The Bat's Midnight Post

The Bat's Midnight Post - Author : Ebru Mina TOMURCUK

When the sun sinks below the hills, the forest yawns and stretches. That is when Pip the bat wakes up. She is very small, with soft charcoal-grey fur, round velvet ears, and huge amber eyes that shine in the dark. Her tiny scalloped wings have a faint blue sheen. She grabs her mustard-yellow satchel with the brass buckle and smiles. "Time to deliver the midnight post!" she squeaks. 1

Pip flies through the dark sky, her satchel full of letters. She swoops between trees and over sleepy ponds. Owls blink, mice peek out, and fireflies light her way. Every letter in her bag has a name: "For Olive," "For Rusty," "For Hazel." She knows exactly where each one goes. Delivering letters makes Pip feel warm inside, even on the chilliest night. 2

At the midnight hour, Pip lands on the old oak stump where the night post waits. She sorts through the letters with her tiny paws. One envelope is different. It has no name, no address, just a small pressed flower in the corner. Pip's amber eyes grow wide. "Who is this for?" she whispers. She must find the owner, but how? 3

Pip tucks the mysterious letter into her satchel and flies to Olive the owl's tree. Olive is tall and round, with tawny feathers and big golden eyes behind small spectacles. Her moss-green shawl is cozy. "Olive," Pip says, "can you help me read this?" Olive peers at the handwriting. "The letters are looped and neat," she hoots. "This looks like Hazel's writing. She loves pressed flowers." 4

Pip thanks Olive and flutters off. But she needs to be sure. She spots Rusty the fox trotting below, his red neckerchief bright and his tiny lantern swinging. "Rusty!" she calls. "Can you sniff this letter?" Rusty wags his white-tipped tail. He sniffs the envelope with his sharp nose. "It smells like berries and lilac," he says. "Hazel's scarf is lilac! Follow me!" 5

Rusty leads Pip through the winding woods, his lantern glowing. They pass ferns and mushrooms and a burbling stream. Pip's wings tire, but she keeps flying. "Almost there!" Rusty barks. "Hazel lives near the berry patch." Pip feels a flutter of hope. The letter might find its home after all. 6

They reach the berry patch, but Hazel is not there. Rusty sniffs around. "She might be at the pond," he says. "She likes to watch the moon." Pip's ears twitch. "Let's go!" They hurry along the path, the letter safe in Pip's satchel. The night is quiet, and the stars blink kindly. 7

At the pond, they find Hazel the hedgehog. She is tiny and round, with soft brown spines and a lilac scarf. Her berry basket sits beside her. "Hazel!" Pip calls. Hazel looks up, shy. "Did you lose a letter?" Pip asks. Hazel's small dark eyes widen. "Oh! I was writing to my grandma, but I forgot to put her name on it!" 8

Pip shows the letter with the pressed flower. Hazel nods. "That's mine! The flower is from my garden." She sighs. "But I don't know how to find my grandma's burrow. It's far away." Pip smiles. "Don't worry. We'll deliver it together." Rusty nods. "I'll lead the way!" They set off, a team of friends. 9

The path to Grandma's burrow is long and dark. Rusty's lantern flickers, and Pip's wings feel heavy. But they keep going. Hazel holds the letter close. "Thank you for helping me," she whispers. Pip says, "That's what friends do." They pass tall grass and sleepy flowers. At last, Rusty stops. "There! The burrow with the mossy door." 10

Pip knocks gently on the mossy door. An old hedgehog opens it, her eyes kind. "A letter for me?" she asks. Hazel steps forward. "I forgot your name, Grandma. But Pip found it!" Grandma hugs Hazel. "What a thoughtful letter!" She reads it aloud, and everyone smiles. Pip's heart feels full. The midnight post had never felt so special. 11

On the way back, Pip's friends cheer. "You did it!" says Olive, who flew over to join them. Rusty barks, and Hazel giggles. Pip's tiny scalloped wings flutter with joy. She learns that being reliable and helping others keeps friends close. Every sunset, she is ready to carry messages again, because she knows how much a letter can mean. 12

Back at the old oak stump, Pip sorts her satchel for the next night. She thinks about the unsigned letter and smiles. With kindness and clever thinking, she found the owner and delivered it safely. Her friends wave goodnight. "See you tomorrow!" they call. Pip squeaks, "I'll be ready!" The stars twinkle above, and the forest settles down. 13

Pip flies home to her cozy cave. She hangs her satchel on a tiny hook. Before she sleeps, she thinks of all the letters she will deliver. Each one carries a message, a smile, a piece of someone's heart. Being a midnight messenger is the best job in the world. She closes her amber eyes and dreams of wings and words. 14

The next evening, Pip wakes up as the sun sets. She stretches her scalloped wings and grabs her satchel. Outside, Olive, Rusty, and Hazel wait to say hello. "Any letters for us?" asks Rusty. Pip laughs. "Maybe!" She knows that every letter she delivers brings friends closer. And that is the greatest delivery of all.