Aidan and the Course of History

Aidan and the Course of History is a story written by Hyakunichisou 13. It ran in Issue 54 at http://s2b2.livejournal.com/305439.html, and will be mirrored on Wednesday at http://www.shousetsubangbang.com/.

Author's notes

This story takes place at the Canadian Museum of History (http://www.historymuseum.ca), formerly the Canadian Museum of Civilization (formerly, for those of us who are really old, the Museum of Man). It is located in Gatineau, Quebec, literally a stroll across the river from Ottawa, Ontario, the nation's capital.

The descriptions of the outdoor spaces, entry way, and Grand Hall are as true to life as memory and Googlemaps could make them. However, all descriptions of the exhibits, staff, and non-public areas are complete fabrications. The only exceptions are the ship bunk diorama, which fascinated me when I saw it in the previous museum building when I was a kid, and the town square, which I think may have been part of the now-dismantled (and currently under renovation) Canadian history gallery, though my memory is vague. I may or may not have made up the Course of History, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who's had that idea.

I have never been behind the scenes at the museum. I don't know if there is an underground tunnel between the exhibit and curatorial buildings, though it makes sense that there would be, because Gatineau winters.

Much gratitude to Mewenn for helping Thierry sound like a person instead of a textbook, and for teaching me some useful Quebecois swearing!