Archie watched with a shy smile as she looked through her presents and was pleased to find that she enjoyed them. He had more than enough weird stuff at home; one day he'd have to let her explore his parent's vaults with him. They weren't rich by any means, but most of their family treasures went beyond monetary value: artifacts, manuscripts, and random objects from around the world that sat around until someone asked about them.
He peeked down at his book and touched the pages as she'd said. He touched the picture of the sphinx, and was half-startled by how quickly it popped up. It turned its head and looked at him, smiled, and then lowered itself onto the pages as if it was preparing to take a nap. "I've never seen a book like this one. I bet my parents will like it as much as I do," he explained, closing it carefully so the sphinx wouldn't be disturbed.
Archie touched the spot next to him on the bench, gasping as he realized the machete was, in fact, not there!
"I can't believe I left it! I put it right by the door, too," he complained, his lips slipping into a pout. "Wait for me and I'll grab it, alright?"
He peeked down at his book and touched the pages as she'd said. He touched the picture of the sphinx, and was half-startled by how quickly it popped up. It turned its head and looked at him, smiled, and then lowered itself onto the pages as if it was preparing to take a nap. "I've never seen a book like this one. I bet my parents will like it as much as I do," he explained, closing it carefully so the sphinx wouldn't be disturbed.
Archie touched the spot next to him on the bench, gasping as he realized the machete was, in fact, not there!
"I can't believe I left it! I put it right by the door, too," he complained, his lips slipping into a pout. "Wait for me and I'll grab it, alright?"