The Epic Battle of the 'Washing Bats'

Friends, here is a new children's story with a twist at the end. Regards, Debanjan

Nine-year-old Mintu was busy doing two things simultaneously. On one hand, he was sucking a strawberry lollipop, a leftover from yesterday, with all his might. On the other hand, he was reading the timeless tale of ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood,’ borrowed from the school library.

As he read this thrilling story, his mind was transported to Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, where Robin Hood was just...

Oh, no!

Before he could discover what remarkable things Robin Hood was about to perform, someone pulled his hair from behind. Turning his head quickly in anger, he witnessed the giggling figure of his five-year-old younger brother running away as fast as his small feet could carry him. Mintu smiled. Then, brushing aside his momentary annoyance, he went back to his super-interesting tale.

Uff! What an engaging story! And how well did Robin hand out justice to that wicked Sheriff! He had to share this book with his bosom friend, Bittu, next door. He was sure that Bittu, too, would side with Robin Hood, just as he had done.

Alas! Things turned out differently from his expectations. To Mintu’s anger, his friend took the side of the wicked Sheriff. In Bittu’s opinion, Robin Hood had no business robbing the lawful Sheriff, as he saw it. Soon, the difference of opinion grew so great that the two friends became almost sworn enemies.

In the heat of enmity, Mintu, the modern Robin Hood, decided to challenge Bittu, the modern Sheriff, to a duel, just like the knights of the Middle Ages. In the absence of a sword, they decided to use the next lethal weapon available: the washing bats of their mother’s laundry baskets!

The date of the duel was set for 6 p.m. on the next Sunday evening, just after sunset. The venue was the big mango tree in the orchard on the outskirts of town. At that hour, the orchard was likely to be completely deserted.

The brave knights, in full battle gear, assembled with their weapons in hand. The modern Robin Hood was in an especially vengeful mood as he sought to wipe out the modern representative of wickedness standing before him, who was currently leering at him with his tongue sticking out.

So, with a full battle cry, the two warriors faced each other and were about to launch the fearsome “Battle of the Washing Bats,” an event that would take its place in history in the days to come.

But what was this?

Whoosh! Someone had emptied a bottle of ice-cold water all over the head of the modern Robin Hood. Oh, it was the ever-mischievous Rintu. Having overheard his brother’s plans, the impish youngster had devised his own scheme to cool his brother's hot temper in his own way.

So, here was the handy bottle from the fridge, and here was Rintu, having hidden himself in the mango tree for the last half hour. Thus came the heated “Battle of the Washing Bats” to a chilly ending even before it began! How fortunate the real Robin Hood was that he never had to face the brunt of such novel weapons in his lifetime!
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