Joe spotted the battered old jeep as soon as he turned in to his street that Saturday afternoon. Splattered with mud, its paint was peeling, its license plate was hanging off, and its roof rack groaned with trunks and boxes. Joe grinned; it could only belong to one personUncle Charlie! A wave of excitement swept over him, and he ran the rest of the way home.
Joe? Is that you?” Mom called as he slammed the front door. Weve got a visitor.”
Joe raced into the living room, not bothering to take off his sneakers, which were still muddy from playing in the park. And there was Uncle Charlie, lounging on the sofa sipping a cup of extra-strong black coffee.
Joe!” he said, beaming. How are you, buddy?” He stood up and gave Joe a bear hug. Youve grown! Youre nearly as tall as me!”
That wasnt strictly trueUncle Charlie still towered over Joe. As always, Joes great-uncle was wearing an old khaki safari suit and had his gray hair slicked back, and even though he was pretty ancient (if you counted wrinkles the same way as tree rings, hed be about the same age as a great oak!), his eyes sparkled with energy.
Uncle Charlies just back from Egypt,” said Mom. Look what he brought me!” She held up a beautifully carved wooden camel.
Cool,” said Joe.
Joe thought his uncle Charlie was amazing. He was an archeologist and spent most of his time abroad, digging up old relics. Usually they wouldnt hear anything from Uncle Charlie for months, then suddenly hed turn up on their doorstep with tales of lost cities and secret temples and treasure . . .
So, what was Egypt like?” asked Joe.
Hot! Very hot! And fascinating, too!” Uncle Charlie replied. We found a lost pyramid buried underground. Imagine that, Joea three-thousand-year-old tomb containing lavishly decorated sarcophagi, golden statues, a chariot as big as a bus . . .”
Mummies?”
Uncle Charlie grinned. Of course!”
Wow!” Joe loved hearing about Uncle Charlies adventures. He was already drifting off into a daydream about the secret pyramid and the treasures hidden within, when Uncle Charlie nudged him playfully, bringing him back to the real world with a bump.
Now, I want to hear all about you, Joe. Whats been happening? Have you gotten that dog yet?”
Joes mom grimaced. Dont mention the D word. Thats all I hear from morning to night!”
Every kid should have a dog.” Uncle Charlie winked at Joe.
Exactly!” said Joe. Thats what I keep saying!”
Mom frowned. But I only have to hear the word pet and I start sneezing!” As if to prove the point, she wrinkled her nose, blinked twice, and then gave a loud ACHOOO!
Joe scuffed the carpet with his foot. It didnt matter how desperate he was for a dog; with Moms allergies, he had no chance.
Cheer up, Joe!” said Uncle Charlie. Go and look in my bag. Ive got something for you.”
Joe brightened. Uncle Charlie always brought back the most amazing gifts. Once, hed given Joe a tigers tooth that hed had to dig out of his own thigh. Then there was the super-spooky glass eye that had belonged to a long-dead pirateit sat on top of Joes dresser, eyeballing anyone who dared enter his room.
Look for the old cigar boxits in there.”
Joe rummaged around inside Uncle Charlies battered old leather satchel and found a few notebooks, a pair of socks, and quite a lot of sand . . . Then he spotted the cigar box. He flipped open the lid and peered inside.