Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Me too,” James says, even though he must be so used to them with his job.
The middle of the museum is this three- or four-story space where a giant polar ship, the Fram, sits. It is huge, taking up the entire length and height of the museum. On all sides of it are more exhibitions, such as ice caves and igloos, and realistic polar bear and seal statues, all showcasing what it was like to travel through the Arctic back in the day. At the very top of the building, above the deck of the ship, is a huge wraparound screen that mimics the waves and the weather, so when you’re on the top deck of the ship you can pretend you’re out in the Arctic Ocean.
“Oh, I want to go up on the top deck,” I say, not meaning to say it out loud.
“Look at you,” James says in a low voice from behind me. “You’re loving this.”
I am. I suddenly wish I didn’t have the kids with me so I could explore the whole museum on my own, pretend to be a kid again myself. But being the nanny, and also an adult, I have to live it through Bjorn’s and Tor’s eyes.
And Bjorn wants to see the polar bears and go through the ice.
And Tor very much does not want to see any bears.
“Nooooo!” he screeches as Bjorn tries to pull us in that direction.
“Bjorn,” I warn him, pulling him back. “Your brother doesn’t want to see the bears right now.”
“But I do! He can stay with James.”
“That’s not how this works,” I tell him. “There’s only me here taking care of you. We have to compromise.”
From the look on Bjorn’s face, I don’t think he’s ever compromised before.
I sigh. “Look. We will go through the ice caves, and you can take a quick peek at the bears.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” James says, looking out for Tor.
I glance at him over my shoulder. His jaw is firm, eyes sharp, posture straighter than it’s ever been. It takes a lot to keep from swooning. What an inappropriate time to want to jump someone.
“We’ll see how it goes,” I tell him quietly. I just want to calm Bjorn and Tor down for now.
So we head off toward the sides of the museum where the interactive exhibitions are, going up the steps to the first floor and marveling at the ship as we walk down the length. I also want to read about the history in each exhibit along the wall, but Bjorn is so headstrong I don’t have the time.
“Don’t you want to go on the top deck?” I ask him, but he won’t have it. He pouts and shakes his head vigorously, and I know this usually leads to a meltdown. He knows this too.
“I want to go on the boat,” Tor says in a small voice.
Finally I have to put my foot down. I stop, James nearly running into the back of me, and pull Bjorn toward me, putting my hands on his shoulders. “Bjorn, wait. We can’t only do what you want to do. We will see the bears, but the rest of us, myself included, would like to go on the top deck and go through the boat.”
He’s not looking me in the eye, and his face is going red, but he nods.
Phew.
We walk up another flight of stairs until we can access the top deck of the ship, just as ominous music fills the air. We step on board, the lights dim, and the screen that takes up the top of the building comes to life with images of glaciers.
It’s crowded on the deck of the ship, but we manage to find a bench to sit on to watch the show. Bjorn keeps getting up, unable to sit still, so I let him fidget around me, while Tor is entranced. James isn’t watching the screen, but he is watching around us, always on alert.
Then the museum gets dark, and the waves start to build until it feels like we’re in the middle of a storm. It is a bit intense, so Tor starts to cry, just as a group of tourists straight off a tour bus gathers around us, speaking loudly in a foreign language.
“Okay, let’s go,” I tell Tor, getting to my feet. But when I go to grab Bjorn’s hand, he’s not there.
Oh my god.
“Bjorn!” I yell, which makes James flip around, his focus having been on the push of the crowd.
“Where did he go?” James says.
“I don’t know, I had him right here.” Wasn’t I holding his hand? But then Tor started crying and I just kind of forgot. This fucking brain of mine.
And now Bjorn’s gone.
I pick up Tor and start calling for him, but the tourists are everywhere and I can’t see him.