Chapter 3: A New Field Trip
"Oh, bad. Oh, bad. Oh bad, bad, bad!"
"Um, Doctor..." said Phoebe, "You said earlier that the bus was only supposed to time travel once, right?"
The Doctor scratched his head and bared his teeth as if he had to think about it.
"Erm, well...yeah, I did, didn't I? The old girl hasn't done it in a while so I guess it just misplaced us by accident."
"I'm sure she didn't mean to." said Frizzle as she patted the walls affectionately.
Arnold threw his hands up a mix of exasperation and panic. "That means we're stuck in 1955! Forever!"
"Oi, cool your jets, kid." said Amy, giving Arnold a pat on the head, "We can just pile you all into the TARDIS and drop you back home, can't we Doctor?"
The Doctor gave it some thought and then shrugged. "Well, we could, easily, but-"
Frizzle then interrupted him with a hearty laugh.
"But that would mean leaving the bus behind and we can't have that."
The Doctor snapped his fingers yet again and motioned for Frizzle to speak with him. The two talked in hushed tones while the students, Amy and Rory looked on.
Moments later, The Doctor sprinted into the TARDIS while Frizzle faced the class with a smile.
"Students, The Doctor and I have to an agreement. We've decided to take advantage of our current predicament and allow you all to explore the 1950's as our new field trip!"
The students exchanged looks of apprehension. They were interested in exploring the past, but at the same the day had already been exciting enough for most of them.
Rory raised a hand in questioning, as if he himself were a student. "Uh, are you certain that's the safest idea?"
Frizzle, smile unwavering, shook her head no. "Certainty would remove any excitement. We've taken risks, we've made mistakes, but we're still remarkably clean and that just won't do. Besides I am certain the kids will be safe with you assisting me as chaperones!"
"I'm all for it!" exclaimed Wanda, interrupting Amy and Rory's attempts at objection. "Don't be so chicken you guys."
"I suppose this is a rare opportunity to study the past so authentically." said Dorothy-Ann.
It was then that The Doctor came rushing out of the TARDIS, two large power cables in hand.
"That's the spirit!" he said as he hooked the cables up to the control panel of the bus.
Tim and Carlos stood up and looked over the Doctor's shoulder.
"What are doing?" asked Carlos.
The Doctor finished and turned, looking at Carlos as if it was simultaneously a really stupid question and one he'd be happy to answer. He turned to the rest of the students as well before raising his hands in explanation.
"This box and my bus are two different models of the same machine, designed by an alien species. My species, to be specific, the Time Lords. The bus was built during wartime though, more for quick and easy travel and a Chameleon Circuit designed more for function than form -That's how it changes itself into a spaceship ya see, it voluntarily changes into whatever's needed in a certain situation- but anyway, the bus is a bit weaker when it comes to time travel. By linking it up with my TARDIS, I can give it a bit more juice, allow for more than one trip."
While some of the kids looked on fascinated, others were barely able to comprehend the man.
"But it's gonna take awhile," he continued. "at least a whole day. So Ms. Frizzle and I figured what better to do than let you go out and explore?"
There was suddenly a chorus of enthusiasm as the kids left the bus again, now chatting with each other in groups over what they should check out first.
Amy and Rory leaned over to each other as they slowly followed the kids out.
"So, are we chaperones now?" asked Rory, "Is chaperoning a thing we're doing?"
"Yep. Well, the two of us, anyway. I think the Doctor's just one if the kids." Indeed the Time Lord looked even more giddy and filled with enthusiasm than the children, linking arms with Ms. Frizzle as they stepped out of the bus.
"Big shock there." said Rory.
Outside the bus, Ralphie tugged on the Doctor's coat.
"Don't you think our clothes might look a bit weird to people here?"
The doctor shook his head and spun Ralphie's cap around so the bill obscured his eyes.
"Nah, I'd say you all look nondescript enough. 'Specially you kiddo. All your missing is a big ol' sign saying 'Mum's apple pie and the girl next door'."
Ralphie scratched his head as Keesha walked up to him.
"I'm just gonna pretend I get that."
"Pfft, might as well call him Frizz 2.0."
"Children," said Frizzle, "It's already getting dark, so here are the ground rules. We meet back up in two hours, each group must have a chaperone, and no stepping on any butterflies!"
The Doctor clapped and motioned for any kids to follow him.
"Let's make like a tree and split," he said, "I've always wanted to get one of those root beer floats."
Carlos followed the man, joined quickly by Keesha.
"Don't you mean 'make like a tree and leave'?"
"Oi, trees split too, when you hit 'en with an axe."
Keesha groaned while Carlos chuckled.
Rory motioned to Amy.
"Welp," said Rory, "I go wherever she goes."
Wanda giggled, whispering to Amy, "What is he, your boyfriend or something?"
Amy smirked, walking onward with Wanda and Tim in tow.
"Yeah, actually. We're due to be married in, oh, fifty-five years."
Rory followed Amy, as Phoebe and Arnold joined him.
"I think I'm gonna stick with you." said Arnold, "You may be the only sane one here."
Rory gave a curt nod of thanks, as Dorothy-Anne and Ralphie were left with Frizzle, who gave the bus one last affectionate pat before turning to them.
"Alright children. What shall we do first?"