A Boy Called Bat

On Sunday night at Dad’s, Janie lets Bat braid her hair while Dad is watching a baseball game. Bat brushes Janie’s hair how she taught him to, and checks that the braids are neat and even. He likes braiding her hair because it feels good in his hands and makes him feel close to his sister. Janie compliments Bat’s work, while Dad, absorbed in his game, cheers. Bat realizes that “maybe Every-Other Weekends could be okay” (154).

Bat wakes up at home. It is dark, and Janie and Valerie are still sleeping. Bat gets up, checks on Thor, and feeds him. Bat works in the dark instead of risking startling the baby skunk by turning on a lamp. When the sun comes up, Bat sees that Thor’s eyes have finally opened. He greets the kit, and the kit pauses for a moment while eating, and Bat takes this as a sign that Thor has heard and potentially understood him.

Valerie comes into the room, and Bat shows her Thor’s open eyes. Bat thinks Thor’s eyes are beautiful, and Valerie says this is the first time she has heard Bat talk about eyes.