Chapter 4: Walk Like an Egyptian

Dr. McPhee walked the halls of the museum often. It was his job after all. Tonight though, it was completely new. Larry had just told him that the exhibits came to life, with memories from the real people. McPhee was in the main hall, along with the majority of the museum exhibits. Larry had called them all there for an announcement, presumably about McPhee.

"People, Animals, other, I've brought you here to announce to you that the museum director, Dr. Richard McPhee, has been told about the tablet." Larry beckoned the other man up. "He, like us, will keep the secrets of the tablet. I would also like to announce that our new, or in some of our cases, old friends Amelia Earhart & Charles Lindbergh are happy here. The rest of their exhibits will arrive on Saturday. You man continue on your ways. Ahk, Dr. McPhee wants a word with you." And with that, Larry got off the speaker and the two went their separate ways.

"Snazzy speech Ace!" Amelia shouted from his left. The two shared a look of excitement. Larry knew he would chase that look into the Atlantic if he had to. Lucky for him, he didn't. She was here, and so was he. "What's this I here about completing my exhibit? And I thought I was kippy!" The sarcasm rolled off her bubbly demeanor perfectly.

"A couple of replica planes. The Spirit of St. Louis, for Lindbergh. The Canary & a Lockheed Electra 10E for you." Amelia's face lit up when Larry mentioned The Canary. "Apparently they used them for a movie and McPhee got them for cheap."

"I remember my old Canary, learned to fly in that Hogsquat. My friend Neta taught me. She was an egg on the ground, but a dish in the air." The two went and sat on the platform that Columbus stayed on in the day. "She had this old Canuck that she repaired in her backyard." The smile slipped away from her slowly. "She's probably gone too. Everyone I knew is dead, including myself. It's a... lot" Amelia was bawling at this point.

"This must be a lot for you, I'm sorry." Larry said as he hugged her tightly.

"No, I'm fine." Amelia had stopped crying, but was clearly still downtrodden. "Really, I am." She really wasn't, and they both knew it.

Larry had an idea. The museum in the renovation had ordered new TVs for every department. "Why don't we go watch a movie? Clear your mind a bit. Sound good?" Amelia nodded in agreement.

Amelia looked at the screen in shock. "That is a very large screen Mr. Daley." TVs in the 30's were smaller than a microwave door, so a screen that large mesmerized the Aviatrix. She walked backwards until she was sitting on the couch.

"It's Larry, and I guess it is." Larry turned on the machine, spooking the amazed Amelia. The channel that Larry was watching had been Animal Planet, but at this time of night, It was paid programming. Ironically, it was his segment on the Glow in the Dark Flashlight. "Oh Boy." He let out.

"You're cute as a bug's ear! When was this?" Amelia had a grin that almost immediately made Larry smile. The two watched for another few seconds before Larry gave his answer.

"Only a few days before I met you. You called me an entrepreneur, and this is what I invented." Larry felt a bit disappointed, but he realized that it allowed the museum to continue to exist. "I got the call from Jed saying Dexter had taken the tablet to the Smithsonian 2 days later."

"What other wonders are on this TV? How long have they been in color?" Amelia had been from before color TV (The Wizard Of Oz was released in 1939, over 2 years after her disappearance) and was in awe. "It's so very lifelike!"

Larry began flipping channels. Soon it was flipping from Adult Swim, to Fox, to a hockey game, then to the end of a history channel show. Larry, being a sensible man, thought the History Channel would be perfect for Amelia. She could learn about more modern history. Unfortunately for him, the next thing shown was a documentary about Amelia.

"I'm sorry let me cha-"

"No, Larry. I want to know. Please, allow me the closure."

For the next 2 hours, the pair sat and watched the documentary. The first half was about Amelia before she disappeared, but the second part was focused on her disappearance and how it affected her family. In between segments were interviews featuring many prominent people in her life. The documentary ended with an excerpt from her sister, finally blowing the dam of her eyes.

"I never knew what happened to my family. At least they lived long lives." Amelia recovered quickly. "So they never found me. I know for a fact that there were no aliens, however." The woman was back in her spirited ways.

"I didn't know you were 40." Larry snidely said, cracking a smile while annoying Amelia. "Joking, just joking. Hell, I'm 42!"

"I guess we're just two old people Ace."

The pair of 40 year olds continued to watch History Channel. It was around 3AM, so all that was airing was Ancient Aliens & UFO files. They laughed at some of the ridiculous ideas the 'scientists' had about aliens. A few minutes to sunrise, the pair went to the new exhibit where Lindbergh was waiting in his set up. Amelia pulled Larry close to her, and they passionately kissed before she went back into her pose.