I went a little batty

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Yesterday, I took a little drive to the Goody's store where I knew the local Girl Scouts would be gathered out front selling their delicious cookies. I selected some different flavors, paid for them and put them in my car. Then I decided to go into the Goody's store to see what kind of sales they had on women's clothes. It was the sign out front announcing 40 and 50% reductions on the regular prices and the fact that i could get an extra 10% off with my military ID that beckoned me to check it out. I made my way to the right side of the store near the back where I had always found clothes to my liking before. As I looked through a rack of blouses, I noticed some employees and customers scattering away from a rack of pants and matching shirts all letting out just a little bit of a squeal. I had to see what would have caused this reaction, so I walked back there. What I found was a little baby bat trying to crawl around on the floor under these clothes. Nobody wanted to go near this little guy. So, I asked an employee to get me a box and said that I would take care of him. The poor little guy had to be very confused and I kept thinking that he was so young that his mother must be worried. When I got the box, I used the flap on the top as a ramp and placed it a bit under him and he crawled right into it. I poked some holes in it so he would have air to breathe while I relocated him to a more suitable environment. The I was told there had been 2 little ones crawling around and so we looked and looked but could not find the other one. I suggested they call the animal aide department because with the clothes on some racks touching the floor, it was highly likely that the other had climbed up into a pair of pants or dress. It would not be good if someone were to find a bat between their skin and the material of the clothing they were trying on!I ended up leaving with just the one bat that we found, came home and grabbed my camera so I'd have a picture for my memories, named him Herman and then went to the police department to make sure I would not get in trouble for releasing him into the woods. The answer was no and so I found a nice place for Herman to be set free. I opened the box and he raised his little head up, like he was enjoying the breeze. I got a long stick, placed it a little above him and he grabbed on with his back claws. Then I took him to a tall tree, where he proceeded to climb. That little booger was a pretty fast climber to be so small!As he climbed higher, I smiled and said, you go Herman! I am not sure, but I think he may have turned and smiled back with a little wave. At least that is what I prefer to think. Herman now has a new home in the open where he can fly at night with the other bats I have seen gliding through the air. But I will never forget his cute little teddybear face and how tiny and helpless he seemed until he started climbing that tree.