For the past 20 years I have spoken to all kinds of audiences in the character of Benjamin Franklin, complete with costume. One day after a school assembly, I was visiting a fifth-grade classroom to answer questions.

One student raised his hand and said, "I thought you died." This was not an unusual question and I answered it by saying, "Well, I did die on April 17, 1790, when I was 84 years old, but I didn't like it and I'm never going to do it again."

I immediately asked for any other questions and called on a boy at the back of the room who raised his hand. He asked, "When you were in Heaven, did you see my mother there?"

My heart stopped.

I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. My only thought was, don't blow this! I realized for an 11-year-old boy to ask that question in front of all of his classmates, it had to either be a very recent occurrence or of utmost concern. I also knew I had to say something.

Then I heard my voice say: "I'm not sure if she is the one I think she was, but if she is, she was the prettiest angel there." The smile on his face told me that it was the right answer.