Back To School

Batman fumed inwardly as he sat impatiently in the waiting room outside Suprema’s office. There were more newspapers on the table in front of him

“TEENAGERS SWOON AT BOY WONDER” ran the headline in the Gotham Times above a picture of Robin grinning as he was escorted down a corridor  by three sexily-clad teenagers.

“ROBIN WOWS THE GIRLS” said another while the predictably scurrilous Gotham Star had a picture taken from behind Robin showing him on the stage with rows of rapt teenagers looking up at hime and the caption: “Take your pick, Big Boy!”

They only added to the Caped Crusader's seething temper - which had already been fuelled by his treatment when he arrived when the young girl at the reception desk had looked him up and down with a cooly dismissive grin on her face before informing him that Domina did not see visitors without a prior appointment.

“I think she’ll make an exception for Batman,” he’d informed her acidly - at which she’d shrugged her shoulders and buzzed the principle.

“Batman, you say,” said Suprema. “How are you spelling that?”

“Well, personally, I’d spell it D-I-C-K-H-E-A-D but he might have his own version of that.”

There was a snigger on the other end of the line before Suprema asked: “Is he wearing a mask with silly pointy ears and a cape? Looks like he’s heading to a second-rate fancy dress party?”

The girl looked Batman up and down again as though considering the question.

“More like a third-rate one, I’d say,” she replied. “Should I have him thrown out?”

“No, no Claire,” answered Suprema. “Send him up. Tell him I’ll see him in 10 minutes.”

The line went dead and Claire nodded at the Caped Crusader.

“She’ll see you in 10,” she said. “The lift’s to your right. It’s a big silver door with the word Lift above it in case you’re wondering. Push the button for the fifth floor. Do enjoy your visit.”

With that she turned to a computer console on her right and started typing - as though tired of spending any more time talking to him.

He’d exited the lift straight into the carpeted waiting room which consisted of three chairs and an elegant mahogany desk on which lay glossy brochures extolling the virtues of St Suprema College’s education. Much was made of how the establishment instilled confidence, self-reliance and a steely discipline in young women. Even more was made of the fact that not just anyone was accepted into its hallowed corridors - all entrants were vigorously vetted beforehand to ensure they could live up to the standards expected.

He’d just finished reading this when the door to Suprema’s office opened and she strode into the waiting room. 

“Well, well, well,” she said. “How privileged we are. First Robin pays us a visit and now Batman follows in his wake. What an honour. Please come through.”

She stood aside and waved Batman into the office with a gracious smile. The Caped Crusader couldn’t help but notice her attire - a tight white jumpsuit open almost to the navel to reveal her cleavage and tied with a blue sash at the waist. Her feet were clad in knee-high black boots while her long hair hung loosely around her shoulders framing a beautiful face with gleaming white teeth and flashing eyes.

    The principal gestured to a chair in the corner of the office and then sat opposite him in a plush leather couch with a glass coffee table between them.

    “What can I do for you Batman?” she asked, smiling graciously. “Don’t tell me you’ve come to offer your services to our girls too? Two handsome crimefighters in one week may be more than they can handle.”

    Batman gritted his teeth and tried to contain his annoyance at the flippant tone in her voice.

    “I’d like to know what Robin was doing here last night and why the press were also present.”

    Suprema’s eyes widened i for a second before her smile returned.

    “Oh, didn’t you know,”  she said in mock surprise. “I thought he would have told you. I invited him to give a talk and he readily agreed. We invited the press as we thought it might be, shall we say, good publicity for you both. And he was such a good speaker. He’s such a brave little boy. And so handsome too, may I say.”

    Batman was stumped for a reply for a few seconds. He didn’t want to admit he knew nothing about Robin’s visit - not that he’d no idea where his partner was. Finally, he said: Well. I he gave your students some advice on manners.”

    “Manners?” asked Suprema quizically.

    “The girl downstairs was less than polite when I arrived. Indeed, she was rude.”

    “Oh, Claire,” laughed Suprema. “Don’t mind her. She likes to tease. But a fine student. Learning all the time.”

    “And what do you teach exactly?” asked Batman, suddenly feeling on firmer ground.

    “Confidence. Ambition and…” Suprema paused, crossed her long legs and flashed her dazzling eyes at Batman “using all their abilities to get what they want.”

    Batman met her stare coldly without saying anything. Suprema merely smiled at him.

    “is that it now Batman?” she said. “I am rather busy.”

    She rose leisurely from her seat and beckoned for him to do the same. He sat for a moment and then rose and the pair walked to the door. It opened as if at her bidding but before he left Suprema lay a soft hand on his shoulder.

    “One last thing,” she said softly. “Tell Robin the girls would love to see him again. May be he could stay a little longer next time”

    She then blew him a little kiss before turning abruptly and heading across the room to her desk.

