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

You said there is a mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, an... auntie, an uncle, a niece, a nephew, and two cousins. That is twelve.

[Nope. She still doesn't get it.]

How about a hint, then? Someone who is a father can also be a son, right?

[Well, if she mated and laid eggs her mother would still be her mother, wouldn't she?]

Yes. [Where is he going with this?]

That's your hint. It should help you sort out why it works with only those people.

They are the people that you said. They are a father, son, daughter, brother, and all of those other people.

No, see, that's what makes it a puzzle. You've got to solve it using only four people.

So I must choose who dies? [DAMN! Humans are brutal sometimes.] I do not choose to answer!

Nobody is dying! I'm not even sure how you got an idea like that in the first place.

You have tweleve people in a room, but you say only four can remain! Some must then be removed in some way. I refuse to pick who.

No I haven't! There are only four people in there and there only were four people even in the beginning!

No, you said there were twelve in the beginning.

I never said there were twelve at all. The puzzle itself says there are only four.

You listed all those people. The mother, the father, the son, daughter, brother, sister, auntie, uncle, niece, nephew, and the two cousins. That is twelve. That is much more than four. That is even more than double four.

[It is Luke's professional opinion that you quit while you're ahead, Xzana.]

That's what I'm trying to tell you. There were only ever four people, but they fill in all those relationships with each other.

[She really should, but at least she's quiet for a moment after he says that. Thinking. Quietly. Could it be she's finally understanding it?!]

But there are twelve relationships.

[NOPE.]

But if a mother... could also be a daughter...

[Or maybe!]

And a father can be a son...

[MAYBE]

What is a cousin exactly? Is it a type of creature? [As that's what she was picturing they were. Well, she's TRYING at least.]

Edited 2013-09-04 08:33 (UTC)

A cousin is your aunt or uncle's child. The children of your parents' siblings are your cousins.

[If your parents have siblings.]

Is that what humans call them. Hm.

[She thinks on the puzzle some more, but still doesn't come up with the answer.] This seems unnecessary. You know there are four and they should know how they are related. That is enough.

[Sigh.]

That's not the right answer, but if you want that to be your answer I'm not going to argue.

That is my answer. That it is unnecessary to know. [It's probably for the best really.]

[Puzzle 014]

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