Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6 The next morning, Abbi and her friends were gathered around the elevator on the first floor. Some mechanics had arrived to repair it! But more importantly, Park Ranger Woo had arrived, too. "You're sure there's a bat in here? How did you figure it out?" she asked Wallis. "Oh, I didn't," Wallis answered. She took a bite of the buttered croissant she was holding. "My brilliant daughter did." Abbi smiled softly and blushed. "It was pretty obvious once Barkley led us to the elevator. A bat call would bounce all over the

walls in an elevator shaft. Of course it would sound weird on the app! I should've realized sooner." Daniel knelt down next to Barkley and petted his head. The dog snuggled into him. "Abbi and Barkley are quite a team." "We're all a team!" Abbi protested. Lydia nodded. "What will happen to the bat?" she asked.

"If there really is a bat in there—" Park Ranger Woo said. "There is," Abbi said. The woman continued, "We'll find it a new home." One of the elevator mechanics dropped a tool, and everyone jumped at the loud clank on the floor. The sound bounced way up to the rafters. Abbi hoped it didn't scare the bat inside. Daniel wandered closer to watch how the elevator mechanics would get the door open without power. "There are bats that live near the lake," Abbi said. "Can you release it there?" The ranger folded her arms and leaned against the wall. "That's probably where the bat

came from, which means its habitat likely isn't safe anymore." Lydia said, "What? Why not?" Park Ranger Woo sighed—a long, sad sound. "There's a fungal disease called white- nose syndrome, which bats can get. It's been infecting a lot of colonies around here. Once it spreads in an area, sometimes the healthy bats will leave the group and try to find shelter on their own. Like in an attic or—" "Or an elevator shaft," Abbi said. The woman nodded.

Wallis put her hand to her chest. "Oh, that's awful. The poor thing. All alone, nowhere safe to go. Separated from all its friends." Abbi thought about the night before. She'd been all alone, too. Separated from her friends while they went on this big adventure. And in her own home! Even when the elevator was working, it was kind of scary to use. "I think I know how the bat feels," she said. She hadn't meant to say it out loud! But Wallis and Lydia both heard her. "What do you mean, sweetheart?" Wallis asked. Abbi could have lied. She could have said she was joking or made up some other answer. But instead, she took a deep breath and said, "Sometimes I wish I didn't have to worry about the elevator breaking so much. It would be nice if I didn't have to be stuck on the first floor." Lydia put a gentle hand on Abbi's shoulder.

Wallis looked shocked for a moment. But then she said, "You're absolutely right. We should have replaced this old thing ages ago. I'm sorry I didn't think of it myself. Once we get this bat moved somewhere safe, we'll work on finding a new elevator! State-of-the-art!" Abbi sat up straight. "Really, Mom?" She couldn't believe it!