A Boy Called Bat

The day after Valerie brings home the skunk kit is an “Every-Other Friday,” meaning that Bat and Janie will be picked up by their father from school and stay with him for the weekend. Bat does not like these days, as they make him “uncomfortable, like his skin was on too tight” (36). He asks his mother if he can bring the kit with him, but she refuses. He then pretends he is sick, which is difficult for him because he does not like to lie.

Valerie reminds Bat to stay calm. She warns him that she will entrust the care of the skunk to Laurence, a vet tech from her clinic, if the kit becomes too distracting. Although Bat likes Laurence, he does not want the vet tech taking care of the kit, so he admits that he feels fine. When Valerie drops Bat off at school, she promises to take good care of the baby skunk. Bat gets out of the car and heads into the school, but his mother calls him back, saying that he forgot to kiss her goodbye. He comes back for the kiss, then leaves and walks up the stairs to school.