Who? What? Where? When? Part 1

May 5, the anniversary of Cinco de Mayo. As the bright sun colored school bus pulled up to the museum, the detention kids were stricken with incredible memories; they remembered November 2nd. That day will always be with them.

It was on that day they met the beautiful and myterious Mary Beth. A woman with blazing red hair, sea washed eyes, and a very tranquil personality.

But then again, that wasn't her REAL beauty. Under that puzzling mystique sat the gorgeous La Muerte. She had to keep herself in disguise for obvious reasons. And then there was that mean security guard.

Only that wasn't a security guard. And he wasn't mean. He was Xibalba, a true spirit if mischief, and the husband of La Muerte.

Of course, the kids didn't go blurting out to everyone they knew of the employees' true identities. They wanted to see the two all the time, and away from chaos.

Once they climbed of the bus, Mary Beth was standing out there waiting for them.

"Hey Kids!"

"Hi, La Muer- I mean, Mary Beth!" Sasha yelled.

"I'm guessing you're all here for a field trip."

"Yep. You guessed it." Said Luke.

"Well, you know the drill." Mary Beth held up that blue and white sign of hers that read 'Follow Me'

They all ran up the entrance stairs and towards the secret door. Hopefully, the tour guide had another wonderful story about Manolo, Maria, and Joaquin.

"Hold on, children, where do you think you're going?"

"To the San Angel wing!" They yelled

The mysterious lady smirked. She was surprised they still remembered.

"Alright, stay close." She said as she powered up her flashlight and took point in the group.

The old security guard met up with them in the hall and followed to hear the story too. Of course, since no one else patrolled that area, the two were free to be rid of their human disguises.

They gasped in awe. Last time, they only got to see the gods from the school bus, and now, here they were alive and well; they stood high above the little group like skyscrapers covering small, little animals.

La Muerte looked just as pretty as she did in the mural on the tree of life in the San Angel wing. And Xibalba looked very spine chilling, but he was different, now. He looked spooky, but really remained a real kind being.

While most of the kids stared at La Muerte, poor Xibalba was pretty much being followed all over the place by that weird little goth kid, Luke.

He did his best to ignore the little one, but failed.

"Will you please stop staring at me?"

"I'm sorry; you're just so...cool!"

Once again he nervously joined the queen by her side.

"So my love, what story do we have for our guests, today?"

"Well, maybe we should tell them the story of Manolo and Carmen during the Mexican Revolution."

"That story is so sad; why not something funny?"

Luke spoke up.

"Wow, it sounds like there's a lot of stories for the Three Amigos; I really wish that we were born around the time they were alive."

Sasha didn't understand.

"You mean they're dead?"

"Of course they're dead! The story took place way too long ago for them to be alive. Anyway, if they were alive, they'd at least be 100 years old."

Xibalba gave his wife an odd look. She shook her head. His eyes begged. She shook her head. He formed his lips in a sad manner. She shook her head.

"Please, Mi Amor!"

"Balby, no!"

The kids were interested.

"What's wrong?"

Xibalba looked at La Muerte one more time.

"Ugghh, fine."

The two gods shrunk down to the height of normal people, and were now in a new human masquerade. They both looked like nurses. Now things really didn't make any sense. Why are they wearing different disguises? And what was up with all that weird facial language between them?

Xibalba cleared it up.

"You see, Children, we want to make your wish come true. It turns out the Three Amigos are still alive."

"HUH?!"

"They all have their own space now."

"You mean Maria and Manolo aren't married anymore?"

"Sadly, yes. Maria and Manolo had a real strain on their marriage when General Posada died. Manolo was there with him when it happened and he was blamed for the death. Joaquin's strong and youthful spirit was broken when the two split up. He now lives in a nursing home down the street, Manolo is locked up in an insane asylum, and Maria has a nice house a few blocks over."

So, they really were so close, and yet so far.

"We're going to take you to meet them."

All the kids got excited.

They were about to meet their heroes in real life.