Bat was not big, and he was not small. 

Some might say Bat wasn’t notable at all.

But Bat didn’t mind being normal. 

He loved his big bat family,

and sang every year at the Swingin’ Bat Formal.

One day, Bat hurt his wing and couldn’t find his way home. 

Bat was cold and scared. He didn’t like being alone. 

For many days and nights, all Bat had to keep him warm was an old sock .

When his wing felt better, he set out to find a new home, feeling thankful he no longer had to walk. 

Bat flew from Virginia to Carolina, first North then South.

After flying so long Bat tired even of the taste of wind in his mouth.

When Bat got to Florida he decided to stay. 

He hoped he could find a home here since he had come such a long way.

Bat glided along and saw something pink!

“I wonder if I my new home is here,” Bat started to think. 

“Hello, I’m Bat” he said with charm. 

“Howdy there, Bat, my name’s Bubba, and yer on the Flamingo Farm.”

“Bubba, what do I have to do to stay?”

“Shoot, it’s easy, Bat. We just stand on one leg all day.”

Bat tried to perch like his pink pals, but his legs were too wobbly and his stance was rather sloppy. 

With a CRASH! BOOM! BANG! Bat fell, finding the flamingo’s form too hard to copy.

As the Sun started rising, Bat wasn’t sure where he was heading. 

He landed near a pond and hoped to scrounge up some bedding. 

It was there that he found a huge black swarm! And it was spreading.

“Hiya friend!” someone from the swarm buzzed in Bat’s ear. 

“We’re mosquitoes. And no matter what you do, we’re always here!”

These bugs seemed friendly enough, but Bat felt funny.

He started licking his lips and getting very hungry.

“Come see our home, we would love you to join us.” said Mr. Mosquito. 

“Sorry I can’t,” Bat fibbed. “I’m expected in Rio.”

After searching a while, Bat stopped at a place that was half sea and half land. 

On the beach is where he saw them,

Sea turtles playing in the sand!

Bat nervously asked, “Can I live with you?”

An old sea turtle smiled and said,

“Why yes! Can you swim? We all do.”

Bat had never heard of this swimming stuff

But he was happy to try.

It sounded easy enough. 

He took a running start and then dove right in.

The water and the waves were so high,

Bat felt like laundry going through an extra spin.

When he reached land again his wings were so floppy and wet that he started to cry. 

With a sniff and snivel he told his green friends goodbye.

Finding a new home was slower than dripping molasses. 

So Bat came to the University of Florida and spoke with an alligator wearing glasses.

“My name is Sir Albert. To stay here you must register for classes.”

“Classes?” asked Bat. “Well I can’t do that, I need a home!”

“All around the dorms you’re most welcome to roam.”

Feeling sad, bat flew to the dorms and saw they were spotted with insects that were orange and black. 

“Hello! We are love bugs. I’m Jessy!"

"And I’m Mac!”

“What do you do?” asked Bat.

“We go anywhere where humans are at!”

“Humans?” said Bat. “I like them a lot. Can I be a love bug too?”

“Of course,” said Jessy. “But since we are love bugs, we like totally live life as two. Do you have a partner with you?”