One night, very late – later than kids are supposed to be awake - Ben was paging through a book. "This one is my favourite!" said Ben, turning the page. His eyes were wide with excitement as they saw crocodiles, pyramids and – oh dear – even menacing mummies! "I wonder what it would be like to visit Egypt," mused Ben, closing the book. He jumped off the bed to look for Egypt on the globe. He turned the globe slowly while searching for Egypt's name. "I know it's somewhere in Africa," Ben said and stopped when he reached the huge continent. "There it is!" Ben exclaimed and touched the globe… Something strange was happening! Everything started spinning around Ben – until suddenly, the spinning stopped.

He was standing waist-deep in the Nile River! Ben gasped as warm water swirled around him. "I'm really in Egypt!" he exclaimed, looking at palm trees lining the riverbank. A small wooden boat floated nearby. Splashing sounds made Ben turn around quickly. A baby crocodile swam past, eyeing him curiously. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you," Ben whispered to the reptile. The little crocodile blinked before swimming away. Ben waded carefully to shore, his clothes dripping under the hot Egyptian sun.

Ben's wet shoes made squelching sounds as he walked across the sandy shore. In the distance, he could see the unmistakable shape of a pyramid. "That's where I need to go," Ben decided, pointing toward the massive structure. The desert sand was hot beneath his feet. Thankfully, his shoes dried quickly in the scorching heat. Ben shielded his eyes from the bright sun as he trudged forward. A gentle breeze carried the scent of unfamiliar spices. "I can't believe I'm really in ancient Egypt," Ben whispered to himself.

After walking for what felt like hours, Ben finally reached the enormous pyramid. Its stone blocks were bigger than his entire bedroom! Ben ran his hand along the rough surface, feeling the ancient stones. "How did they build something so huge without machines?" he wondered aloud. A dark entrance loomed before him, beckoning him inside. Ben took a deep breath and stepped into the cool darkness. Torches flickered mysteriously along the walls, lighting his way. "Hello?" Ben called, his voice echoing down the stone corridor.

The pyramid was like a giant maze with twisting corridors and hidden chambers. Ben's footsteps echoed as he explored deeper into the ancient structure. The air felt cool and smelled of dust and time. Occasionally, he heard strange rustling sounds that made him jump. "Just my imagination," Ben assured himself, though he wasn't entirely convinced. He turned a corner and gasped in amazement. The walls were covered in colorful hieroglyphs that seemed to tell a story. Ben traced the pictures with his fingertips, wondering what they meant.

The painted symbols showed people, animals, and strange symbols Ben had never seen before. One picture showed the sun god Ra sailing across the sky in a boat. Another depicted workers building the very pyramid Ben was standing in. "I wish I could read these," Ben sighed, studying the ancient writing. Suddenly, the hieroglyphs began to glow with golden light! Ben stepped back in surprise as the symbols seemed to move. It was as if they were telling him their stories without words. Ben understood that this chamber held important secrets.

Following the glowing hieroglyphs, Ben found himself in a large chamber. In the center stood a magnificent sarcophagus decorated with gold and jewels. "A real mummy must be inside," Ben whispered, approaching cautiously. The lid of the sarcophagus was slightly ajar. Ben's heart pounded as he peeked inside. Wrapped in ancient bandages lay the mummy of an Egyptian pharaoh! Ben jumped back when he thought he saw the mummy's finger twitch. "I think it's time to leave," Ben decided quickly, backing toward the door.

Ben hurried out of the pyramid into the bright sunlight. He blinked, adjusting his eyes to the glare. There before him stood the magnificent Sphinx, its lion body and human face watching over the desert. "You're even bigger than in my book!" Ben exclaimed, walking around the massive statue. The Sphinx's stone eyes seemed to follow him. Ben could almost imagine it speaking to him in a deep, ancient voice. He sat in the Sphinx's shadow, resting from his adventure. The desert wind whispered secrets around him.

Feeling hungry, Ben followed a path that led to a bustling marketplace. Colorful tents housed vendors selling fruits, spices, and handmade goods. The air was filled with unfamiliar smells and the sound of people bargaining. Ben watched as children his age helped their parents with daily tasks. A kind woman offered him a piece of sweet date bread. "Thank you," Ben said, enjoying the honey-flavored treat. He wandered through the market, amazed by all the new sights.

In a quiet corner of the market, Ben noticed a healer's tent. An elderly man was carefully applying something to a young boy's injured arm. Ben moved closer to watch. "Is that moldy bread?" he wondered, recognizing what the healer was using. Ben remembered reading that ancient Egyptians used moldy bread on wounds, not knowing they had discovered an early form of antibiotic. The healer looked up and smiled at Ben's curious face. Ben smiled back, amazed at how clever the ancient Egyptians were.

As the sun began to set, Ben felt a strange tingling sensation. "I think it's time to go home," he realized with a mixture of sadness and excitement. The market around him began to blur and spin. Ben closed his eyes as the spinning sensation grew stronger. Wind rushed past his ears, carrying whispers of ancient Egyptian voices. The ground beneath his feet seemed to disappear. Ben held his breath, wondering where he would land. The spinning slowed, then stopped completely.

Ben opened his eyes to find himself back in his bedroom. His globe sat innocently on his desk, no longer glowing. "Was it all a dream?" Ben wondered, looking down at his pajamas. But there was sand between his toes and a faint smell of the Nile on his hands. His mother opened the door with a smile. "Time for bed, my little explorer," she said, tucking him in. Ben hugged his Egypt book close as he drifted off to sleep, already dreaming of his next adventure.