Chapter Text
Gloria awoke one evening to find that Cecil, Gus and Reginald were already locking up the exhibit for the night. Her exhibit consisted of four wax figures in a 50s diner setting depicting popular dances of the time. She in a dusty pink poodle skirt and heels, and Johnny, a greaser, posed in a jive when they freeze at night. Charles, in a v neck sweater vest and Ella in a pale yellow swing skirt, depicted black Lindy Hoppers.
Gloria approached the now locked gate.
“Good evening gentlemen, you’re rather early tonight,” she observed.
“Well Gloria,” Cecil began, a note of sadness in his voice. “Tonight is our last night as guards at the museum. Got a new guy starting tomorrow.” He tried to smile, but they could see this was hard for him.
“That sure sucks Mr Fredericks” Johnny said, leaning on the exhibit wall. “Know we’ll miss you boys.”
“Thank you Johnny,” Reginald said as he leaned on his stick.
“Why don’t you boys come visit? We’ll be glad to see you again,” Ella suggested loudly.
“Yeah we will!” Charles agreed, wrapping his arm around Ella’s shoulder.
“We don’t need your pity. You’re wax exhibits in a dusty museum.” Gus spat.
“You’ve never been one for pleasantries have you Gus?” Gloria said, turning to sit at one of the tables in the exhibit.
“Yeah, don’t hold back or nothing” Johnny backed away from the gate and approached the jukebox in the corner.
The nightly screaming and wailing coming from the Pharaohs exhibit down the hall started up. It made the museum’s occupants uncomfortable, and everyone was at odds as to what to do about him. Some, like Gloria, wanted to let him out, though on Gloria’s part she wanted the adventure. Others were frightened of the idea of a walking corpse in the museum.
“Come on boys, we got a lot to do before the morning.” Cecil said, waving goodbye at the exhibit’s occupants before heading further into the museum.
The four friends were quiet for a while, the only sound being Johnny searching through the jukebox for a song.
“I’m feeling Danny and the Juniors, I don’t know about you guys” said Johnny, breaking the silence. Charles cheered and Ella clapped her hands.
“I feel that!” Charles said, twirling Ella as they began to dance. Reluctantly, Gloria joined Johnny and they began to jive.
Dancing is how they passed the time most nights, ever since they had been put on display two years prior and found themselves alive. Sometimes the other exhibits, the ones who were able to roam around the museum, would stand and watch them. Some of them tried to join in, others just watched and applauded after each song.
It was almost morning when Teddy rode up on Texas.
“Teddy!” Gloria greeted the ex-president, ending her dance with Johnny to stand at the gate to speak with him.
“Miss Gloria!” he beamed. “I trust that you’ve heard the news? A new watchman tomorrow!”
“We heard from the guards this evening. They don’t seem too pleased about it.” Gloria stated solemnly. “I just hope he’s up to the job.”
“I’m sure he’ll do fine Miss Gloria” Teddy reassured her.
Gloria nodded, thinking.
“Have you spoken to your lady yet?” She enquired, a knowing look on her face. At this, Teddy shuffled in his saddle
“I have not. Though I’m sure the courage will be there one day.” He glanced sadly at Gloria, who was nodding in understanding.
“Well, just know we’re rooting for you” Johnny said, appearing behind Gloria to speak to Teddy. This seemed to have been the right thing to say, as Teddy beamed widely and sat up straighter.
“Thank you John” he nodded at Johnny in thanks. “Well! I bid you good morning.” He spurred Texas on and he rode away towards the museum foyer.
Gloria thought about the new guard. She had a feeling the old guards had not warned him of the special circumstances the job would entail.
“Maybe we should offer help to the new guard. Just until he gets into the swing of things” she suggested to the others.
“Screw that!” Johnny answered, ever the poet. “I’m exploring this place while I can. Two years and I haven’t left this corridor.” He gestured with his thumb at mentioned corridor. Ella and Charles agreed as they all took their positions for the morning.
When evening came back around, they awoke to a museum already in chaos. The others were quick to leave the platform, while Gloria hesitated.
