Chapter 1: Gotham City, 1959
It was in the summer of 1959 that Charlotte Bickle received a phone call from her older brother, William, who said he was flying out from the Midwest with his family to visit her for a week. Charlotte was an unmarried, middle class woman who had no children, but she did have money. She worked a high-paying job and devoted half of her time as a volunteer at Gotham City Foster Center.
Once a month, Charlotte donated money, clothing, and school supplies to the foster center, where she read stories to children and helped them with their homework. She was a very generous woman and loved helping children during a difficult time in their life when they needed kindness and encouragement, for it was a great way for her to give back to those less fortunate than herself.
William was a middle-aged, conservative man, with slicked back dark hair and a charming smile. His wife, Marie, was a beautiful, kind, and caring woman. She was a devout mother and wife, with golden blonde hair and piercing blue eyes that sparkled with life and love. They had only one child, an eight-year-old son named Travis. He was a cute boy, but very quiet and often considered himself a loner. He had dark hair and brown eyes just like his father, and a small mole on his right cheek. Before they arrived at the apartment, Travis' father reminded him to be on his best behavior while they were staying with Aunt Charlotte. Travis felt nervous about meeting his aunt, but his mother reassured him she was very nice. He met his aunt one time when he was a toddler, but couldn't quite remember her.
When the Bickle family arrived at her door on Monday morning, Charlotte greeted them and invited them into her apartment, then hugged her big brother and told him how much she missed him.
"Oh, it's so good to see you again, Billy."
"It's been a long time, sis."
William released Charlotte, who then looked to Marie. The two women hugged each other, then Marie gave Charlotte a kiss on her cheek.
"It's nice to see you again, Charlotte. How are things at the foster center?"
"Great. All the kids are doing well with their education. Oh, and we just had a new boy come in last week from-" Charlotte broke off her sentence as she noticed a third presence standing in the living room. Travis stared at his aunt with shyness and admiration. She had dark brown hair and blue-green eyes. Her face was fair and warm. She seemed like a nice person, but Travis still didn't know her well enough to know the difference.
Charlotte looked at the boy's parents and smiled softly. "I'll explain it to you later." She turned to the eight-year-old and went over to him. "You must be Travis, huh?"
"Yes, ma'am", said Travis, politely.
"Well, don't just stand there, son", said William. "Give your Aunt Charlotte a hug."
"That's right, Travis. I won't bite." Charlotte opened her arms to him and said, "Come here and give me a hug."
Travis gave her a small smile and stepped forward, wrapping his arms around his aunt and allowing her to hug him into a tight embrace. He could tell right away that this was going to be a summer he would never forget.
For the next three days, Charlotte spent time with William's family and got to know her nephew better. Travis told her about his interests and things he wanted to do when he got older. He even said he wanted to join the Marines as soon as he was old enough and follow in his father's footsteps. Travis liked spending time with his family and getting to know more about his aunt, but wished he had another kid to talk to, especially a brother.
On Thursday morning, Charlotte received another phone call, this time from the foster center. They were short-staffed and told her she needed to be there to help out for the day. Charlotte hated to spoil her family's vacation time, but William and Maire offered to accompany her and help volunteer for the day, saying it was the least they could do.
"How about it, Travis?" His mother asked him. "Would you like to see where your auntie works?"
"Is it gonna be boring?" Travis questioned.
"No, honey, it's not gonna be boring at all", said Charlotte. "In fact, I work with a lot of kids around the same age as you, and I know they'd be very happy to see you there. We have a playground with a garden, and there's rooms filled with lots of games and activities for you to do. It could be a lot of fun. Would you like that?"
Travis thought it over a minute and said, "Okay."
When they arrived at the foster center, Charlotte showed her family around the building, then came to a room where several kids were sitting at tables doing math homework. There was another volunteer, a younger woman, in there with them if they needed help or got stuck on a question.
"Charlotte, if it's all right with you, I'd be happy to help out some of the children with their homework", Marie offered.
"That would be wonderful", said Charlotte.
Travis was bored already and asked his father, "Dad, can I go walk around, please?"
"All right, just don't wonder off too far", said William.
"I won't."
Travis walked out and went down the hall to check out some of the other rooms. In one, there were about twenty kids playing with toys or playing boardgames. Several of them were reading books. Travis didn't seem interested in playing with any of the children and continued down the hall. He went up a flight of stairs and came to a room with a couple of beds, seeing one of them was vacant. There was a boy around the same age as him lying down on his side, his back facing him. Travis didn't know if he was asleep or not, but went over to make sure he was all right.
"Hey, you awake?"
The boy turned over and sat up at once, staring at Travis with wide green eyes. His longish brown hair barely touched his shoulders and his clothes looked too big on him. There was a scar over the left side of his upper lip.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. My name's Travis. I'm here visiting with my aunt and my parents. You mind if I sit down with you?"
The boy didn't answer, but lowered his gaze and hugged his arms around himself. He shrugged his shoulders. Travis took that as a yes and sat down on the bed. They both sat there in silence for a minute.
