a “frivolous” girl issue. He would have rolled over and gone back to sleep if it were his house (and I wasn’t home because I guarantee you I would have been plastered all over his head until he got up and dealt with it and then I would have spent the next 3 nights at the local hotel).

He got out of bed (more than reluctantly) and put his shoes on.

“Do you want me to come?”

“WANT you to come? No, I can do this all by myself. If YOU want to come, get your shoes on and get in the truck.”

As freaked out as I was by the idea of a flying rodent, there was no way I was going to miss out on an opportunity to see Wyn at her finest!

The 3 mile drive to her house was quiet. It was rainy and Jack was tired. I’ve known him long enough to keep my mouth shut even though all I wanted to do was freak out!