Excuse Me, Do You Know...?

Marina was in Washington for three days. On her first morning, she wanted to visit the Space Museum. She had a map on her phone, but the battery was dead. "No problem," she thought. "I'll ask someone."

She stopped a woman with a dog. "Excuse me, do you know where the Space Museum is?" "Sure," said the woman. "Go straight ahead and turn left at the bank. It's about ten minutes." Marina thanked her and walked for ten minutes. She found a park, but no museum.

Next she asked a man who was selling hot dogs. "Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the Space Museum?" "Easy," he said. "It's that way, behind the station." Marina walked that way. Behind the station there was a very big hotel.

She was getting tired. A police officer was standing on the corner. "Excuse me, do you know what time the Space Museum opens?" "At ten," said the officer. "Great. And do you know which street it's on?" The officer pointed. "That one. Then right, then left." Marina went right, then left, and arrived at a church.

She sat down on the steps of the church. A girl of about twelve was sitting there too. "Are you lost?" the girl asked. "Yes," said Marina. "Do you know where the Space Museum is?" "Which one are you looking for?" said the girl. "There are two."

Marina stared at her. Two museums! "The one with the rockets," she said. "The big one is on the other side of the river," said the girl. "The small one is right there." She pointed across the street. "You're sitting in front of it."