Old Mother Nature smiled.
"Seeing him isn't knowing him," said she. "Who is there who knows
anything about him and his ways save that he flies at night and
catches insects in the air?"
She waited a minute or two, but no one spoke. The fact is there
was not one who really knew anything about Flitter. "It is one of
the strange things of life," said she, "that people often know
nothing about the neighbors whom they see every day. But in this
case it is not to be wondered at. I suspect none of you has seen
Flitter, excepting in the air, and then he moves so rapidly that
there is no chance to get a good look at him. I think this is
just the time and place for you to really make the acquaintance
of Flitter the Red Bat."
She stepped over to a bush and parted the leaves. Hanging from
a twig was what appeared at first glance to be a rumpled, reddish-
brown dead leaf. She touched it lightly. At once it came to life,
stirring uneasily. A thin, squeaky voice peevishly demanded to
know what was wanted.
"You have some callers, a few of your friends who want to get
really acquainted with you. Suppose you wake up for a few minutes,"
explained Old Mother Nature pleasantly.
Flitter, for that is just who it was, yawned once or twice sleepily,
shook himself, then grinned down at the wondering faces of his
friends crowded about just under him.
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