Easter Tale: Gotham Easter Parade

Joseph Kane was sitting irritated in Wayne Manor's front parlor on a warm spring morning in white tie and tails. A top hat with a ribbon wrapped around it perched on his knee.

"Why did I let Zatanna talk me into this...."

Bruce Wayne walked into the room. "Going to Easter mass, Joseph?"

"Oh, look; you trying to be funny." Joseph sighed, "Zatanna wants me to walk with her in the Easter Parade Promenade in Robinson Park. I'm torn, we've been dating for a few months so it should be something we should do; be officially seen as a couple. On the other...I'm Jewish! Easter, for me, should be trying to find something on TV that doesn't make me reach for a matzah. That is truly the bread of affliction; it's an affliction to eat it." Joseph looked up at Bruce, "Speaking of which, thanks for holding the seder for another year."

"Well, it's good to learn about other cultures. Now I should get ready myself."

"Who's the lucky lady this year?"

"Vicki Vale; and Dick will be walking with Barbara." Bruce paused, "I hope you don't clash with her outfit."

Joseph's face dropped, "That's what I'm afraid of."

"SAM I WILL KILL YOU!"

Sam came running into the room and hid behind Joseph's chair. A few seconds after him Damian ran in. Damian was in a pink rabbit costume.

"What is this about?" asked Bruce.

"Sam laughed at me!" yelled Damian

"Sorry, couldn't help it."

"Bruce," chuckled Joseph, "Why is he in a bunny suit?"

"Punishment for tackling the Easter Bunny last year." Bruce turned to Damian, "Apologize."

">TT<"

Bruce glared at Damian, who swallowed in fear.

"Sorry, Sam."

Bruce nodded, "Now you two change, you're gonna walk in this parade to as part of this family."

The two boys ran out of the room.

"Family huh?" asked Joseph.

"Let's just say I consider you to be on par with a very amusing and aggravating younger brother," Bruce retorted as he left the room. Alfred then walked in.

"Master Joseph, Miss Zatanna is here."

Joseph breathed in Hopefully we aren't both doing the Fred Astaire look. Zatanna walked into the room, wearing a pale pink dress and gloves, a pink silk wrap draped her shoulders and a pale purple hat with flowers.

"Wow." was all Joseph could utter.

"Just like a man, a gorgeous woman walks in and you go speechless." Zatanna kissed him. "Come on, we don't want to be late."

"Z," began Joseph, "I'm a little nervous about this."

"I know you're gonna give me the religion excuse, Joseph, and I know that you know it's bullshit. You're just afraid to take the next step. Don't worry, I'll be with you."

Joseph hesitated; it was like Zatanna looked into his heart. Zatanna saw this and smiled.

"Don't worry, Joe, I have an idea. Dnalrag Yduj Dna Eriatsa Dref!" Music swelled into the room.

"Where is that coming from?" asked Joseph, looking around.

Zatanna touched his cheek. "Never saw you look quite so pretty before Never saw you dress quite so handsome What's more?" she sang.

"Z, did you turn reality into a musical to calm me down?" Joseph asked with a grin. He knew Zatanna knew of and shared his love of theater, musicals especially.

Zatanna smiled and kept singing, "For in your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it You'll be the grandest fella in the Easter Parade I'll be all in clover and when they look us over We'll be the proudest couple in the Easter Parade" She removed the ribbon from his hat and brought him in close to dance when she put the hat on his head. "On the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure"

Joseph began singing, his warm tenor filling the room, "Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet And of the girl, I'm taking to the Easter Parade"


An hour later, Joseph and Zatanna were walking in Robinson Park. Sam was next to his brother, looking smart in an old fashioned suit and a newsie cap on his head. Damian walked with Dick and Barbara, wearing as casual a suit as he could. Dick was also wearing a casual suit, and Babs was wearing a simple, yet elegant dress. Bruce, in a tux, was arm and arm with Vicki Vale, who was in a knockout of a white dress.

Joseph, however, only had eyes for Zatanna. He took out a bracelet and put it on her wrist as he sang. "On the avenue, Fifth Avenue, the photographers will snap us And you'll find that you're in the rotogravure"

Sam looked embarrassed, "Maybe I shouldn't have suggested that idea to Zatanna." But he smiled, he was happy that his brother finally found love.

And it was like the park and city was filled with song:

"Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet And of the girl, I'm taking to the Easter Parade"