Now museum, now you don't

Chapter One: Old Stuff CHAPTER ONE OLD STUFF Museums are strange. Am I right? I mean, museums are like big buildings filled with old stuff you're not allowed to touch. They have old paintings and old statues. Old furniture and old jewelry. They even have old pottery. That's kind of like leaving your icky, dirty dishes lying around for a hundred years! Don't get me wrong. Museums might have new art too. But I never really understand it. Like, which side is up? And is that supposed to be a horse? Anyway, we didn't come to the Kersville Museum that day to see art. We came to see old people! No, I'm not talking about your grandparents or great-grandparents. Or even great- great -grandparents. I'm talking about really old people. Yeah, I'm talking about mummies ! You know mummies, right? They are wrapped in cloth, surrounded by gold, and live in pyramids for thousands of years. Yeah, of course you know what a mummy is. Because mummies are the coolest! Well, that's what I used to think. Right now, I'm having some really serious doubts. That's me, Andres Miedoso. I'm the one on the back of the yak. Well, a fake yak. That's my best friend, Desmond Cole. He's in the chariot. The chariot is real, but the horse is fake. No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. The yak and the chariot are starting to move ! As a matter of fact, everything in the whole museum is turning real. My mom likes to say that museums make history come to life. I don't think this is what she meant! Oh no, my yak is taking off. I better hold on tight! Excerpted from Now Museum, Now You Don't by Andres Miedoso All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.