They entered the museum and walked across the vast main floor. Statues, impressive artworks, and various artifacts adorned the lobby. Tarik waited by the reception area while Kori ogled an old stone tablet suspended in a display case. He pressed his stout little nose against the glass, his eyes moving all around its intriguing engravings. “Wonder what all that stuff says,” he whispered.

“Better step back there, son, we can’t have nose prints on the displays,” a guide said to him.

“Sorry.” Kori awkwardly stepped back while the woman wiped the glass, strands of her dark brown hair dangling over her face.

Tarik came over and knelt beside him. “Yeah Kor, we don’t wanna have to lock you inside one of those things.”

“Oh, it’s alright. It’s rare to see kids his age so excited about history,” the woman said.

“Maybe you could help us with something?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Where could we find the Gesnian Historical Exhibit?”

“That’d be on the fourth floor. There’re tours every hour; you’ve got about fifteen minutes before the next one starts. You can buy tickets at the main doors.”

“Great, thank you.”

“Just remember, look with your eyes, little guy,” she said, winking at Kori.

“Understood,” Tarik said. “Thanks again.” They headed for the elevators, gazing up at the towering skyscraper floors above. “The way you’re movin’, fifteen minutes may not be enough time, huh, Kor?”

Kori frowned. “Aww man, and I gotta run in gym class on Monday. Thanks, Gramps!”

The woman smiled as she watched them head across the floor. After leaving the elevators they came to the exhibit area, where people grouped by the ticket vendor. Tarik pulled out his wallet while they stood in line.

“This is gonna be awesome, I heard there’s new stuff in there.”

“Hmm, new old stuff, huh?” Tarik said with a simper.

They bought their tickets and grouped inside with the other tourists. The exhibit consisted of three large rooms whose wood floors reflected the warm, vivid overhead lights. Tables and displays spread all across the room, with an impressive array of artifacts.

“Can’t wait,” Kori said, practically spinning in circles with excitement.

“Can’t remember the last time I saw this; I wonder what all they've discovered recently.”

“I could tell ya.”

Tarik patted the boy’s head. “I don’t doubt it, you’re my little encyclopedia.”

Kori pointed his finger. “Betcha I know more than you!”

“Sadly, you probably do, but at least I can still move my legs.”

They roughhoused for a moment until the tour guide summoned the group together. They stood in a circle around the woman, listening to her introduction. Tarik’s eyes weaved around the room, and near the rear of the group he saw the same woman from the lobby. She stood there, arms folded across her navy blue, long-sleeve dress shirt.

Man, she got here fast, he thought.

“So, ladies and gentlemen, if there are no questions we’ll begin in the first room here.” The guide waved her hand over to the far left corner of the hall, and everyone followed her lead. “This first room holds a number of artifacts from early Gesnian history. You’ll see relics used by some of the earliest settlers, as well as important records that were utilized by later generations.” She slowly led them through the first room, gesturing to the old wares. “Here are some of our oldest recorded Gesnian fossils. As you can see, they weren’t much different from us. As far as research shows, these can be dated from roughly 2067. It wasn't until around 2081 that our records documented the earliest civilizations.”

Tarik examined the dusty skeletal remains resting in the cases, two completed skeletons and several other bony fragments of differing size. He moved further along to a series of unusual excavation pieces in another case. Beneath the shiny, thick glass cover lie coins, cloth tapestries, stone carvings, and crudely-molded artisan wares. Tarik’s eye skimmed over the lettering on a ceramic relic, carved into a primitive lantern. Narrow slits lined its body, and a ragged twine rope strung through the top cover. “Pretty fascinating. I bet he would know what that says,” he said to himself.

“Grandpa, check this out.”

He looked over to where Kori admired a stone triptych on a long, marble pedestal tilted upright, supported by a thick, metal rack. In the central panel stood a carved figure—faceless, with little detail in its depiction. Crooked lines emerged from its head, bursting outwards like a sun’s rays. Five unusual symbols surrounded it, and on the other two panels appeared lines of foreign lettering and characters. Tarik quietly viewed the mysterious diagram, seeming to tell a story that happened in those ancient times. Something about it made him shudder.

“So everyone, in about ten minutes we’ll continue to the second room, where we’ll start to explore the first colonies and see how their governments evolved,” the guide said.

“Excuse me, mind if I have a look?”

Tarik turned around and saw the woman from the lobby beside him. “Huh? Oh, sorry, didn’t realize I was so close. Guess these things really suck you in.”

The woman smiled, and approached the display. “You boys behaving over here?” she said quietly.

