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Blank wrote:
I did something like this recently, only I didn't finish the story. Anyway, my topic was "I wonder if this happens to a lot of people?"
Oh, and Blank, don't worry about word count with the story, in the competition on WriteLink they set a word limit on the day, so I'm just practising varying lengh stories. This one is around 1400 words long, by the way.
Oh and either post yours here or in another thread. You'll probably have more people read and respond in another thread though, but it's up to you.
----------------------
"I wonder if this happens to a lot of people?" I thought as I turned back from yet another dead end. It was quite embarrassing really, as I was a top student at Cambridge University, a mathematical genius according to some of the of the less reserved tutors. But I was well and truly lost in the maze. Actually, the called it The Maize, as it cut into a field of maize, and only open for part of the year. It didn't really matter what it was though, I was lost.
I'd gone into the maze just before midday. I walked down the path and was faced with two options, left for the 'easy' maze, right for the 'expert' option. Of course, being the intelligent and confident young man that I am, I chose right. I felt that the easy option just wouldn't cut it for me. . Estimated time to reach the centre was 45 minutes. I'd scoffed at that, thought I'd be there and back again in that time.
"Every maze has a pattern" That was what my Dad had once told me. Well maybe mazes cut into maize didn't stick to the standard rules. I'd tried taking every second right, alternating rights and lefts as I went along. I'd even tried adding up the number of possible turnings, and only taking them if the square route of that number was a whole number. But I just wasn't getting anywhere. In fact, for the last half an hour I've just been winging it really, taking turns at random.
It seemed like I was getting somewhere though, I was sure that the dead end that I'd just turned from wasn't one that I'd seen before. When I'd looked at my watch I chucked, it was half past one, I'd been in twice as long as the expected time. I was sure that I was making progress though, so it wasn't all bad. Well, not until I took the only route I knew I hadn't tried before and ended up back in the clearing with the patronising sign.
"Nearly there!"
Someone had drawn a little willy on the picture, so I was sure it was the same sign. I'd first seen this at around one o'clock, so had made no progress at all in half an hour.
I sat down with my head in my hands, I had no idea how I was going to get out, or how long it was going to take. I heard footsteps coming down on of the paths, and stood up quickly, I didn't want to be seen sitting there like that. Standing so suddenly made me feel a little queasy though, and I thought that I was going to be sick. This made me realise just how thirsty I was. I was a rather hot day, and I hadn't brought a drink in with me. I was becoming a little dehydrated. The signs suggesting that you were prepared, and took in a drink were just another one of those things that I'd scoffed at in my apparent superiority.
Three children went past me, and down a path I had travelled before. Nevertheless, I decided to follow them. Perhaps the randomness of a child was the answer, I thought. They took a couple of turning, which I frowned upon, and I expected to hear them sigh, and turn back each time, but they never did, they just kept going. I could hear whispered voices, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Then the began giggling, and I saw them break into a run just before they reached a corner. It was at this point that I regretted keeping such a distance between them and myself. Especially when I went around this corner to see no sign of them, but a long straight, with at least four visible options to turn off.
I signed, and felt at my throat. I looked up at the hot sun and cursed. I looked at my black t-shirt, and cursed again. Not only was I hot and thirsty, I was starting to stink a little.
I figured that the children couldn't have gone down any of the far away turns, as I surely would have seen them, so I decided to simply go for the first one I came to. After walking around a number of corners, always turning to the left, I found myself at another dead end. I made my way back to choose another path, walking much slower when shaded from the sun by the tall plants, and hurrying through the patched with little cover. My arms were going a little red, so I was probably going to end up sun burnt too.
The second path seemed to be better, I came to a fork, and followed it to the right. Unfortunately what followed were three corners taking me to the left, and all the way round, and I had no option but to head back to the main path to take another of the paths. As I was heading back I could hear footsteps again. Around the corner came the three children. I called out to them
"Another dead end down there?"
"No, you can get to the centre that way." said one of the boys. He was wearing a red cap, to keep the sun from his face. The other two were drinking from bottles of water that they'd brought with them.
"Is it easy to get there?" I asked.
"Well, there are a couple of choices to make, but it was easy, we went the right way every time."
"How did you choose, what was your pattern?" I asked. These young children had figured it out, when I couldn't. How was that possible.
"Well we just kind of headed towards the middle."
"Yeah" said one of the other kids "you can tell when it's going to be a dead end."
"Can you take me there?" I asked.
"No. We're heading out, my Mum is picking us up soon."
