Morris . . . the Downside-Up Bat Read online

  Copyright © 2013 by H. R. Karpes

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  Manufactured in China, June 2013

  This product conforms to CPSIA 2008

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file

  ISBN: 978-1-62087-987-0

  To Mom and Dad, for their love and belief; and to Jean, Pat, Rochelle, Anna, and Julie, with much gratitude and many thanks.

  When Morris was a little bat, a big owl flew into the barn where he was hanging by his toes, the way bats do.

  Morris was so scared that he turned himself downside-up, hoping to fool the owl into thinking he was not a bat.

  And the owl flew out.

  After hanging that way for a little while, Morris began to enjoy himself.

  For one thing, he could hear a little clearer and see a little farther. And he could catch the little flying snacks trying to avoid his upside-down relatives.

  However, Morris’s hanging style wasn’t approved of by the other bats.

  “What difference does it make which way I sleep?” Morris asked Fred, his best friend.

  “Tradition,” answered Fred. “Bats hang upside-down.”

  Morris shrugged. Life isn’t perfect, he thought, and flew off to do something he enjoyed.

  Which was watching television shows. Morris realized he liked TV while hanging downside-up outside windows.

  He liked music programs best.

  Morris’s favorite performers were the singers. Sometimes he listened to them all night long.

  When Morris began imitating some of the performers, he discovered he could sing too.

  He made himself a little guitar to strum while he sang. He also made a wig like some of their funny hair styles.

  Morris liked wearing wigs and hats. In fact, he liked dressing up in all kinds of costumes.

  Morris did have one costume that caused a bit of trouble. He had found an owl mask left from Halloween and flew around the barn screeching “HOOT! HOOT! HOOT!”

  That did not go over well with the rest of the bats.

  But that was fun too.

  Every year Morris’s relatives held a big meeting. They discussed bat things like winter housing, enemy owl protection, and scary pranks for Halloween. This year, the meeting added:

  Aerobatics and other

  entertainment

  Prize for best

  Sign Up

  Morris was really excited. Maybe this was his big chance to perform as “Morris the Magnificent Singer”!

  But when he went to place his entry in the talent box, three bullies blocked his way.

  “You’re not a real bat!” they taunted. “You can’t even hang right. How can you act?”

  And every time he went to the box, the bullies were there, making fun of him.

  Morris was worried. He wanted more than anything to enter the contest and perform in front of a real audience.

  One stormy night, while the bullies sat guarding the talent box, a big owl flew straight toward them. They screamed and scattered.

  And then Morris dropped his entry into the box.

  Finally, the big night arrived.

  Morris was dressed and ready.

  Fred went early to get good seats.

  But sure enough, the bullies were tending the door when Morris arrived.

  “Hey, here’s Fancy-Pants!” one of the bullies said. “He thinks he can act!”

  “You’re not a real bat!” the others taunted.

  And they blocked him from entering.

  It was three against one. Morris left.

  Inside the barn, the meeting began. First came the business. Then came the entertainment—flying tricks and scary faces.

  Fred panicked. Where was Morris?

  He looked over his shoulder.

  He looked around the room.

  He looked down near the stage.

  Then he looked up . . .

  . . . and so did everyone else . . .

  . . . at the open window, where a strange creature hung on the narrow ledge.

  A shiny gold guitar dangled from its neck.

  Suddenly it let go, swooped down to the stage . . .

  . . . and Morris, in a fancy costume, began to perform.

  The bats stared. They scratched their heads. Then they sat up, leaned forward, and finally cheered and shouted with such wing flapping that the head bat had to yell:

  “QUIET!”

  And then he crowned Morris the winner.

  From then on, “Morris the Magnificent Singer” performed around the countryside . . .

  . . . and gave downside-up hanging lessons to all the admiring bats, including the bullies.

 

 

  H. R. Karpes, Morris . . . the Downside-Up Bat

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