Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there was a war between the Birds and the Animals. Sometimes the Birds would win the war, and sometimes the animals would win.
The bat hung upside down in a tree and watched. “When the Birds win,” said Bat, “I want to belong to the Birds, but if the Animals win, I want to belong to the Animals.”
At last, Bat made up his mind. The Birds were winning. He flew over to the Birds and said, “Tell your Chief that I want to join the Birds.” The Chief of the Birds came and looked at Bat. “You are not a Bird,” said the Chief. “You cannot join the Birds. Go back to the Animals.” “Don’t you see that I have wings?” said Bat. “I can fly.” And Bat flew around with the Birds to show that he could fly. “All right,” said the Chief of the Birds. “You can fly so well that I will let you fight with us.”
The war between the Birds and the Animals went on and on. Sometimes the Birds won. And sometimes the Animals won. But one day, the Animals won the war. The Birds flew away. The bat hung upside down in a tree and he said to himself, “The Animals have won the war. I do not want to be a Bird any more. Now I want to belong to the Animals.”
One day Bat went to the Chief of the Animals and said, “Chief of the Animals,” said Bat. “I have come to join the Animals.” “You are not an Animal,” said the Chief. “You have wings. I saw you fighting with the Birds. You are a Bird.” “No,” said Bat. “I am not a bird.” “The Animals have won the war,” said the Chief. “Now you want to come and find out what the Animals are doing and go and tell the Birds. The Animals shall kill you. ” “No, No,” said Bat. “I am an Animal. See my teeth. And I am covered with fur.” “We do not want you for you have wings like a bird,” said the Chief of the Animals.
Bat was very sad. The Animals did not want him, and the Birds would not have him anymore, because he left them when they lost the war. Bat went into his house. He stayed there a long time. Now he never comes out of his house in the daytime. The bat only flies at night when the Birds are asleep and the Animals cannot see him. (Photo: Pixabay) – (Folktale from West Africa)
