Disclaimer: Recess was created by Paul Germain & Joe Anso, and is owned by Disney. This story is being told by Spinelli.

In Memory of Miss Finster

I turned back to the front, smiling. The hall was full of people, all of them here because they had loved Miss Finster. It was only seven months ago that I'd been with Miss Finster at Hank's funeral. She had taken Hank's surname, but will always be remembered as Miss Finster - an indomitable woman whose voice had the power to clear all thoughts of mischief from the mind of any kid on the playground. After Hank's passing, she had become wistful, more inclined to talk about things not to do with her years at Third Street Elementary School. I'd go to her house every day whilst TJ was at work; I'd sit across the table from Miss Finster and she'd bounce my daughter, Muriel, on her knee. She loved my daughter - spoilt her rotten; always something for the girl.

TJ caught my eye. He squeezed my hand.

'I can't believe all these people turned up,' I admitted. The funeral had been a very private affair.

Randall, who had been given two months of compassionate leave by the FBI, took the stage. He made a very long speech, aided by a slide-show of Miss Finster from her girl-hood to the day of her death. He had been there on Miss Finster's last day; he had held Miss Finster's hand and watched her fall asleep. I had been there the previous day, on my own; I hadn't felt it would be fair to have Muriel crawling all over her namesake's bed.

'In her will,' Randall said, turning off the slide-show, 'Miss Finster asked that Third Street School's library be revamped. Work took place during half-term. The Miss Finster Memorial Library will open on the first day of term.'

The hall erupted as everyone applauded. I couldn't help smiling. I had loved the old dragon as a grandmother. She had asked to be my daughter's godmother. I looked down at TJ's hand on my rounded belly. We would tell the baby all about Miss Finster.

As we walked to the cafeteria and said hello to people we hadn't seen in years, TJ hugged me. His relationship with Petey Prickly had been very much the one I'd had with Miss Finster. TJ and I had agreed that if our next baby was a boy, we could name him Petey.

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