A Boy Called Bat: Chapters 19–26

“Actually,” Bat said, “skunks aren’t rodents. They’re Mephitidae. People used to think that they belonged in the same family as weasels, ferrets, and badgers, but this scientist named Dr. Jerry Dragoo figured out that—”
“It doesn’t matter, Bat,” Janie said, interrupting him.

While part of Bat’s brain worked with his hand to do the math work, he let another part of his brain think about skunk time....Maybe skunk time would be when everyone in class did research about skunks and wrote reports about skunks and built skunk dioramas.

Even if everything went just right, at the end of the weekend they would be two days closer to Thor leaving them forever. Just thinking about that made Bat feel queasy, like he’d been jumping on a trampoline with a stomach full of pizza.

In the back of the room, Babycakes sat placidly licking a light-pink wheel of salt. Her ears flopped to the sides in relaxation.

They crossed the river on a bridge made just for bicycles and pedestrians before turning onto Third Street.

“Bat doesn’t have friends,” Janie said, but not in a mean voice, just a matter-of-fact voice.

The Sugar Shack was an exceptional candy store.

Her bag was full of a mishmash of candies that didn’t make any sense to Bat.

He went straight to Thor’s enclosure and found the kit tucked in his sleeping corner, surrounded by the rice-filled socks that made a nice padded nook.

Mom emerged from her bedroom, tying the belt of her robe. “Bat?” she said. “You’re up early.”

He looked up and stared at Mom’s face. Her eyes were golden brown with little flecks of green and yellow in them.

“Bat,” Mr. Grayson answered, “sometimes we have to wait. It’s good practice to delay gratification.”

“Try to give Israel the benefit of the doubt, okay? If he says he was being sincere, believe him.”

Bat closed Mr. Grayson’s laptop, absolutely determined to become the very best caretaker that a skunk had ever had.

But she said, “Beautiful Bat, you have become an excellent skunk caretaker. You have been dedicated, and you even found a way to contact a skunk expert! I have to admit, I am impressed. I’ll tell you what: I’m thinking that maybe we won’t call the animal rescue center next week, and we can try having you take care of Thor — with my help — until he’s old enough to release. How does that sound?”