Travis looked at the boy and asked him, "What's your name?"
The boy blinked and looked at him. "My name is Arthur", he said at last. His voice was soft and filled with sadness.
"What are you doing in here instead of playing with the other kids? You sick?"
"No. The other kids didn't want me to play with them, so I came in here to lay down for a while."
"Why didn't they want to play with you?"
"They don't like me. They call me a freak because of my laughing."
Travis blinked, looking confused. "What laughing?"
Arthur's gaze dropped again, as he turned his head away from Travis. "Well, it's kind of hard for me to explain, but I know you probably don't wanna hear about it."
Travis shrugged and asked him, "Why not? I got nothin' else better to do. Tell me."
Arthur looked at Travis again, surprised to hear him sound so interested in talking to him. Normally, any other kid would just get up and walk away, but Travis was genuinely intrigued and curious enough to listen.
"Well, ever since I was little, my mother told me I was born with a laughing condition. It happens to me for no reason at all, unless I get upset about something. She said I was born with it for a purpose, that I was brought into this world to spread joy and laugher, and make people happy. I know that doesn't make any sense, but that's how she explained it to me."
"Where is your mother, Arthur?"
Arthur shrugged. "I don't know. The adults just told me she was sick and that she couldn't take care of me for a while. And since I don't have any other family members to look after me, they had to place me in here."
Travis nodded, letting Arthur know he understood. His eyes shifted downward as he noticed Arthur was picking at a scab just above the Band-Aid on his right arm. "Did you fall down and hurt yourself?" Travis asked him.
Arthur shook his head. "One of the older kids pushed me yesterday. I fell and cut my arm on a rock. I told the adults what happened, but the kid who pushed me said he didn't do anything. He didn't even apologize or get punished."
"Didn't the other kids see what happened?"
"Yeah, but they all took his side against mine."
"That's not fair!" Travis shouted, standing up.
Arthur flinched at the sound of Travis yelling. His body tensed up and he kept his head down.
"What's not fair?" Asked a female voice.
Travis turned around and discovered it was his mother who spoke. Aunt Charlotte was standing next to her. Arthur lifted his head and saw the two women standing in the doorway.
"Mom, some kid pushed Arthur on the ground yesterday and didn't apologize to him. The kid who hurt him didn't even get punished or nothing for what he did."
"Actually, I had a talk with Jared a little while ago and took care of it", said Charlotte. "Anyway, you don't have to worry about him for very much longer, Arthur. He's going to a new home here soon and you won't ever have to see him again."
Arthur gave her a small smile and said, "Thank you, Miss Bickle."
"Hey, Aunt Charlotte? I was hoping I could go outside and play with Arthur for a while on the playground. Is that all right?"
"Well, actually, we were just coming to get you boys for lunch", said Charlotte."You two can play with each other at recess afterwards. Arthur, would you like to sit by me and Travis at lunch today?"
Arthur locked eyes with Travis, his wide, bright green orbs lit up with hope. "Really?"
Travis nodded. "Sure. Why not?"
"Would you like that, Arthur?" Marie asked him.
Arthur looked at her and answered, "I'd love to."
Right after lunch, Travis spend the next half hour playing with Arthur outside. They played a little basketball, even though neither one of them was any good. They pushed each other on the swings and were even allowed to participate in a game of tag with the other children. For once, they treated Arthur like he was a normal kid. Travis didn't understand why the other kids saw Arthur as a freak. To him, he was perfectly normal.
The boys spent the rest of the day doing various activities together. Around five o'clock, William found Travis and Arthur in a room playing a card game and told his son it was time for them to go home.
"I'm sorry I have to leave, Arthur", said Travis.
"So am I", said Arthur. "I wish you could stay."
"Well, maybe I could come by tomorrow or something. I'm staying with my aunt for the week, you know." Travis looked at his father and asked, "Can I come back and see Arthur tomorrow, Dad?"
"If it's all right with your aunt, it's okay with me."
"Sweet", Travis exclaimed.
"Does this mean I get to see you tomorrow?" Arthur asked him.
"Definitely", Travis promised. "See you tomorrow, Arthur."
"See you tomorrow, Travis."
Arthur didn't sleep much that night, as he thought about all the fun he had with Travis. He thought of him as his first real friend and that things were finally starting to go right for him.
The next day, Travis went back with Aunt Charlotte to the foster center. His parents went sight-seeing around the city. Travis went to look in the room where he first saw Arthur, but he wasn't there. He went to look for him on the playground and found Arthur sitting on a bench near the garden. He was hunched over, holding his arms around himself. He sounded like he was crying.
Travis ran over to Arthur immediately and asked him, "Hey, what's wrong?"
Arthur lifted his head and stood up at once, wiping away the tears in his eyes. "You...You came back."
"Of course I came back. What were you crying about?"
"I wasn't crying."
"Arthur, it's okay if you cry. I cry all the time myself. What happened? Did another kid hurt you again?"
