14-05-2025
Why the bat flies at night
Once upon a time in the forest of South Sudan, there lived a bush rat (Karoo). Karoo was a very good friend to the bat (Emiong).
Karoo and Emiong always lived together and ate together. They mostly ate a bowl of nice soup every night. Emiong was a bit of a prankster. He was also a bit jealous of the bush rat's long tail. Emiong was waiting for a chance to play a trick on Karoo.
One day, while having lunch Karoo mentioned that Emiong's soup was the best he had ever tasted. He asked Emiong, 'Why is your soup so yummy?' Emiong replied, 'There is a secret ingredient. Come home in the evening and I will show you.'
That evening when Karoo went to Emiong's house, Emiong readily told him that the secret ingredient in his soup was that he himself would jump into the soup when it was boiling for two seconds and then jump out. To make the bush rat believe him, Emiong jumped into a soup pot for two seconds and jumped back. What Karoo did not realise was that the water was cold.
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Now, Karoo really wanted his soup also to be as tasty as Emiong's. He brought his soup to boil. Karoo was also a cautious bush rat, he decided to test the waters a bit before he jumped right in. He put his right paw into the soup. His paw got burnt a lot. He took out his paw immediately.
Karoo was very angry. He bandaged his injured paw and went straight to Samba (the lion). Samba, being the king of the forest, his job was to deliver justice. When Samba heard what had happened, he got angry and said the bat had to be imprisoned.
Emiong realised that he had made a mistake, but he liked his freedom and so he and his family decided to hide in the bushes. He only came out during the night when no one was around. This is why the bat flies at night.
Fighting Words is working with World Vision Ireland to support creative writing activities with children in Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This long-term partnership – funded by Irish Aid – is part of a broader five-year programme that World Vision is leading to empower and protect children and women. These creative education opportunities can strengthen children's resiliency, build their confidence and contribute to the bigger objective of protecting children from violence.
