Stories · Curiosities · Questionable Ideas · Rather a Lot of Imagination · Farah Sam · Author & Creator ·
Great Aunt Helena and the Colossal Giants
Aunt Helena treats towering pharaoh statues like old family friends at Abu Simbel, while Sir Bark-A-Lot conducts an intense tape-measure investigation.
MAX SPARKLY DIARIES JOURNAL
Max Sparkly
6/14/20261 min read
Max’s Diary-Style Journal Entry
June 14th — Abu Simbel Today we traveled down to Abu Simbel to meet Aunt Helena, who is incredibly passionate, knowledgeable, and has an absolute mountain of enthusiasm for old ruins. The massive seated statues towering over the entrance are completely spectacular. As we stood before them, Aunt Helena smiled warmly and handed me a beautiful alabaster cat to tuck safely into my rucksack.
"Good afternoon, Your Majesty," she said to a giant stone foot, as if talking to a neighbor. She explained the incredible historical preservation and how the entire structure was moved to avoid the rising waters.
Tilly tried to climb a column base until Granny bustled over with a biscuit to lure her down. Tilly sat on the sand, giggled, and looked up at the stone giants.
"Max," she said, "the stone giants are only quiet because they are listening to the sky. If we are quiet too, we can hear what they are thinking." I felt a shiver run down my spine. That was far too clever for a girl who had later lemon-scented my new alabaster cat with a stray lemon drop. It is deeply worrying.
Sir Bark-A-Lot spent the afternoon staring up at the statues, letting out small barks. He suddenly lunged and grabbed Aunt Helena’s long yellow measuring tape from her pocket, running across the plaza with it trailing from his mouth like a ribbon.
These statues are enormous.
The dog is completely unmanageable.
Crumbs. I hope the ancient kings don't wake up to scold us.
Explorer’s Notes
OFFICIAL LOG: Structural displacement analysis and colossal measurements.
Gift Acquired: Alabaster cat from Aunt Helena (currently smelling faintly of Tilly's lemon candy).
Mischief Report: Measuring tape retrieved from canine mouth, slightly chewed.