“Well Kori is, but I’m not sure how long I’m gonna last,” he said with a chuckle.

“These relics really are something. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be there, discovering something like this firsthand,” she said.

“Really makes you wonder what life was like in the Old World.”

“The Old World?”

“Oh, uh, I just mean it must’ve seemed like a different world back then! You know, no computers, cars…pizza,” he said, shuffling his hands clumsily.

She smiled. “How did they survive? So is that your son?”

They observed Kori meandering around the exhibit.

“Grandson. He’s eight.”

“He seems very precocious for his age. I bet you’re proud of him.”

Tarik waved his hand. “He gets it from his mom, his dad’s a lunkhead.”

“What?”

“Oh, I mean his dad isn’t really the academic type. He’s more of an explorer. We lived in the mountains for a long time; kid spent more time diggin’ in dirt than study!”

Her hands folded around her backside. “That’s interesting. Sounds like you two are pretty close.”

“Well, he…yeah, we are.”

“You two come here often?”

Tarik grinned. “More often than I’d care for, but Kori loves ‘em. I’m tryin’ to get him to try different things.”

She watched Kori come over and tug Tarik’s leg.

“Hey, you see these funny things over here?” Kori said.

“What’d you find?”

The three of them walked over to another table filled with various implements resembling weapons and digging tools. Nearby lie random figurines and artistic pieces made from clay, stone, and copper.

“What’s this?” Kori said.

“According to old myths, it’s the scepter that belonged to Nontis, an ancient hero who saved his village from the brink of destruction,” the woman said.

“Wow!”

“Sounds like you guys have something in common,” Tarik said jokingly.

“How so?” she said.

“This little guy’s been glued to a mythology book he found in our old house.”

“So you like to read, Kori?” she said.

“Yeah, it’s neat to see how different everyone is.”

“What’s your favorite story?”

“I dunno. I really like that Derigoth guy, ooh and the Nymph Sisters are really scary!”

“I’ve read those. You know, people who live in different societies may have different customs, but their stories and legends seem to have universal truth and appeal.”

“Man do I feel left out,” Tarik said.

“That’s okay, just read more, Grandpa.”

Tarik rolled his eyes. “I’ll get on it. Well, seems like you know your stuff. That why you chose this place to work?”

“Mostly, yes. For years I’ve wanted—” the woman began.

“Alright everyone, let’s continue our tour. Onto the second room. Oh, Janine? Come to the front for a moment?” the guide asked.

The woman Tarik spoke with momentarily excused herself, and took to the head of the group to answer some questions.

“Wow, she’s cool for a girl,” Kori said.

Tarik stared blankly across the room. “Yeah…”

Once the tour finished, Tarik and Kori straggled along the fourth floor, looking over some other showpieces throughout the vicinity.

“That was fun, thanks Grandpa.”

“Glad you liked it, kid. See, it’s possible to do more in a day than just read.”

“Whatcha wanna do now?”

Tarik checked his watch. “Eh, it’s about four. Wanna catch a movie or somethin’? Give you a chance to rest your legs!”

Kori raised his fists. “Cool. Can we see that new scary movie?”

“I was thinkin’ something a little more kid-friendly. How about that comic book store down the street?”

“Sure. Let’s go.” Kori excitedly scurried across the floor toward the elevator. Tarik turned around and watched the tourists clear out of the exhibit.

“Hey, Kor?”

“Yeah?”

Tarik scooped some money from his pocket and handed it to him. “How ‘bout you hang at the souvenir shop for a bit. I’ll meet ya down there.”

“Really? Cool.” Kori went to the elevators, leaving him behind. Tarik shuffled across the floor, looking over some wall displays. Eventually Janine, the other tour guide, walked out of the hall.

“Oh, hello again. You two enjoy the exhibit?”

“Sure did, well, not as much as him.” Tarik chuckled nervously. “Anyway, thanks for entertaining my grandson. Kid doesn’t get out much.”

“No problem. He’s a sweetie. So, anything else I can help you all with?”

“Oh no, just wanted to say thanks again. We’ll get outta your hair. Bye now!” Tarik turned quickly and shuffled across the floor.

Janine held up her hand. “Excuse me, sir?”

“Yes?”

“Is this your wallet?”

Tarik checked his pockets. “Uh-oh…sure is. Thank you very much. Must’ve slipped out a minute ago.”

She walked over and handed it to him. “So, uh, Mr. Sandori, right?”

“How’d you know?”

“I’m sorry, your license happened to be facing me,” she said with a grin.

“Eh, you can call me Tarik. I’m sure we’ll be back six more times before the year’s over.”

