Here, Here, and Here
Chapter 3
Dramatic Night Guards and Golden Tablets
The next day I found myself along with the other bored students constantly staring at the black and white clock on the T.V. The sound of the bell pierces my ears, telling me that another class of Mrs. Celeste's has gone by.
"Nicole," she says as I start to stand up. What does she want now?
"How is your paper coming so far? Get any good information yet?" Oh, crap, I think. I have to work on that today don`t I?
"Um it's coming good so far. I'm going to the Natural History Museum today to see if it can help me started.
"That's a great idea! They have a wonderful new exhibit on Al Capone, who is someone you might want to look into learning about. Just as long as your getting it done, have fun at the museum!" she says. I have idea who she is talking about or why he would pertain to my finishing this essay but I nod, pretending to understand, regardless.
"Of course I will" I say sarcastically adding a cheesy smile too. Luckily, Mrs. Celeste doesn`t pick up on it.
I gather my things and head out the large door that kept me from freedom everyday. As I step out into the hall flooded with people I sigh in relief that is was Friday and I didn't need to see Mrs. Celeste for the next two days. I walk amongst the groups of gossiping girls and bunches of animal noise-making boys and finally arrive at my locker once again. As I was about to collect my literature book from the top shelf, I feel someone cover my eyes with their hands from behind. I sigh.
"Guess who." says a voice who`s owner I already know.
"Could it be...the Queen of England?"
"Ha ha totally." My eyes are uncovered and I turn to the face the tall figure behind me.
"Hey Riley," I greet him half-heartedly, still thinking about the amount of work I`d have to do this afternoon. I also wasn`t exactly thrilled about going to a non-art related museum.
"Well you seem happy," he replies sarcastically, "Devin told me ya were doin` some extra credit for ol' Celeste eh? Now what`s that all `bout?" Once I had collected my books, we started down the hall.
"Nothin` really. Its just a little paper so that I don`t fail outta history." I explain.
"You`re failin` history? I mean sure Celeste`s a little on the wacky-side an` I`m pretty sure her hair`s a wig, but the class ain`t that hard. Can`t believe you`re failin` it." Riley says pushing through the heavy double doors that lead to the outside world.
"Why is that such a shocker? Celeste`s a wackadoo, you`re right `bout the hair thing too, plus it`s as borin` as hell! An` I would much rather be drawing than waste my time learnin` `bout people who`ve been dead for decades!" By the time I had finished my small rant we were standing on the pavement in front of the school.
"Alright, alright, I get it," Riley sighs and runs a hand through his shock of red hair. "So are you gonna do it?"
"Do what?"
"The essay," he clarifies.
"Well, ya," I say, "I have`ta if I wanna pass history class this year." I look up at the sky, and see dark, threatening clouds, saturated with water. If I wanted to beat the rain I had to get going.
"Hey, I gotta go," I toss my thumb behind me in the direction of the museum.
"Where are ya goin`? It`s Friday remember!" I stop in my tracks and look down. Riley, Devin and I had been getting together for movies, video games, and pizza every Friday night since we were in diapers. I would feel horrible about missing it, but I had to get started on this essay.
"Yeah, about that..." I start, the guilt of letting a friend down already growing in my stomach, "Im gonna have`ta miss the party tonight."
"You can do that paper anytime. C`mon." he waves his arm, gesturing for me to follow him.
"Well, I gotta check out the museum this afternoon, an` this is the only day I have time." I watch as Riley`s ever-present smile falters and becomes a dejected frown. "I mean, you can come if ya want..." I add.
"Nah, Tommie. I gotta go catch up with Devin. We`re seenin` a couple movies at the theater tonight an` I paid for `em so I can`t be late." the disappointment in his voice is clear as day.
"Hey, I promise I`ll be there next week! Don`t have too much fun without me!" I turn and begin to sprint down the sidewalk. Fat rain droplets smack my face as my feet carry me to the museum. From somewhere behind me, I can here Riley`s voice calling out a goodbye.
The clouds above me open up completely and unleash their full force of rain. It felt like tiny pebbles falling from the heavens coming across my face and was actually refreshing. I finally reach the museum completely soaked in my gray jacket with the hood over my head. I jogged up the many steps to finally approach the tall wooden and glass rotating doors.
I push them open to reveal an enormous open space inside. To my right stood a wax replica of Theodor Roosevelt, one arm extending upwards while clutching a sword. His other arm was tightly gripping the reigns of his horse which he sits atop, proud. A towering skeletal replication of a T-Rex dominates the middle space of the room, it`s mandible open and empty eye sockets staring me straight in the face. I begin to feel a bit overwhelmed; everything here is so...life-like.
Taking of my soaked jacket and returning it to the black messenger bag at my side I take note of the large amount of people occupying the building.I think to myself, Why would it would be this crowded? Why would so many people want to spend their Friday afternoon cooped up in a dusty museum? All of a sudden I catch sight of a tour group standing in front of the information desk. At the head of the pack, there is a dark-haired security guard saying, "May I have your attention please!"
I sneak into the back of the group wondering where this would take me.
