4. A New Friend (1/2)

a new friend

as ratigan left the theater after rehearsal opening night, he noticed a bat hiding in an alley.

"what's wrong?" ratigan asked kindly.

"i'm going to jail," the bat answered. "got a detective on my case. i'm scared. i've never been arrested before."

"what have you done?"

"accidentally burned down a house. it was a windy day, and i was trying to light a cigarette while i was flying. dropped the match."

ratigan thought a moment. "i believe i can help you."

the bat hugged him. "oh thank you! get me out of this mess, and i'll never smoke again!"

he shrugged. "none of my business if you smoke or not. by the way, i didn't get your name."

"fabian."

"did anyone ever tell you that you've got a bad case of the fidgets, fabian?"

"everyone in my family."

ratigan escorted the bat to the police station.

"may we help you?" a constable asked suspiciously.

"this poor bat has accidentally destroyed someone's home," ratigan began. "it was completely unintentional. he would like to pay for the damage he caused."

the constable frowned. "aren't you that rat who played lord catpulet in tonight's production of romouso and julirat?"

"i am, sir."

"and this bat is a friend of yours?"

ratigan nodded. "please, sir, i'll pay for the harm he's done. he didn't mean it. just please don't send him to jail. he wants to do the right thing, and he's really quite an amiable little fellow."

"you needn't have so many words about it. when a respected member of the community says something was an accident and offers to make it good, it's obvious to me that no one involved had any criminal intentions. that being, i'd wager no crime was committed, and in that case, no arrest is necessary."