Friendly Skies

I have a bat.  I have had a bat for some time now.  He arrives each night around 6:30pm and kindly leaves in the morning.  I wake up several times each night from the sound of its swoops in and out of my hut, but never see more than its shadow with my book light.  I sweep up its leftovers each morning and with only one incident to mention, we have an understanding... don't EVER dive bomb me again and I will refrain from broom-in-hand attacks/terrified, uncoordinated fits of arm swinging and ducking.  

I had designed a brilliantly complex and elaborate two-part framed screen which I was going to use in deterring it.  I priced out the materials and everything.  However, I began to think that perhaps there was an easier way to "encourage" my flying friend to get the hell out of Dodge.  Inspired by my host mothers' hut, I purchased thin, midnight blue fabric (so as to disguise its presence at night - I wanted the marigold yellow, but thought that might be slightly less than discreet) and sewed a generous hem at each end.  Through the top I strung rope and hung them from the roof beams of my hut over my doors and in the bottom I added metal weights to keep them from moving in the wind... and restraining ill-fated attempts from suicide bomber bats.  

It took me three hours to sew four hems by hand, but it was worth every stitch.  The first night in use my bat arrived on time but got caught up in the fabric.  The jerk made it through the gauntlet, but was so confused, flustered and probably pissy that it immediately found its way out and has not been back since.  So while I am currently here on a quest to break down the  walls of society, maybe it's okay to hang some curtains.

And for those keeping score, that would make the tally:

Senegal: 3829 Me: 4