Ernie, Bert and Elmo stood over the memorial grave plaque. a few years had already passed. but it still seemed like only yesterday morning, afternoon and evening. life could be a real super hard thing to almost everybody. It just happened to be harder to certain people.
Bob Johnson was even elderly when he contracted natural causes. but still, he lived his entire life ahead of him. but unfortunately, he was deceased at ninety years old.
The obvious question was why. but it was one nobody would get an answer to in this entire life.
Ernie, Bert and Elmo only felt they could go to the funeral and memorial ceremony with Big Bird. and they needed one another having lost another Sesame Street resident.
Everybody from Sesame Street seemed to show up. Gordon, Susan, Maria, Miles, Gabi and Carlo were grieving over the loss and absence of one of their own. but support came in from all of those present. Alan showed showed up, as did many others. they all had their memories of Bob. and none of them could understand why they had to say farewell and goodbye to him real super soon.
Ernie, Bert and Elmo snapped back into the present. a certain yellow feathered hand on Ernie's left shoulder had made him do so. he, Bert and Elmo turned their heads. and there was Big Bird. standing before them.
"I heard you guys were all coming today." Big Bird said to them. "I just wanted to get here first. so you guys wouldn't even get lost in this place."
"we appreciate that, Big Bird." Ernie said to him.
"we're never even that good at making our ways around cemeteries anyhow. so thanks a bunch for being considerate." Bert said to him.
The four of them then looked around. and next to the memorial plaque of Luis Rodriguez, aside from the memorial plaques of Arnold and Harold Hooper, Mortimer Macintosh, Olivia Robinson, Willy the Beef and Poultry Dog Vendor, David's grandmother, Grace Hobson, Dave Handford, Molly the Mail Carrier and Elmo's Uncle Jack, where Bob's ashes were buried underneath.
"he lived his entire life ahead of him." Big Bird said to himself. "he was originally gonna take over Hooper's Store when Alan had decided to move to Miami to become a nature show host. he really loved going there. and he wouldn't've wanted him to trade that place for anything."
"we know, Big Bird." Elmo said to him. "but at least the late Harold Hooper's nephew, James, the third and new Mr. Hooper, said he'd become the new family heir. how kind hearted of him to do so. Hooper's Store just wouldn't feel right without a Hooper running it."
"but still." Bert said to them. "it won't be the exact same without Bob. we all sang along with his fun thrilled songs all the time."
"we get what you guys mean." Ernie said to them. "it just doesn't feel right knowing he's gone for now. but we still got to know him as the kind hearted talented man he was. we had a real super good friend in him as well too."
"that's true." Big Bird said to them. "we all did lots of real super good things when he, Maria, the late Luis, Gordon and Susan were younger. without him, I don't even think the bond we share now would've been as stronger."
"Life is what it's all about." Elmo said to them. "other people come and go. but they'll always be with all of us no matter where we go. even if in heavenly spirit only."
The four Sesame Street Muppet friends put the flower plants they had brought. and one of them said silent praises. and they all made peacefulness with their emotions for the minute.
"Let's go out for a lunch meal break at Hooper's Store. and make a toasting tribute for our dear good friend." Ernie said to them.
"okay, you guys." Big Bird said to them. before turning over to the memorial grave plaque one more time. "farewell and goodbye, Bob. we're never gonna forget about you."
Ernie, Bert, Elmo and Big Bird walked away from the memorial cemetery graveyard.