23-A BAT!

A BAT! "A BAT!" I squeaked. I flung my paws in the air. I guess that scared the bat. He got his claws tangled up in my fur. He seemed FROZEN with fear. I could feel his whole body trembling. I was trembling, too. "Listen, just let go and we'll both be happy," I coaxed the bat. Instead, it hung on for dear life. I groaned. This is what I got for not taking Bat as a second language in school. No, I had taken Teddy Bear Hamster instead. And of course I never used it. How many Teddy Bear Hamsters do you know? Benjamin's small voice cut into my thoughts. "Hang on, Uncle Geronimo. I'll help you!" he cried.

In a flash, he untangled the bat from my fur. I was so relieved, I almost fainted. Thea slapped me on the side of my snout. "Don't faint, Gerry Berry!" she commanded. Trap was right behind her. "Don't faint, Germeister!" he agreed, slapping the other side of my snout. Bouncer threw a pail of FREEZING water on my snout. "Don't faint, Mousey Mouse!" he bellowed. I shook my head. "Enough!" I screamed. "I FEEL FINE!" At that instant, a stalactite hit me on the head like a bullet. I was out cold before I even hit the ground.