“Come on! Can’t you smell the freedom? Even just here it tastes so sweet!” Johnny yelled as he and the others ran up the hallway and around the corner. Their echoing chorus of “Cool!” tempted her out of the display. She followed her friends around the corner, running full force into Attila the Hun.
“Oh! I am so sorry, sir! That was all my fault.” She spouted.
The man began yelling as his men readied themselves to attack. Gloria lost her temper quickly.
“HEY!” she yelled, taking the man by surprise “I said I was sorry! Now BACK OFF BOZO!”
The Hun stepped back in silent awe. He turned to his second in command.
“Bozo” he whispered. His soldier shrugged his shoulders.
Attila began to laugh, a loud, full bellied laugh. He slammed his hand down on her shoulder, patting her in fits of laughter. Each time he made contact, her knees buckled under the force.
“Bozo!” Tears of laughter began streaming down his face and into his beard, leaving Gloria and his men perplexed as to why he found that word as hilarious as he did. Attila pulled Gloria into a tight hug, trying to catch his breath. Gloria, struggled, but it was like fighting against a bear. Eventually pulling away, Attila shook her, “Bozo” he said once more, nodding as though he was confirming something, and moved on, slapping her on the back as he moved off with his men.
“Wow” Gloria whispered to herself, setting off at a slower pace up the corridor in search of her friends.
Turning the corner she found who she presumed to be the new night guard, having his nose bitten through the gate of the African Mammal exhibit. Managing to free himself he falls backwards onto the marble floor, snatching a set of keys from the monkey’s grasp, crying out in pain as he landed.
Stifling a laugh, Gloria watched as the monkey proceeded to pee on the guard as he stood to lock the gate.
“Ew! Oh! Yuck! Bad monkey! Stop that!” He yelled as he tried to dodge the spray. “Are you done?” he asked, looking up at the monkey as it stuck out it’s tongue. “Do you have an issue with me? Because if I have a problem with somebody, I don’t pee on them. Alright?”
Grabbing his keys he approached the locked gate to spout more discipline as the monkey snatched his notes out of his hand. The guard made to grab the paper, but the monkey was too quick.
“Hey! Dexter! That’s not funny! Give it back!”
Gloria approached the guard quietly. “Do you need any help?” She asked, still with a smile on her face.
“The monkey, Dexter. He stole my list.” He said solemnly.
“I saw.”
The guard now had his attention back on the monkey “Dexter!” He snapped, catching on to the monkey’s intentions. Gloria could only watch as Dexter held the paper aloft making as if to rip the paper in half.
The guard’s eyes narrowed, “Don’t. I know what you’re thinking, don’t do it it. Not a good idea!”
The monkey held the paper a little higher. “Don’t! I need those!”
Two monkeys sitting side by side in the tree closest to Gloria began to applaud their fellow primate.
“Don’t encourage him!” The guard warned, pointing up at the pair. He turned helplessly to Dexter. “You think you’re funny for your friends?” Gloria had to stifle another fit of giggles as the guard tried his best to combat the monkey in their strange battle of wits.
“You three guys, you think you’re cool? What.. you’re the ringleader?” He said pointing at Dexter, “And what? You’re his little audience?” He stated, pointing at the two.
Gloria watched as the lions sat on their platform, getting comfortable to view the scene unfolding in front of them. Dexter noticed his new audience too, and it was then he ripped the paper into tiny pieces.
“NO!” The guard exclaimed as he watched the monkey rip his notes into shreds. Dexter’s monkey friends applauded, and the monkey absorbed the attention.
The guard made to unlock the gates, but the lions jumped off their platform, growling and roaring at him. He yelled in frustration.
Gloria placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to placate the man. “Hey, don’t worry about it. You have time to work it out. I’ll try to help if I can.” The guard sighed, already frustrated by his first night. “They didn’t warn you about this did they?” Gloria asked, sensing the confusion in the man’s demeanor.
“No. No they did not.” He answered, looking her in the face.
Gloria sighed. “I’m Gloria.” She said, smiling and holding out her hand. He shook it.
“Larry. Daley.” He replied.
“Well Larry. I guess tonight is a new adventure for both of us.” She said, turning to walk with him into the corridor,
“Both of us? What, is this your first night too?” He questioned as they left the African Mammals section.
