Bruce Wayne did not like surprises. He had a very
precise way of living his life: one side of him was a successful business
man who was owner and president of the Wayne Enterprises; his other side
was much, much darker and complex. This side of him was popularly known as
Batman.
Ever since his parents' deaths, he'd had recurring nightmares about that
night. He would dream about saving them, only to have his plan fail or the
dream end before he could help them.
The situation facing Bruce at this moment was very similar to those
nightmares about his parents, but it was far more vivid...
Bruce stared at his surroundings. It was Gotham City of the sixties again.
He was prepared for the dream to proceed. Soon his sights would change like
a movie, and he'd watch them die again.
Oddly enough, the only thing that passed was the time. There was no
change in the scenery. Bruce still stood on the sidewalk of Broad Avenue at
11 a.m.
"Oh my God.", Bruce whispered. He looked down at himself to note that he
was dressed in a suit from the sixties. This had never before happened in
a dream. He had always been a bystander while the events would unfold.
"Move it mister!", shouted a man as he moved past Bruce.
He stepped back against a lamp post and watched people go by. Although
this was definitely different, he thought it still might be one of his
tortured dreams.
He walked down the sidewalk in a daze. None of his dreams had ever been
so real before. Up at the corner of Broad Ave. and Second Street was the
biggest newsstand in the city.
Bruce walked up to the stand to read the headlines. All the papers were
dated October 18, 1963. It was five days before his parents were supposed
to die. He was certain this was not a dream.
Bruce closed his eyes, shutting out everything around him for a moment.
The footsteps behind them...the struggle...the gunshots... It could all be
changed. It would all be changed.
"Hey buddy, are you gonna buy a paper or what?", asked the vendor.
This snapped Bruce from his reverie. "What?", he questioned.
"A paper.", repeated the vendor. "Are you gonna buy one, or are you just
gonna stand there?"
"Sure, I'll buy a paper." He picked up a Gothmam Globe and pulled a five
dollar bill from his wallet. He handed it to the man.
The newspaper vendor stared at the five, and then at Bruce. "Aren't you
gonna buy anything else?"
Not understanding, Bruce said, "No. Why?"
The man gave Bruce a funny look. "You're gonna pay for a Globe with a
five dollar bill.", he stated with disbelief.
"So?", he said.
The vendor cried, "The paper only costs ten cents! Do you want $4.90
change in dimes?!"
Bruce's eyes widened. The paper was only ten cents?! He was thinking of
the price in 1993. It normally would have cost him $1.25! Bruce took back
the five and handed the man a dime. "Sorry.", he mumbled, embarrassed.
"Moron.", the vendor griped.
Bruce walked through the downtown area, peering in the shop windows. He
couldn't be sure, but he thought his mother always went on Mondays to get her
hair done. The most exquisite salon in Gotham, Martha's salon, was ahead on
his left.
As he neared the large glass window of the salon, Bruce slowed his pace.
He mentally crossed his fingers, praying he would get a chance to see her
once more. It would be the last time she would get her hair done if history
repeated itself.
Bruce stopped walking. If this wasn't a dream, he had plenty of time to save his mother! Without even remembering to look in the window, he hurried on. His new destination was the office of Dr. Thomas Wayne, his father.
Bruce's walk to his father's office took nearly twenty minutes due to the
lunch crowd. He stared at the office building for a long time before going
entering. The name, Dr. T. Wayne, was written in gold paint on the glass
door. In 1993, the building had since been demolished to make way for another
shopping mall.
As Bruce forced himself to be calm, he reached out for the door handle. He
failed to notice a man exiting the building at the same time. As fate would
have it, the man leaving the office was Dr. Wayne. He was in a hurry to pick
up his wife for lunch and failed to notice Bruce on the other side of the
door.
Dr. Wayne gave the door a hard push. Bruce, who was unaware of the
oncoming door, was knocked to the ground, receiving a bump on the forehead.
Wayne looked over the man who was sprawled across the sidewalk. "Sir, I'm
so sorry! Let me help you up!", he exclaimed.
Bruce looked into Dr. Wayne's eyes, cried, "Dad?!", and fainted.
