[ WP ] After a long and exciting life , Mrs. Frizzle has died . Her long-ago students meet at her funeral - for the first time in a while - to reminisce about their experiences with her and how it 's shaped them .

As soon as I enter the sanctuary I knew something is wrong. There are no flowers. There is no music. There is no casket. And there are only a handful of individuals standing at the front of the room, though I know every single one. They ’ re all solemnly chuckling at something, and I hear a low murmur of “ Carlos… ” 
 
 As I approach the group another figure I haven ’ t noticed emerges from the shadows, back straight and suit crisp. Nodding to me he says, “ Now that you ’ re all here we can begin. First of all, I would like to apologize for drawing you all here under somewhat… less than honest circumstances. ” 
 
 Less than honest? I look down at the ornately decorated card I hold at my side. What on earth is going on? I am about to speak up, but a voice from the past beats me to it. 
 
 “ Look here. I don ’ t know who you think you are, but where I come from you could have gotten a serious beating for something like this. Why, at my old school… ” 
 
 Another voice cuts in, and I turn to see Ralphie stalk up to the man and grab him by his collar. “ Where is Miss Frizzle?? ” 
 
 Calm as ever, he looks my old friend in the eye and said, “ Oh, she ’ s dead. There was never any doubt about that. Follow me please. ” 
 
 Ralphie ’ s hand drops to his side as the man disappears down a side hallway. We all glance at each other before reaching a silent agreement and following. He leads us to a small room lined with books and furnished only by a small wooden desk. On it sits an old TV attached to a beat-up DVD player. He settles into the chair next to the desk and picked up a remote control. 
 
 “ I suppose I should explain. I am Miss Frizzle ’ s attorney. She gave me explicit instructions that upon her death I should gather you eight and… I ’ ll let her explain the rest. ” 
 
 With that he presses a button, and the screen brightens to reveal a face that causes my heart to swell even after all these years. Her face holds more creases than I remember, but the mischievous glint is still firmly lodged in her eyes. As her gaze sweeps across the room I could almost swear she ’ s looking us all right in the face, and as she looks at me a faint smile creases her lips. Clearing her throat, she speaks. 
 
 “ Hello class. If you are all watching this, I am dead. Which means that it worked! ” 
 
 She pauses, clearly letting her words sink in before continuing. 
 
 “ I have had many adventures over the years, and explored many exciting and wonderful places. But as I get older, I realize that there is one facet of our life and our existence that I have never explored. So I have decided to see what awaits us after our mortal bodies expire. And to do *that*… Well, here we are. ” 
 
 The gravity of what she is saying hits me all at once, and my vision blurs as my eyes brim with tears. From the shuffling and a whispered, “ Oh bad, oh bad…. ” around me, I ’ m not the only one. After a moment the voice of my mentor breaks through the fog. 
 
 “ BUT! I realized there was a problem. Once I ’ m… wherever I ’ m going to end up, there is no way for me to return. On my own, that is. I ’ m going to need help, and it when it comes down to it, it was always you eight. So what do you say? I can ’ t guarantee you ’ ll return. But I'd love it if you'd join me one last time to take chances, make mistakes, and, well, you know the drill. See you on the other side… ” 
 
 I look up in time to see a glitch in the recording cause her dress to flare, and then the screen goes dark. 
 
 My mouth is hanging open, and I know it ’ s not the only one. Everyone in the room is trying to process the impossible, and failing rather miserably. The lawyer in the room clears his throat as he stands and holds out his hand. 
 
 “ I have been instructed to entrust you with these. ” 
 
 I realize that no one is moving. We are all rooted to our spots like trees soaking in sunlight to make food. Basking in the charge given us by possibly the most important person of our young lives. **Of our lives**. I look around at the faces surrounding me. One and all, we learned about our world, our lives, and ourselves from this woman and her magical love of knowledge. And I know what I must do. 
 
 I step forward and lift the keys from his palm. 
 
 “ Very good, sir. ” 
 
 I am about to turn to address my classmates when our teacher's face appears back on the screen. “ She ’ s parked around back, Arnold. ” She winks and disappears. 
 
 I can ’ t help but laugh out loud. Tim joins me, followed by Dorothy Ann and Wanda, and soon we are all doubled over, back in grade school again chasing this wonderful woman through time and space. 
 
 I have no idea where we ’ re headed this time, but I know one thing. I ’ m **so** glad I didn ’ t stay home today. 
 ***** 
 [ Thy fate is truly terrible... ] ( https: //www.reddit.com/r/BensTerribleFate/ )
