By: Emily Chu

SPEAKER (CONCERNED PARENT): Ah, yes, I remember this photo almost too well. Emily being mischievous and trying to hide from her parents without much luck. But of course, a kid being mischievous on May 5 of 2018, at the age of nine, doesn’t matter too much to parents.

NARRATOR: It was at McGuire Air Force Base Airport. The time is 4:54 p.m. Emily decided to take a walk around the airplane and hide from her dad, who was evidently concerned and looking for her.

VIDEO CLIP PLAYS:

EMILY: This is a very interesting plane. [Emily walks around the turbine engine. Her head bumps on the metal surface.] Ouch, I need to be more careful next time.

CONCERNED PARENT: That kid, one second here and the next second already wandered one mile away. [He looks around anxiously.]

EMILY: Oh! Dad’s over there. Let’s see what happens if I disappear. Bet he won’t ever find me. I’m too great of a hide-and-seek player to be caught. [Emily walks mischievously to the other side of the turbine engine and peeks out].

CONCERNED PARENT: Wait! I just saw a blue and green thing flash behind the engine. Could it be…? [He walks towards the turbine engine.] Oh indeed, it is her! Well, I would like to play a game. [He pretends as if he hadn’t seen her and wanders around so that Emily can’t see him. Emily turns around to see if others are watching, then turns back.]

EMILY: Wait! He was just there a second ago! [She looks around anxiously for her parent]. Damn! [Concerned parent climbs onto the plane and takes a photo of the mischievous Emily.]

CONCERNED PARENT: AHA! [He quickly climbs back down and pretends to be excited that he finally found her]

EMILY: Hmph!

CONCERNED PARENT: [He shows Emily the photo. Emily’s eyes open very wide, as though she is horrified. She puts on an annoyed expression.]

NARRATOR: Tell me, Emily, how does looking at this picture make you feel?

EMILY: I don’t usually look at this photo because it’s in the photo album that’s in the back of the bookshelf, but when I do, I always laugh at how stupid I was back then, thinking that tricking parents is easy work. Apparently, it’s not, and I do hope each of you listening will not try to trick your parents.

NARRATOR: Thanks so much for your time!

EMILY: Mhm, you too!

NARRATOR: Well, this is the end of episode #321 of The History of Life Podcast. We’ll see you next time.