"My name is Larry Daley and I am the security guard of the museum, but for today I will be your tour guide. Make sure you have all turned you money in to the front desk." Well I snuck into the group so maybe they wont notice.
"Okay then, let`s begin the tour!"
He`s says that like this is actually gonna be exciting. As the mob starts to move I follow to go along with it. I trail a little behind to be sure no one would tell if I was supposed to be there or not.
First we stopped at the Hall of Miniatures. Glass cases lined the walls on either side of us. Inside the cases are tiny versions of civilizations. One of them is a Old West theme that shows the building of a railroad. The second case we pass shows the Roman Empire at its height. The third case was a display of the early Aztec Indians and the daily life of their civilization. As the group pass the cases of the mini figurines Larry says,
"This is the Hall of Miniatures. These little guys are showing three different cultures, how they were built, and their day to day life." I notice Mr. Daley starts to stare at the the little figurines as if he knew something about them that no one else knew.
"They can be very... exciting sometimes." he says with a curious tone to his voice.
Our tour group exits the Hall of Miniatures and we continue down another hall. We keep walking through the museum and next we stop at Atilla the Hun. He and his group of warriors were standing looking like they were ready to battle any enemy who came their way. They look like they could almost be alive, I think.
We start to head toward the Ancient Egyptian exhibit. This tour is not helping me at all, I think. Stupid Devin, there is no Prohibition exhibit here! I make a mental note to myself to give him a talking to later. Our group filed into a long, dark hall. Immense Jackal statues loomed overhead and stood straight as toothpicks for the length of the corridor. At the end of the passageway, there was a sarcophagus, most likely containing the remains of someone important. Suspended in a glass case above the tomb, was a shining slab, made out of what appeared to be pure gold.
"This is the last stop on the tour folks!" Mr. Daley's tone is confident.
"This section of the Egyptian exhibit is called the tomb of Ahkmunrah. He was a very powerful pharaoh in his time, much to the dislike of his older brother, Kahmunrah. And this," the night guard places his hand on the glass case containing the shining slab, "glowing golden object is the Tablet of Ahkmunrah. It was given to the pharaoh Ahkmunrah as a gift, though it`s true purpose is unknown. It is believed to have very magical and special powers; it is the key to opening the gate of Kahmunrah which leads into the Underworld. Many came to the tablet seeking help but it will help those only who truly need it, and it`s also thought to have the ability to bring inanimate objects to life!" Mr. Daley seems to be pretty excited about this but the tourists didn`t seem thrilled to any extent. He sighs and continues,
"But, the Tablet does not always work in ways people expect them to. It is capable of incredible miracles, but it`s magic can be a bit... tricky. However, the Tablet of Ahkmunrah makes no mistakes, everything it does has a purpose, even if those who it is acting upon do not realize this right away."
I could practically hear the ominous music pouring out from somewhere as the night guard finishes his speech. I snort to myself. Ridiculous, I think, but still wonder about the tablet. I move out of the way as the horde of tourists exit the chamber, and cross the space between me and the box containing it.
I squint my eyes and peer at it through the glass case. Hieroglyphs are intricately carved into little square blocks the front of the gold slab and I suddenly wish I could read them. I stare at the symbols, pondering what they meant.
"Having fun?" I am scared out of my thought process as a voice speaks from behind me. I look to find that it was the tour guide`s, who is now standing beside me.
"Yeah, I guess so." Well as much fun as you can have in a place like this.
"Hmm," he sighs, and asks, "were you in our tour group?"
"Um, yes." I reply.
"And did you get what you paid for?" Ha ha, I laugh nervously to myself, "Sorta." the night guard frowns.
"What was missing? You looking for something in particular?" he inquires.
Hey, I realize, he might know if there`s anything here that could help me with my report.
"Well I`m doin` a report for school `bout this thing called Prohibition an` I don`t think I`m in the right place..." I explain, looking at the Tablet of Ahkmunrah hanging over the deceased pharaoh`s sarcophagus, "I mean, the tablet thing was a nice bedtime story an` all but really need to get some work done."
Mr. Daley nods his head in understanding, "Of course. What did you say you needed to see? Prohibition?" I make a confirming gesture, "That was in the 20`s right?"
I shrug my shoulders and respond, "I really don`t know. My friend said it was somthin` about alcohol an` I remember in my research readin` `bout the 'Roaring Twenties' so I suppose that`s it." I can see Mr. Daley`s grin growing by the minute and begin to wonder what he`s up to.
"Ok then, come with me." he puts his hand on my shoulder and we start to walk out of the dark chamber.
"Were are ya takin` me cheif?" I ask, hoping I could finally get some information for my report.
"You`re gonna get some of that research done. And since you`re doing Prohibition, I can think of a few things you should see."
Authors` Note: Well it`s bout time the natm stuff finally came in! I hope we wrote Larry ok...XD he just kinda jumped in there. next couple chapters are gonna be a little bit harder since Capone makes his entrance soon n we are still smoothin out his character. if anyones got any tips dont hesitate to give them! thanks for readin n please review!