Chapter One:
Then,
At first, I didn't understand why we were always there. It had been merely a few days since my last visit but it had only felt like a few hours. When my mother had first told me that I was going to make a new friend with their son, I found it quite hard to believe. Why would he be any different from the other kids I was forced to befriend.
When the front door opened for the first time, the sight of a very posh looking man in a crisp black suit greeted us.
"Ahhh, Mister and Misses Ashford, Welcome to the Wayne Manor. Please come inside."
Our coats were taken and the warmth comforted my small form. As we were led into the large mansion my eyes wandered around to the strange statues and paintings lining the sides of the hallways. It was not much different to the ones we had at our home however; the unfamiliar colours had drawn in my young four-year-old eyes and captured my attention.
"This way young misses." Their passive butler said as he guided me gently.
In the living room the Waynes greeted us. Thomas Wayne stood conversing loudly with my father in a friendly manner with a posture that conveyed power. His wife, the flawless Martha Wayne was a kind woman who had taken the time to fully greet me before speaking with my mother.
"You must be dear Clara." She said to me. Her tone no different from the soft one my mother used. Nervous with speaking to the beauty for the first time I had just nodded my head in reply. "Would you like to make a new friend Clara?" And I watched as she put her arm around a small being hiding behind her that I had failed to notice, guiding him forward.
Standing in front was a young boy with soft brown hair similar to his mothers. Large brown eyes stared back at me, attempting to determine whether or not I was a threat.
"Hello. My name is Bruce Wayne." He spoke, not once smiling.
How rude of him. Was my mother being serious when she had said that we could be friends? Determined that I was to teach him manners, I stuck my small hand out between us poised for a handshake, rehearsing what I had seen my parents do.
"My name is Clara Ashford and I am four and three quarters old." Proud with my introduction, my lips formed a cheeky grin.
In reply to my greeting Bruce snorted but my grin only grew retaliation.
So this was how friendship started.
Throughout that year we had travelled to the Wayne manor many times and slowly but surely, a friendship began to grow between Bruce and I. A friendship more like a rivalry but it was a friendship nonetheless.
My hair had been pulled by the young Mr Wayne many times and I was often found struggling to come up with a smart comeback towards the older boy. But being my stubborn self I refused to cry or show any form of weakness.
Playing in his backyard had become something we found ourselves doing often. The vast land of trees transformed into different magical lands depending on the moods we were feeling.
One day, in a magical land of dragons and knights, Bruce and I found ourselves in an unsurprising argument.
"Bruce, why do I have to be the dragon again? I was the dragon last time! Its my turn to be the knight!" I yelled at him as we wrestled over the blunt wooden sword. Both of us rolled around in the dirt as we tried to gain an advantage over each other.
"Clarie! Its mine therefore I am the knight!" He retaliated. "Mine!"
The wrestling did not stop at that, if anything, the aggression had increased. The poor sword was put under strain as we struggle more and more. And then all of a sudden, without any warnings, the wooden sword put under pressure snapped in half. Along with different broken pieces, our bodies were sent in opposite directions. Each of us landed in a dishevelled heap, a tangle of limbs.
"Ummph!" We both cried.
At that a silence fell upon backyard, which had been in uproar with enraged knights. I felt a throbbing pain in my back when I had sat up and I stared at the boy in a similar position. The expression on his face matched mine perfectly. We were both shocked.
Our widened eyes slowly transformed, expressing joy. Realising how ridiculous the situation we were in had been, Bruce began to chuckle. I gradually began to follow and soon both of us rolled around in the dirt laughing uncontrollably. My breath recovered faster and I stood up dusting off the loose dirt on my contaminated summer dress. My face was bright with a genuine grin as I gazed down at my filthy ally on the ground and I reached out a hand, offering some help up. He reached out and grasped by hand tightly. Using my body weight to aid my little strength, I pulled Bruce Wayne off the ground picking him up where he had fallen.