Tag: prehistoric

Charlie’s Room: Museum Trip

“We’re going to the art museum today,” Marianne said.

Charlie and Isaac looked up sleepily from their bowls of oatmeal. The dinosaur movie marathon had run a little late the night before. Charlie shrugged. “Okay.” He picked a raisin out of his oatmeal with his fingers.

“Use your spoon.” Marianne handed him the spoon and raised an eyebrow, waiting until he took the spoon with a sheepish grin.

Isaac yawned. “What’s at the art museum?”

“There’s an exhibit of some work by one of my favorite artists.” Marianne retrieved a postcard from the counter and handed it over. “That just came in the mail a few days ago.”

Isaac turned over the postcard. “A miniatures artist?”

“She creates tiny, lifelike sculptures. I always wanted to build a whole world for them or at least fill a dollhouse with them.”

Charlie looked skeptical. “And then what?”

“I’d play with them, of course.” Marianne grinned. “I would make up stories about the little people and animals, and they’d live epic lives. I’m sure I’d also spend hours admiring the workmanship.”

“So, the art museum today.” Isaac nodded. “Sounds fun. Should we pack a lunch?”

“I’ll pack it.” Charlie set down his spoon and pushed out his chair.

Marianne held onto his chair. Charlie looked up as she pushed the chair back in. “Not so fast. You haven’t finished your breakfast. Eat a little more, or you’ll be hungry later. I’ll pack the lunch.”

Isaac laughed. “I think that’s a good idea. Last time Charlie surprised us with lunch, we got jam and potato chip sandwiches.”

“I thought it would taste better than it did.” Charlie frowned.

“It was an interesting idea.” Isaac smiled. “I just think you’re apprenticeship in the kitchen needs to last a little longer.”

“I’m not ready to be a kitchen master?” Charlie giggled.

“Not yet.”

A few hours later, they were at the art museum. The miniatures really were as amazing as Marianne had said. Isaac marveled at a tiny fawn. “Did you see this one?” He asked Marianne.

She hurried over with her camera. She asked at the front desk, and they said she could take pictures as long as she didn’t use her flash. She was taking pictures of everything. Sure enough, after she exclaimed over the little fawn, she took a picture or three. “It’s all so amazing! Look at the swans over here. I think three of them could fit on a dime!”

“Dad, come see this!” Charlie grinned and waved him over. “They have dinosaurs! I want something like this in my room.”

Isaac looked at the detailed, tiny dinosaurs in a small, strange, almost tropical environment. “That is neat. It’s too big to fit on your desk, though. And I have no idea how to make tiny dinosaurs.”

Charlie nodded and thought for a moment. “Maybe they have some at the gift shop.”

Marianne joined them and took a few pictures. “Look at that little spider. It looks so delicate and pretty. Did they have giant spiders at the time of the dinosaurs?”

Charlie leaned in closer. “I don’t know. It looks like it could be a pet for that brontosaurus. That’s pretty neat. Please take a picture of it so I can look it up when we get home.”

Marianne took a few more pictures. “Charlie, did you see the little garden?”

“No, where is it?” He looked around the room.

“This way. You have to see what she did with the bean plants. They’re climbing the cornstalks.” Marianne led the way across the room.

Isaac looked back down at the dinosaurs. Were there giant spiders at the time of the dinosaurs? It’s funny how he never really thought about prehistoric insects. Of course there had to be insects then too, but what did they look like? Were they like sharks, unchanging while the world around them adapted?

Perhaps the artist was right and they were just a bit larger, making it easier to fit into a world that seemed larger than life. He leaned in closer in order to see the details better. It really was amazing. It looked real.

The spider moved, and Isaac jumped. The spider skittered away and hid under a tiny stegosaurus. Isaac laughed. Despite the context, this was definitely a modern spider.

He still wanted to know more about ancient spiders. When they got home, he and Charlie needed to look through their dinosaur books again. He smiled and joined Marianne and Charlie who were still carefully examining the miniature garden. Museums certainly were educational.