Click.

"Today, a free man walks among us. That's right, folks, the Mad Hatter, a long time foe of Batman has been given a clean bill of health and was released this morning. Hopefully, he won't go back to brainwashing people to do his dirty work for him again.

In related news, another criminal is still out there. The Joker, Batman's arch-enemy, is still at large. He is believed to have died after supposedly falling into a smokestack while battling the Batman.

In other news......."

"Master Timothy? What are you doing?"

"Awww man, I never get a break," he said to himself.

"Master Timothy, have you finished your homework?"

"No......"

"Have you even started on your homework?"

"Well no, but........I just wanted to watch the news!"

"That is not news, it is just plain rubbish. They are simply talking about the latest gossip this city has to offer. Now hand me the remote and get upstairs."

"This just in......"

"Wait a sec, Alfred."

"We are receiving a report now that yet another one of Gotham's worst has just escaped. Our sources say that Two-Face escaped from Arkham Asylum at exactly 2:22PM this afternoon. We'll have more on this breaking story later on the news at five. This is Summer Gleason reporting for Inside Gotham."


Click.


"See Alfred? It pays to watch rubbish every once in a while."

"Yes, well. It won't do you any good if you are not finished with your studies, young man. Now go on upstairs."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm going."


::later that night::


"Finally."

Tim closed his books, put away his homework, and headed downstairs for the batcave. Once he got down there, he realized that no one was around. He began to look around when he noticed the batmobile was missing. He heard Alfred coming down the stairs.

"Where did he go?"

"He decided to run a couple of errands. He also told me to tell you that you should get some training done before he came back."

"Great. Another fun night."


::across town::


Gotham Arbors was a terrible place to live for some. It was a low-rent apartment building located in a seedy part of town. To Jervis Tetch, however, it was home. He was in the process of fixing up the place. He wanted it to look its best in case he got any visitors. Little did he know that he would get one so soon.

"Tetch."

"AHHH!"

He whirled around to see Batman standing in front of his open window.

"Batman! Why are you here?"

"I'm here to give you a message. Make sure you don't screw up Tetch. You know what will happen if you do."

"I realize that, Batman! That place was dreadful! I don't ever want to go there again." He turned away from Batman.

"That's good to hear. But if you make one wrong move, I'll put you right back in Arkham."

"Well, it'll never happen. I'll be sure to stay on the straight and narrow! You can count on me............Batman?"
He turned again towards the window, but no one was there.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Now what?"

He opened the door to find a man standing there.

"Yes?"

"Telegram for a Mr. Jervis Tetch."

"That would be me."

The man handed him the telegram. Tetch turned around and slammed the door. He opened up the telegram.

It said:


Congratulations on becoming a free man! A small party will be held in your honor tomorrow night at midnight. It will be held at the Iceberg Lounge. Can't wait to see you!

Penguin

"A party? For me? Curiouser and curiouser!"