It was a windy afternoon in early March. The frazzled young kindergarten teacher rushed into the country store to grab a few last minute items she needed for a lesson the next day. Her hair was pulled back in a small, beaded headband, with several wild strays blowing around in the breeze. Her clothes were wrinkled and hung loosely on her slightly chubby frame. You could tell that she wasn't concerned about her appearance, despite repeated reprimands from her mother to look more socially acceptable in public.

In the store she found the items she needed quickly, a roll of paper towels, a box of sandwich bags, some food coloring. At the last minute, she decided to pick up an ice cream sandwich to eat. It was a favorite treat, which she often enjoyed.

As she stood by the cashier to pay for her purchase, she noticed him. He stood beside his car as he pumped gas. His long cape blew softly around him in the gentle breeze. The pointed ears on the tightly fitting headpiece told her instantly who he was. Batman. She whispered his name aloud, enjoying the way it felt falling from her lips. Batman. She said it again. It sounded wonderful to her ears.

"$7.63, please."

The cashier's voice jerked her back into reality. Quickly, she wrote a check for the goods. She rushed so that she didn't even write the amount in the check register, not that it mattered since she hadn't balanced her checkbook in months, despite her father's constant warnings to be careful with her money.

She knew she must hurry if she was going to catch him. Picking up the bag, she dashed out to her small car to throw it inside. Her mind raced as she tried to decide the best way to approach him. Straightening herself to her full height of 5'6", she looked in the direction of the gas pumps only to see his car pulling onto the highway.

Foiled again by a credit card purchase. Ah, well! There are other fish in the sea.

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