“No. But this is my first night out of my exhibit. My friends are also exploring this place for the first time. We’re in the diner display.” She explained. Larry nodded, still listening, but taking in his surroundings as they walked. We’ve been locked in there every night for 2 years.”
“Really? They never let you out?” Larry asked, surprised.
“Nope. Not once. Two years is a long time. The Pharaoh has it worse though. He’s been in his box for 50 years! Poor man.” She looked up at Larry, who eyed her quizzically. “He scares the other exhibits.” She said at last.
They stopped, finding themselves in the miniatures exhibit. Larry sat down on one of the benches, sighing.
“Well. Good luck with your evening Larry. I’ll see if I can try to calm some of the exhibits, try and make it easier for you.” She smiled, waving goodbye as she left through the opposite door. Larry raised his hand to return her wave.
“Hey, thanks.”
“No problem!” She called back as she sped away to explore more of the museum.
As she explored she stopped some of the other exhibits to behave as much as they could for the new night guard until he was settled. She managed to help her Vikings to help her police the rest of the exhibits as much as possible.
As she found her way into the museum’s foyer. Johnny, Ella and Charles ran up to her excitedly.
“Have you seen the dinosaur?” Johnny demanded loudly, much like an excited child, as they approached.
“No, I can’t say that I have,” she giggled at her friend’s enthusiasm. “I have made friends with the Vikings, the new guard - his name is Larry by the way - and I think Attila the Hun likes me.”
The four friends excitedly exchanged their experiences. Laughing and giggling at each other as they told stories of their night.
“Do you guys want to go see the Pharaoh?” Gloria asked, finally. She wanted to see the tablet for herself.
The excitement her friends were expressing seem to evaporate at the very mention of going to the Egyptology exhibit.
“I don’t know Gloria. We past there earlier, it was kinda scary,” Ella said quietly, cuddling into Charles.
“We were on our way to the Aquatic Mammals. Charles wants to see a blue whale,” Johnny said, nodding his head in the general direction of the area.
“Well, I can go on my own. You three have fun though.” Gloria waved goodbye to her friends and made her way to the Pharaoh’s exhibit. When she finally found her way there she found Teddy explaining everything to Larry.
“Miss Gloria!” Teddy exclaimed when he noticed her approach. “Lovely to see you out and about, finally! Have you been behaving?” A smile forming under his moustache.
“Actually she helped me a little” Larry informed the ex-President.
“Oh! I managed to wrangle help from the Vikings, they’re sorting through the troublemakers as we speak,” Gloria told them cheerfully.
“Oh, wow thanks,” Larry said.
“You’re welcome.” She gestured towards the tablet. “I just came to see what all the fuss is about.”
“Well don’t get too close,” Teddy warned. “The Pharaoh’s jackals won’t take too kindly to that.” He pointed behind her, and she turned to find she was indeed being watched by two extremely large Egyptian statues.
“Oh.” She said quietly. “I promise I’ll be good,” reassuring them nervously.
Teddy and Larry excused themselves and left her alone with a screaming Pharaoh.
She stepped up to the rattling sarcophagus, feeling a little nervous. Now she could understand the fear the other museum exhibits held.
“Hello?” She said softly. The Pharaoh continued screaming.
An idea popped into Gloria’s head and she kneeled as close to the sarcophagus as she could, without causing the jackals any concern. Quietly, she began to sing the first song that popped into her head. As she sang, the screaming stopped and the sarcophagus stilled. Slowly the lid was pushed open as far as it would go, so Gloria sang a little louder. She wouldn’t say she had a good singing voice. Far from it in fact. But the man had been stuck inside his own coffin for fifty years, and she felt bad for him. She was almost at the end of the song when Teddy appeared at the door to the exhibit.
“Miss Gloria! There you are. It’s almost sunrise, you need to return to your position now. Your friends are waiting for you.”
“Thank you, Teddy!”
After whispering good morning to the Pharaoh, she ran back to the diner display.
“So, did you see the dead guy?” Johnny asked her when she made it back.
“Yes. It wasn’t that bad really. The jackals are scarier.” Johnny's look of disbelief was the last thing she saw, before she felt herself freeze as the sun filtered through the museum windows.