She chuckled. “Well we’d love to have you back.”

“Thanks again, Janine, was it?”

“You got it,” she said, pointing to her badge. “Janine Mayfield. Anyway, if you two aren’t tied up for the afternoon, would you like to join me for a cup of coffee?”

“I don’t know, last thing Kori needs is caffeine.”

“Well, I was hoping you and me! What do you say?”

“Uh, sure, I guess one cup can’t hurt. Shall we?”

“Great. When we get to the lobby, I just have to clock out and grab my things.”

“Alright. I gotta track down Kori in the gift shop.”

The two of them briefly separated, and Tarik went over to the souvenir shop. He found Kori at the cash register, walking out with a plastic bag. “Oh man, he probably bought half the store.”

“Hey Gramps, look what I got!” Kori pulled out some fossil keychains, a couple books, an atlas, a pack of illustrated flash cards, and some glow-in-the-dark stickers.

“Wow, nice haul. Anyway, how’d you like to hang out with that nice lady from the tour?”

“Whatcha mean?”

“Well she invited me for coffee, so I thought I’d take her up on it.”

“Yeah, sounds cool. She’s nice.”

Janine eventually approached them from behind with her purse and belongings in hand. “Hello again, Kori. If you two aren’t busy, would you like to join me for something to drink?”

“I guess. Long as they got chocolate milk.”

She smiled, and gave Tarik a thumbs-up from beneath her purse. They walked down the museum stairs and along the busy sidewalks. “I know a cute little coffee shop just down the block.”

“Lead the way,” Tarik said. “Kor, you’re sure you’re okay with this?” He looked down and noticed Kori already a few pages into one of his new books. Man, I hope this kid never gets a driver’s license.

The three new acquaintances sat at a small table inside the coffee shop, observing the laid-back patrons lounging, playing on their computers, and engaging in soft conversation. Kori sat beside Tarik, sipping from a container of chocolate milk while contently reading his book.

“Looks like only two of us are gonna be talking,” Tarik said, stirring his coffee.

“He’s adorable.”

“Anyhow, Janine, how long have you been workin’ at the museum?”

“Over four years now. I started as an intern, then went on to doing tours. I was trying to save some extra money to pursue an archaeology degree.”

“Wow, impressive. You still thinkin’ about it?”

“A lot, actually. There’s just some days when I feel, I don’t know, less confident about it than others.”

“How so?”

“Hard to explain—I guess I’m still learning. Being at the museum’s a great way to surround myself with history without actually going on an excavation. I suppose I’m still at that midway point, either stay where I am or take the dive!”

“Makes sense. Sounds like you’ve got a handle on things, though. I guess you can never be too prepared. Seems like a good place to study while you study.”

She laughed. “Very true. How about yourself, Tarik? What sort of things interest you?”

He took a sip of coffee. “I lived on Mount Faizon most of my life, so I’m pretty used to being outdoors. Used to do construction work for friends; now I work at Huckner’s Orchard making deliveries.”

“Oh, I’ve been out there, Huckner’s is beautiful. It’s sure a hike!”

“That’s another hobby. My son and I used to blaze trails all the time!”

“What’s your son like?”

Even Kori heard her question, and abruptly looked up at him. Tarik twiddled his mustache and fiddled with his cup. “Eh, my son…” He cleared his throat. “His name is Nikolai. Call him ‘Niko’ for short.” Janine leaned her chin in her hand as she listened. “He’s a lot like Kori here. Not quite as sharp, but he’s got more courage and heart than anyone I’ve ever known.” Kori scooted his book aside, and took another drink. “Niko’s been traveling for the last few years. He kinda outgrew the mountains, so he and his wife are on another adventure. Guy can’t seem to stay put for long! He’s a heck of a young man though, definitely got a good one with him.”

“That’s so nice. Having children must be so rewarding,” Janine said.

“You don’t have any?”

“Well, I did teach for a couple semesters at the middle-school level. It’s nice seeing them grow, but it can’t be the same as having your own, every day of the year.”

“I suppose not.”

“Grandpa, I’m hungry.”

“Hmm, almost five,” Tarik said, checking his watch. “Guess we better hit the road, little man.” He finished his coffee, and shook Janine’s hand. “This was nice. Thanks for inviting me.”

“You’re welcome, sorry I ate up all your time!”

“Don’t say ‘eat up’ when he’s hungry, you’ll never hear the end of it,” Tarik said with a laugh.

“I’m sorry Kori, I’ll let you two go.”

“It’s okay. Hang on, gotta go pee.” Kori walked to the other end of the store to the restroom.