A Batty Family

A Batty Family

A Batty Family

By Nomar Knight

Ever since I could remember, I loved hanging out in damp, dark places.  In fact, I swear I was born to roam the night to feed and then rest in a nice quiet corner somewhere.  However, last night was different. 

            After I had fed, I glided around in a quiet neighborhood in Ohio, searching for a place to crash, when I made the mistake of entering an occupied home.  When I heard high-pitched squeals I soon discovered that people lived there.  Their screams brought a newfound terror I never knew existed. 

            As I swooped past them, I glanced at the two-legged strangers, wishing they’d shut up.  Though I had spotted a male sprawled on a sofa, a woman with glass for eyes and a short male almost made me dizzy with their ridiculous screams.  I quickly headed up the stairs.  Upon hearing the woman bark in my direction, more high-pitched cries bounced out of a room, so I searched for immediate refuge from the batty family.  Just when I thought the annoying people would go away, the man who had been sleeping glared at me bug-eyed. 

            He chased me into a room and locked the door.  I heard him mutter words of reassurance to the hysterical bunch.  I smelled the same kind of fear when I hunt my prey.  On instinct, I had hid on the ceiling in the hall while the man thought he had trapped me inside.  It was then I decided that this family was most amusing. 

            As soon as I heard a car’s engine start, I decided that hanging above a bedroom door provided the atmosphere I craved.  Just when I thought all was well, the woman came at me with a piece of wood that had a wide extension at the end.  I think she called it a broom.  Anyway, she tried to nail me with it, but I proved too quick for her.  Losing my sense of direction, I searched all over for another dark hiding place where I could rest.  After tiring myself out for five minutes, I clung to a wall to catch my breath.  Deciding this was no place for me, I moved to the doorframe.  I knew I shouldn’t have shut my eyes for one second because the broom wielding tyrant knocked me off.  I flew too fast and hit the steps, scooted up again, then down.  By this time my heart raced and I was totally out of breath.  Nevertheless, I gathered enough strength and found the fireplace.  Expecting the relief of a cold draft, I was disappointed not to feel air coming from the top.  Before I could catch my breath and fly in another direction, darkness surrounded me. 

            At first, I thought I was dead meat, but when some time passed and the woman hadn’t eaten me, I decided to test my restraints and thrashed against walls.  I was trapped and had become prey.  I heard the females bickering and the little male crying.  My jail cell moved akin to an earthquake shaking my home.  As I spotted some light, I tried to escape.  More loud shrieks followed by muffled sounds.    Once again darkness won, eventually calming me down.  The stench of fear still lingered.  I figured, as long as my captors were terrified of me, I’d be safe. 

            Hours passed and when I finally got to taste freedom again, I smelled the annoyed male as he released me from what I had thought was a sure death. 

            The next time I decide to check out the neighborhood, I’ll make sure to stay away from that crazy family.

            “Come to Ohio,” my cousin said.  “Nothing ever happens! It’s a great place to rest.”

            I’d rather take my chances living in a lion’s den. 

            “Good-bye crazy family!”    

This story was inspired by a real life occurrence at my friend Lisa's house. You can read about it here. 

© Copyright Nomar Knight 2011. All rights reserved.