"How was your day, boy? I'd really like to hear what's the story behind all that mud," asked Homer. The family was eating around the table like normal. If Bart was happy, they were happy.
"Well, I fell in a muddy pit by the school, and Sideshow Mel was there, and he became my new best friend."
"Sideshow Mel? Isn't that that guy who keeps trying to kill you?" Homer was perplexed.
"No, that's Sideshow Bob!"
"Well, what about Milhouse?" Lisa asked.
"What about Milhouse? He can just be your best friend. Or boyfriend!"
Lisa forced out a weak smile, and chuckled a bit. "Yeah… no."
"Well, I'm allowed to have two best friends, right? I used to have three best friends."
"No you didn't, Lewis and Richard were just regular friends. Milhouse was your only BEST friend."
"Well, fine then. Maybe Sideshow Mel isn't my best friend then, if you're going to be so picky. He's just my friend."
"I think it's great that you found a new friend Bart! ...But I don't think it's great that you skipped school."
"I didn't skip! I- I just fell."
"I don't actually believe that. But I guess that I can excuse you… You are in mourning after all."
The next day, and the day after that, Bart skipped school. Knowing that Mel had other business than just playing with kids who cut class, Bart invited Milhouse to take Mel's place. Unfortunately, Milhouse was too by-the-book to skip school, leaving Bart feeling lonely at times. He knew he wouldn't feel lonely at Krusty's funeral, though. So many people cared about Krusty that he would never be alone.
Krusty's funeral would be the day after. A surprise lurked there, one that no one in Springfield would expect.