Batman fumed inwardly as he sat impatiently in the waiting room outside Suprema’s office. He’d not heard from Robin for 24 hours and the headlines in that day’s papers had made it abundantly clear why.

“TEENAGERS SWOON AT BOY WONDER” ran the headline in the Gotham Times above a picture of Robin grinning as he was escorted down a corridor  by three sexily-clad teenagers.

“ROBIN WOWS THE GIRLS” said another while the predictably scurrilous Gotham Star had a picture taken from behind Robin showing him on the stage with rows of rapt teenagers looking up at hime and the caption: “Take your pick, Big Boy!”

Throwing down the rags he’d headed straight to St Domina’s in the Batcar  - where his reception had done little to quell his already raging temper.

The young girl at the reception desk had looked him up and down with a cooly dismissive grin on her face before informing him that Domina did not see visitors without a prior appointment.

“I think she’ll make an exception for Batman,” he’d informed her acidly - at which she’d shrugged her shoulders and buzzed the principle.

“Batman, you say,” said Suprema. “How are you spelling that?”

“Well, personally, I’d spell it D-I-C-K-H-E-A-D but he might have his own version of that.”

There was a snigger on the other end of the line before Suprema asked: “Is he wearing a mask with silly pointy ears and a cape? Looks like he’s heading to a second-rate fancy dress party?”

The girl looked Batman up and down again as though considering the question.

“More like a third-rate one, I’d say,” she replied. “Should I have him thrown out?”

“No, no Claire,” answered Suprema. “Send him up. Tell him I’ll see him in 10 minutes.”

The line went dead and Claire nodded at the Caped Crusader.

“She’ll see you in 10,” she said. “The lift’s to your right. It’s a big silver door with the word Lift above it in case you’re wondering. Push the button for the fifth floor. Do enjoy your visit.”

With that she turned to a computer console on her right and started typing - as though tired of spending any more time talking to him.

He’d exited the lift straight into the carpeted waiting room which consisted of three chairs and an elegant mahogany desk on which lay glossy brochures extolling the virtues of St Suprema College’s education. Much was made of how the establishment instilled confidence, self-reliance and a steely discipline in young women. Even more was made of the fact that not just anyone was accepted into its hallowed corridors - all entrants were vigorously vetted beforehand to ensure they could live up to the standards expected.

He’d just finished reading this when the door to Suprema’s office opened and she strode into the waiting room. 

“Well, well, well,” she said. “How privileged we are. First Robin pays us a visit and now Batman follows in his wake. What an honour. Please come through.”

She stood aside and waved Batman into the office with a gracious smile. The Caped Crusader couldn’t help but notice her attire - a tight white jumpsuit open almost to the navel to reveal her cleavage and tied with a blue sash at the waist. Her feet were clad in knee-high black boots while her long hair hung loosely around her shoulders framing a beautiful face with gleaming white teeth and flashing eyes.

    The principal gestured to a chair in the corner of the office and then sat opposite him in a plush leather couch with a glass coffee table between them.

    “What can I do for you Batman?” she asked, smiling graciously. “Don’t tell me you’ve come to offer your services to our girls too? Two handsome crimefighters in one week may be more than they can handle.”

    Batman gritted his teeth and tried to contain his annoyance at the flippant tone in her voice.

    “I’d like to know what Robin was doing here last night and why the press were also present.”

    Suprema’s eyes widened i for a second before her smile returned.

    “Oh, didn’t you know,”  she said in mock surprise. “I thought he would have told you. I invited him to give a talk and he readily agreed. We invited the press as we thought it might be, shall we say, good publicity for you both. And he was such a good speaker. He’s such a brave little boy. And so handsome too, may I say.”

    Batman was stumped for a reply for a few seconds. He didn’t want to admit he knew nothing about Robin’s visit - not that he’d no idea where his partner was. Finally, he said: Well. I he gave your students some advice on manners.”

    “Manners?” asked Suprema quizically.

    “The girl downstairs was less than polite when I arrived. Indeed, she was rude.”

    “Oh, Claire,” laughed Suprema. “Don’t mind her. She likes to tease. But a fine student. Learning all the time.”

    “And what do you teach exactly?” asked Batman, suddenly feeling on firmer ground.

    “Confidence. Ambition and…” Suprema paused, crossed her long legs and flashed her dazzling eyes at Batman “using all their abilities to get what they want.”

    Batman met her stare coldly without saying anything. Suprema merely smiled at him.

    “is that it now Batman?” she said. “I am rather busy.”

    She rose leisurely from her seat and beckoned for him to do the same. He sat for a moment and then rose and the pair walked to the door. It opened as if at her bidding but before he left Suprema lay a soft hand on his shoulder.

    “One last thing,” she said softly. “Tell Robin the girls would love to see him again. May be he could stay a little longer next time”

    She then blew him a little kiss before turning abruptly and heading across the room to her desk.