Stacked on top of each other the suitcases reached the butler’s neck Here let me help you said Bruce as he grabbed two of the bags Do I even need all this We’re only going to be gone for a few hours Good packing is the secret to any successful trip no matter how long it lasts replied Alfred He pointed to the other passengers Each of them had half a dozen suitcases and trunks as well Some of them had many more than that If a billionaire had arrived without several changes of clothes said Alfred they would have stuck out like a sore thumb When everyone was onboard the ship pulled out of Gotham Harbor As the ship cut quietly through the waves the passengers lounged on deckchairs by the pool or in the shade of the nearby lifeboats Everyone was enjoying themselves by eating hors d’oeuvres drinking champagne and chatting Everyone except Bruce
Most people would feel miserable if they were out in the middle of a cold and windy Gotham City night That’s where Bruce felt most at home stalking from shadow to shadow in pursuit of his prey Now sitting in the sun in his Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops Bruce felt completely out of his element Oh wipe that sour look off your face Brucie squealed Dolores Fitzpatrick She plopped down in the lounge chair next to Bruce This is fabulous Dolores continued She snapped her fingers impatiently in the air At least it would be if I could get any service around here Waiter WAITER Mrs Fitzpatrick was one of the richest women in Gotham She was also one of the largest Some people said that her mouth was pretty big too Judging by the volume of her scream Bruce had to say she was living up to expectations thus far Over here Chop-chop she shouted at a nearby crewmember Can’t you see this giant flower thingy is blocking my sun Mrs Fitzpatrick was pointing at the enormous
display of flowers and vines in the middle of the deck It looked like a statue of a beautiful woman but it was crafted entirely out of the vines and flowers The plant statue cast a large shadow over the deck of the boat A tiny part of which fell over Mrs Fitzpatrick’s little toe I’m very sorry Mrs Fitzpatrick a tall crewmember said politely I’ll have it moved right away The man signaled to the rest of the crewmembers to help him move the enormous display of flowers and vines It looked to Bruce that it was just as heavy as it was complex Even the captain came over to help As they struggled to move the statue it shook WOOOOOOOOSH Suddenly pollen flew out and covered the captain and crew Mrs Fitzpatrick didn’t seem concerned by all the fuss she was causing
I know there are only a handful of crewmembers working this special charity cruise Dolores said to Bruce without looking at him but don’t you think they could do a better job The service is terrible Bruce thought they were doing a far more than adequate job of serving the impossible Mrs Fitzpatrick But before he could answer a harsh voice called out to all the passengers All of you get up Move the tall crewmember shouted Go to your cabins right now Bruce was shocked to see the other crewmembers join him in grabbing Mrs Fitzpatrick and the other passengers and pushing them toward the cabins Why of all the nerve Mrs Fitzpatrick shouted One does not shove a Fitzpatrick Especially if one is a servant I am here to be charitable and expect shoddy service but this is just too rude
