Creature or Wild? Yeah, We Got That.

Each week, Josie does a creative writing activity in which she gives her readers two prompts, and we can choose either one to inspire a post.  This week's words are creature or wild.  I'm going to choose both of them!

I have loved writing tests ever since I took a class on it in college.  It's one of the things I really miss about teaching.  My kids don't really appreciate written tests on healthy eating, so my test writing skills have gone unused for the better part of 15 years.   Until recently.  Clark has been putting together a "personality test" and has asked us readers to help him with some scenarios.  I have been all over it.  As I go through my days, I keep thinking, "Oh, that would be a good scenario for Clark!"  I haven't passed all of my great ideas along, mostly because I don't want to seem off my rocker, but they are in my head all the same.

This weekend, a few scenarios presented themselves.

Scenario A:

Long after the kids have gone to bed, it is discovered that a bat is flying around the room where 4 of the kids are sleeping (or almost sleeping).    If you are one of the kids in the room with the bat, which of the following describes your reaction?

(I am not even close to good enough to come up with official Doctrine "answers", but I have some of my own based on actual events.) 

1.  Run screaming from the room, hysterically crying that you may have possibly been bitten and need immediate medical attention.
2.  Calmly leave the room to find an adult to handle the situation.
3.  Stay under the covers, knowing someone else will do something to get rid of the bat.
4.  The next morning, when everyone is talking about it, realize you slept through the entire thing.

Scenario A, part 2

If you are one of the adults in the house, which of the following describes your reaction?

1.  Run screaming from the house, hysterically crying that you may have possibly been bitten and need immediate medical attention.
2.  Sigh, then retrieve the butterfly net which has, in previous bat scenarios, been repurposed as the batnet.  You may get the net, but you do not make any move to enter the room where the bat is flying.
3.  Look at the net-holder, roll eyes in derision, grab the net, go in the room, catch the bat, then release it out the front door.

I was very proud of my kids.  Not one of them panicked or screamed, even though all four big kids were in the room with a bat flying and swooping at a pretty good clip around the room.

(FYI, Phoenix is the one who stayed in bed, and Giant remained asleep until after it was over.  Buttercup and Star were the ones who left the room to get us.)

I was less proud of my husband and mother-in-law.  Our answers to the above scenario?

MIL:  1*
COW: 2

Guess which one described my reaction?

Scenario B:

At a large gathering with good friends from church/school, it is discovered that a bat which has taken up residence on a tree in the front yard (assumed to be the bat which was caught and released the night before).  What is your reaction?

1.  Run screaming from the yard, hysterically crying that you may have possibly been bitten and need immediate medical attention.
2.  Pretend the bat isn't there and set your chair up under the tree, because the space under that tree is the best on the property, and you aren't going to give it up.
3.  Go investigate the bat, having a closeish look.  You want to get a good look, but from a safe distance.  You aren't crazy.
4.  Get tired of having a bat hanging around, and right about when other bats are coming out from their normal slumber, grab the bat with your bare hands, carry it away, and release it into a nearby field.

Clinging on for dear life.

Yes, is was LOW on the tree trunk.

I have to say, I was very disappointed to not have a single person run screaming.  It would have been so funny to watch.

A couple of people just set up their chairs, but did give the bat furtive looks every so often.

Most people at the party had a bit of a look at it, then paid it no mind.

No, I did not grab the bat!  While a bat doesn't scare me, I am not about to go all Turtleman on it, thank you very much.  One guest did, though, and I was thiiiiis close to seeing some people run screaming.  Lots of jumping and people yelling, "Are you crazy?!?!?" but no screaming and running.

I have no idea what your answers say about you, but I'd love to hear what they are anyway!

We think we have found where the bats got in the house and have sealed it up.  Cross your fingers we won't have any more wild creatures visiting us again any time soon.

*May be a bit of an exaggeration.  She didn't exactly run screaming from the house, but she was panicked.  Jumping around, yelling at us to get it out of the house.  I think she slept with one eye open that night, if she slept at all.

Have a lovely day!