Batman
Shae Christopher Smith, age 8, looked out the taxicab window. He was very excited. All around him were the skyscrapers of Gotham City. Gotham was even bigger than he had imagined back at home in Chandler, Arizona, with Wyatt, Britt, and Cade.
Shae still couldn't believe he had won the radio contest. The prize was a free trip to the Toy Tower, the world's biggest toy store! It was closing for the night, and Shae was going to have the whole store to play in.
As Shae was getting out of the cab, he noticed a delivery van speeding away from the store. The side of the van had the words "Felini Movers" written on it. Shae caught a glimpse of the driver as the van passed. The driver was wearing a dark mask with pointy ears. "That's weird," Shae thought. Maybe the driver was going to a costume party after work. Shae shrugged. Gotham City was a strange place.
Shae wanted to play with the world-famous KAT-2000, a cat-shaped robot made just for kids. It could play games, help with chores, even make milkshakes. Toy Tower had the only one in the whole world! But when Shae went inside, he learned that the KAT-2000 had been stolen. The police were looking for clues. But the thief had left no trace.
The store manager sighed. "We may never get the KAT-2000 back," she said. "Don't be so sure of that," said a deep voice. Everyone turned to look.
Shae couldn't believe it. Batman was here! Just then, Shae remembered something important. He told Batman about the strange van he had seen.
"The driver was wearing a dark mask with pointy ears?" asked Batman. "Hmmm..."
"There's something else," Shae said. "I heard on TV that the KAT-2000 runs on a special kind of battery. Won't the thief need a supply of those?"
"Yes." Batman looked at Shae. "Could you identify that van if you saw it again?" Shae nodded. Batman smiled. "Would you like to take a ride?"
Shae followed Batman to the Batmobile. He could hardly believe this was happening. "Where are we going?" he asked.
"To the Supervolt Battery Factory," Batman said. "That's where the KAT-2000's battery pack is made. I have a feeling you're right--the thief will have to stock up on the special batteries, or the robot will be useless." The Batmobile zoomed through the streets of Gotham City. In no time at all Batman and Shae reached the factory.
"There it is!" Shae cried. The "Felini Movers" delivery van was parked outside the factory. A dark figure was loading crates into the van.
In the glow of a streetlight Shae saw the pointy ears of a mask.
"That's the driver I saw," he told Batman.
"Just as I suspected," Batman said. "It's Catwoman." He pointed to something shiny in the back of the van. "And there's the KAT-2000."
"Catwoman, it's all over," Batman announced as he leapt from the Batmobile.
"That's what you think," Catwoman replied. She grabbed the KAT-2000 and ran.
Batman threw his Batarang, winding a rope around her legs.
"Look out!" Shae yelled. "The KAT-2000 is going to fall."
Shae jumped out of the Batmobile and caught the KAT-2000 just before it hit the ground. The robot was safe.
"Nice work, Johnny," said Batman.
"Drat!" cried Catwoman. "I really wanted that robot. It's purr-fect for me."
"I get it," Shae said. "You're a KAT burglar!"
Back home in Chandler, Arizona, Shae told Wyatt, Britt, and Cade all about his exciting adventure. The police had arrived and arrested Catwoman. Batman slipped away into the shadows.
The manager of Toy Tower was thrilled to get the KAT-2000 back. Shae finally got his tour of the toy store--with the amazing robot as his guide. And best of all, Shae got a postcard in the mail.
"Dear Shae," it said. "Thanks for your help solving the KAT-2000 crime. I couldn't have done it without you. Batman."