The Friz and The Lupine Lady

Prologue

Driving down the quiet coastal road, a school bus meandered slowly as if taking in the view. Though she had taken her students on many adventures on this bus, today's adventure was just for Valerie Frizzle. She had heard tell of the beautiful coast filled to the brim with lupines and the mysterious woman who planted them, but the stories did not give justice to the real thing. How could one woman put so much beauty into the world around her? She had spent her life passionate about studying everything that made the universe fascinating but seeing this; she realized how rarely she stepped back and appreciated the majesty in and of itself; viewing the picture as a whole rather than scrutinizing and analyzing each piece it was made of. It took her breath away, and she had to stop a moment and take it all in. 

She pulled to the side of the road and stepped out of the bus. "C'mon Liz," Valerie called, beckoning her Jackson chameleon to perch on her shoulder. The smell of the ocean on the breeze filled her with serenity. She felt compelled to walk closer to the ocean, seemingly made of gold from the sunset. The wind gently blew her auburn curls away from her face as she filled her lungs with the seaside air. 

She didn't hear the footsteps coming down the lane from the direction of a quaint cottage on the hill. She was startled when she heard a soft, "Stunning, isn't it? This is my favorite spot." Valerie turned her head toward the voice and was taken aback by the dazzling woman before her. She didn't know why, but somehow she was certain that this was Alice Rumphius, the woman responsible for covering the coast of Maine with lupines. Alice gave her a small smile that reached her sparkling eyes. Valerie was speechless. She had to know everything about this woman.

Alice felt the same.