hisapprentice | [Puzzle 014]

[Sometimes, in the wake of a foundation-shattering event, all anyone can do is stare at what remains.

That is not true for Luke this time, and hasn't been in the entire two weeks since all of himself came rushing back. All things considered, he's been as upbeat and energetic as ever. Helpful, too - so many others seemed devastated in the aftermath, he felt and still feels like he ought to make up for it somehow.

The first thing he does with the free time in his Monday is go to the bakery and get a dozen of something. Donuts or cupcakes or similar things, anything sweet and delicious. Those treats are going to people he knows, if he can find them, especially the ones that haven't shown their faces of late.

Then it's time for the real substance of his day.

A puzzle.

He handwrites it out first, then reads it out for the benefit of anyone stymied on the writing front.]

A family gathers in a room for a party. In this family, there is a mother, a father, a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, an auntie, an uncle, a niece, a nephew, and 2 cousins. However, there are only 4 people in the room. What are their relations to each other?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Selphie likes a good distraction even if it is from the book she's reading on this hot summer day. She puzzles over the question, at first thinking that there's too many people in the room before she starts to figure it out. She shoots out an answer as soon as she's got a solution.]

I think I've got it!

The mother and father are the auntie and uncle and the parents of the son and daughter. The son and daughter are the neice, nephew and the two cousins.

I'm not sure I follow you. They're the mother and father of both children but also their aunts and uncles?

[Maybe this is a worlds-based difference; Luke tries not to make a face.]

Generally things of that sort are frowned upon in London, but, er...

I don't where London is but I mixed things up a bit.

Okay, let me try to explain it again.

So! A Mom can be an aunt and a Dad can be an uncle right? You didn't mention anything about who they were an aunt and uncle to though. In that respect, the son and daughter can also be a brother and a sister. For the same reason, they can also be cousins to others that aren't mentioned.

[He thinks she has it for a minute, until she says 'others that aren't mentioned'.]

You're right about all those things, but that isn't the correct answer. Those relationships are only about the four people in the room in relation to each other.

What? No way!

Relationships are only for the four in the room? Okay. One more time!

[In addition to Selphie talking herself through the puzzle and scribbling out quite a lot of her thoughts in the process, she finally produces what she's hoping is the right answer.]

Mom = Aunt
Dad = Uncle
Son = Brother
Daughter = Sister
Cousins = Mom and Dad but not to each other

[There is some kind of miscommunication going on here. Luke scratches his head through the hat.]

You're still a little bit off. You can't use anyone outside the room as part of their relationships.

Okay. Gimme a few minutes.

[There is clearly a miscommunication between the two of them but pardon her while she gives it another shot.]

The Mom is the Sister and the Aunt and the Dad is the Brother and the Uncle. Mom has the daughter and Dad has the son! Therefore, the son and daughter are the cousins.

Third times a charm?

Hmm, you might just have it. Could you draw it out, just to be sure?

Okay!

[She didn't fill in all the roles, but she didn't need to, now did she?]

Yep! That sure looks like the right solution to me.

[Puzzle 014]

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[Voice] - you get to see my mad gimp skillz XD

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