Head Security guard Larry Daley at the Museum of Natural History was anxious. Since beginning his job twenty years ago, he had never been this anxious. Now, with his retirement drawing closer, as well as the need for his replacement, Larry felt he had at least a little right to feel nervous. He had his last interview tonight, a young girl named Ellie Wilson. From what he could glean from her resume, she was about twenty-two, just out of college, living by herself in an apartment in Brooklyn. Her only job experience consisted of three fast food restaurants, one shopping center, and a hot dog stand on 34th. Larry sighed and tossed the paperwork back on his desk. The phone rang, startling Larry, but he answered it promptly. "Hello?" he said into the phone.
"Hello dear," replied the person on the other line. It was his wife, Rebecca. They had been married a few years after he started working and he had shown her the "secret" of the museum. Then she had only been a docent there, giving tours. Now her dissertation on Sacagawea was bringing in more money than they needed. "Will you be home soon?"
"I have one more interview tonight."
"Goodness, I hope this one is the one. I'd really like to have you home more often."
"And I'd like to be home more often. But I can't leave the museum to just anyone, you know that."
"I know. Good luck honey. Love you.
"I love you, too." He began to hang up the phone when Rebecca called out to him.
"Wait! Larry!"
"What is it?"
"Tell Sacagawea I said hello! And Teddy too!"
Larry smiled. "I will."
Ellie was nervous, though she did not know that she was the only one. Ever since she was a little girl when her father had brought her on numerous trips, she had love the Museum of Natural History. She never once thought she might work there, even in security. "It just a temporary job," Ellie told herself. "At least until something better comes along." The cold winter air outside became chillier as Christmas drew closer, and Ellie drew her jacket closer around her. "Here goes nothing," she thought. She began to climb the steps, careful to watch her footing for patches of ice. The revolving door blew cold air past her as she entered the museum and walked up to the desk where a docent sat, waiting to give his next tour. He had curly brown hair that hung in his face and dark brown eyes hiding under it. "Hi, I'm Ellie Wilson," she introduced herself. "I'm looking for Larry Daley, can you tell me where I can find him?" The man looked up sharply.
"My father? Why do you need him?" His voice was low and soft.
"I-I'm here for an interview with him." He looked at her blankly. "For security?" His face relaxed, and he smiled a crinkly smile.
"Oh! Sorry, sometimes it's hard to tell about people these days. I'm Nick Daley." He held out a hand. She took it and he shook hers warmly. "Let me show you the way." He stepped from behind the desk, rising a good foot above her, and turned towards the Hall of Wonders. She shook her head, and then quickly followed.
