When Claudia Kincaid, heroine of From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, grew tired of the injustice of having to both empty the dishwasher and set the table on the same night and bored of the sameness of every week, she devised a plan to break free from the monotony of everything. That plan involved running away from home to hole up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and for many readers of E.L. Konigsberg's 1977 children's classic--I include myself among them--a museum-based slumber party has long represented the ultimate escape fantasy.

I still haven't figured out a way to sleep in a bed that is also an 18th-century work of art, but the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is offering an opportunity Claudia Kincaid would have schlepped across the country for.



The museum is looking for a "roommate" to explore the space, take part in live science demonstrations, and document the experiences for those of us who aren't lucky enough to participate. Oh, and as if a month at an enormous, fascinating museum weren't a prize to be coveted in and of itself, they're offering $10,000 to the person they select. 

To be that person, you just have to fill out an application form with questions like "Name three of your pet peeves," create a 60-second video, write a 500-word essay on why you want to spend a month at the museum, and then cross your fingers and hope to the spirit of Mrs. Frankweiler that you're chosen. It's a long shot, sure, but is there anything wrong with adding "Spend a few days imagining month-long adventure" to your to-do list? And for anyone whose daily responsibilities make running away from home a little tricky, I have good news: if you're seeking adventure in afternoon-long doses, your local museum would be happy to accommodate you.

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