Jeremy was a bright young boy who knew many things. He knew all the important stuff like how to put a baseball card against his bike's spokes to make a clicky-click sound. He knew how to hop a chain link fence without ripping his trousers or hands. And he could even bowl a strike when he wanted to. But Jeremy had never known love

On day, while riding his bicycle with a baseball card against his spokes, Jeremy saw a little baby bat caught in a big bad bat trap.

"Help me!," said the little baby bat, "Help me because I have to get back to my big bat brother who loves me or he'll beat and bash by bitty batty brains to bits."

"Is this love?" thought Jeremy as as peddled by.

Next Jeremy saw a handsome duck with clear dark eyes that never seemed to blink floating in a pond surrounded by an admiring herd of quacking ducks. Just as Jeremy was to numbly hop the chain link fence to ask the handsome duck what love was, Jeremy saw dozens of overweight men in rubber boots raise their shotguns. A little while later, the pond was still and most of the ducks were dead, except for the handsome duck with the clear dark eyes that did not blink

"Is this what love brings you?" wondered Jeremy as he peddled away

Finally Jeremy saw a bowling ball by the road. Jeremy had never seen seen anything so perfect and round and shiny in his life. And Jeremy knew that he was in love.

"Oh Bright and Shiny and Round Bowling Ball, I love you," cried Jeremy, "live with me forever."

"I love you too, Jeremy," said the bowling ball, "But you should know that I am flawed. I have five holes in my side. You must accept me as I am."

Wordlessly Jeremy picked up the bowling ball and carried it home where he filled the holes with play-dough which caused the bowling ball to suffocate and die.

And Jeremy never went bowling again.

The end