Arthur shook his head.
"Then what is it?"
Arthur tightened his lips and placed a hand over his mouth, turning away from Travis just as he started laughing out loud for apparently no reason. Travis watched in confusion, as Arthur turned back to face him and lowered his hand to speak. "I'm sorry, ha ha...I have a...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha-" Arthur covered his mouth with both his arms to try and silence his laughing fit, his face turning beet red. Travis didn't know what to do.
"Arthur, take it easy. What's so funny?"
Arthur didn't answer him. He lowered his arms and put a hand to his throat. He choked down on his laughter, then sniffled and let out a soft chuckle, more tears spilled from his sad green eyes. He looked like he was in pain.
"Arthur, are you okay?" Travis asked him.
"I am now", Arthur whispered. He walked away and went over to sit down under a tree. Travis came over and sat down next to Arthur, asking him again what happened. "I started laughing because I was getting upset. A girl two years younger than me came over and told me you weren't coming because you didn't like me. I told her she was lying and that you were coming because you were my friend, but the girl said I didn't have any friends because nobody likes me. You only wanted to be nice to me just for show."
"Well, she's wrong, Arthur", said Travis, defiantly. "I did come back to see you and I am your friend. If you ask me, I think you're my best friend."
Arthur looked at Travis again, a single tear falling down his right cheek. "You really mean that, Travis?"
"I do." Travis wrapped his right arm around Arthur's shoulder and told him, "I'm here now, Arthur. We can do whatever you want to do."
"I don't feel like doing much. Couldn't we just sit here for a while?"
"Sure. Like I said, whatever you want to do. If you wanna play a game, we'll play a game. If you wanna just sit here and talk, we can sit here and talk."
Arthur looked away from Travis and hugged his arms around his knees, resting his chin on top of them. "I'm not much of a talker. Actually, I'm supposed to be going to a foster family soon."
Travis blinked. "When?"
Arthur shrugged. "I don't know. Tomorrow, maybe."
"Well, I'm glad I came back then. Otherwise I might not ever be able to see you again. My parents and I are leaving tomorrow morning."
Arthur returned his gaze to meet with Travis'. "Does this mean we won't be friends anymore?"
Travis felt his heart drop at the mention of that. He looked forward and answered, "I don't know. We might not ever see each other again, but I don't think that means we can't be friends from far away." Travis looked at Arthur again and explained to him, "Here's how I look at it: even if we don't see each other again in the future, we still have one last day to play together, right? Let's just try and make the best of it and not be sad about it. Okay?"
Arthur nodded. "They're supposed to show us a movie today at three o'clock. You want to watch it with me?"
"Of course I will."
Later on, Arthur and Travis went inside and played a game of chess. Arthur didn't really know how to play, but Travis taught him a couple of moves. They sat next to each other at lunch again and went into a room with four lines of chairs when it came time to watch a Charlie Chaplin movie on TV. Travis found it kind of boring, but Arthur loved it, especially the part where the Tramp started making bread rolls dance with a couple of forks.
The next morning, the Bickles went back to the foster center one last time so Travis could say farewell to Arthur. It was a very lucky thing that they did, as Arthur was getting ready to leave to a new home with his foster family in less than an hour. Travis was sad to say goodbye to Arthur, but his mother suggested they get a picture to remember their time together. They boys stood side by side under a tree and Travis' mother snapped a photograph of them. Travis talked with Arthur for a little bit until his father said it was time to leave, otherwise they would miss their flight.
Travis looked at Arthur, who almost broke out into tears, but choked back on them and wrapped his arms around his best friend, the first person to ever show him any kindness or friendship.
"I'll miss you, Arthur", Travis whispered into his ear.
"I hope we see each other again one day", said Arthur.
"So do I."
With a final tight squeeze, Travis released Arthur and shook his hand. He said goodbye, then turned and let his fingers slip from their handshake, leaving Arthur with a feeling of devastation. Arthur watched the taxi drive away, seeing Travis wave to him from the backseat window of the cab. Arthur waved back to him, as Charlotte placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic smile, then showed Arthur back into the building.
When they got back home, Travis thought about Arthur constantly. He was glad to know his friend was going to live in a nice home with a loving family and not have to put up with any more bullies, until his foster parents enrolled him into a school, anyway. Travis wished his parents could have adopted Arthur, but when he asked his aunt about it, she told him it wasn't possible. She explained to him that Arthur still had a mother, and until everything was sorted out with her situation, Arthur couldn't return to her and had to go live with a foster family until she was better.
Travis' mother got the pictures developed from their vacation in Gotham City and gave Travis the one of him and Arthur together at the foster center, which he put into a frame and kept on the nightstand in his bedroom. Every night, Travis would say good night to Arthur in the photograph, then turn off the light and stare at the picture until he fell asleep.
When August came, Travis turned nine-years-old. His parents presented him with a birthday cake, and when it came time to blow out the candles, his mother told him to make a special wish. Travis only had one wish, but it didn't come true. He was still without a brother.