"I'll pay you."
"How much?"
"A pound!"
They looked at each other and laughed.
"Each?" I said, hopefully.
"Fiver each" said the boy that had been silent up until this point.
I checked my pocket, I had enough.
"Okay, but only if you let me finish of one of your drinks."
"Done. Cash up front though mister."
I paid the boys, and took a bottle from one of them. It was icy cold.
"We had the bottle in the freezer over night, to keep it cool." said red cap.
I smiles, and took a swig from the bottle. My throat gulped it down, thankful for the liquid that it was so badly lacking. I poured a little onto my hand, and rubbed it on the back of my hot neck, then I finished the rest of the drink.
The boys just starred at me, like I'd done something wrong.
"Now what are you going to do when you get thirsty on the way out?"
"Come on." I said, and ushered them to lead me to the centre.
Within minutes we were there. They darted through the maze, taking turns that I thought were completely ridiculous, but I was wrong, they knew what they were doing, and they got me to the centre.
I read the short congratulatory message on the wooden sign-post (this one was willy-free) and sat down on the bench, happy to get off my tired feet.
The children turned around, ready to leave.
"Hang on, I'm not ready to go yet!" I said.
"Mister" said red cap "The deal was only to get you to the centre."
Before I could even begin to argue they were running off, giggling as they went.
I sat victorious on that bench for some minutes. It was in a nice shady spot, and I really needed the rest. The last thing that I wanted to do was find my way out again. two hours it had taken me to get to the centre, and every turn on the way back would no doubt feel familiar, but I'd been down every dead-end, some more than once.
No, I stayed right where I was until the next person reached the centre. It was a woman (sensibly dressed and carrying liquid) and she said she wouldn't mind if I accompanied her on the way back. We did hit a few dead ends, but at least we did so together. I let her make all the choices too, and I didn't once feel the need to tell her that I was a mathematical genius from Cambridge University.
I did something like this recently, only I didn't finish the story. Anyway, my topic was "I wonder if this happens to a lot of people?"
Oh, and Blank, don't worry about word count with the story, in the competition on WriteLink they set a word limit on the day, so I'm just practising varying lengh stories. This one is around 1400 words long, by the way.
Oh and either post yours here or in another thread. You'll probably have more people read and respond in another thread though, but it's up to you.
----------------------
"I wonder if this happens to a lot of people?" I thought as I turned back from yet another dead end. It was quite embarrassing really, as I was a top student at Cambridge University, a mathematical genius according to some of the of the less reserved tutors. But I was well and truly lost in the maze. Actually, the called it The Maize, as it cut into a field of maize, and only open for part of the year. It didn't really matter what it was though, I was lost.
I'd gone into the maze just before midday. I walked down the path and was faced with two options, left for the 'easy' maze, right for the 'expert' option. Of course, being the intelligent and confident young man that I am, I chose right. I felt that the easy option just wouldn't cut it for me. . Estimated time to reach the centre was 45 minutes. I'd scoffed at that, thought I'd be there and back again in that time.
"Every maze has a pattern" That was what my Dad had once told me. Well maybe mazes cut into maize didn't stick to the standard rules. I'd tried taking every second right, alternating rights and lefts as I went along. I'd even tried adding up the number of possible turnings, and only taking them if the square route of that number was a whole number. But I just wasn't getting anywhere. In fact, for the last half an hour I've just been winging it really, taking turns at random.
It seemed like I was getting somewhere though, I was sure that the dead end that I'd just turned from wasn't one that I'd seen before. When I'd looked at my watch I chucked, it was half past one, I'd been in twice as long as the expected time. I was sure that I was making progress though, so it wasn't all bad. Well, not until I took the only route I knew I hadn't tried before and ended up back in the clearing with the patronising sign.
"Nearly there!"
Someone had drawn a little willy on the picture, so I was sure it was the same sign. I'd first seen this at around one o'clock, so had made no progress at all in half an hour.
I sat down with my head in my hands, I had no idea how I was going to get out, or how long it was going to take. I heard footsteps coming down on of the paths, and stood up quickly, I didn't want to be seen sitting there like that. Standing so suddenly made me feel a little queasy though, and I thought that I was going to be sick. This made me realise just how thirsty I was. I was a rather hot day, and I hadn't brought a drink in with me. I was becoming a little dehydrated. The signs suggesting that you were prepared, and took in a drink were just another one of those things that I'd scoffed at in my apparent superiority.
Three children went past me, and down a path I had travelled before. Nevertheless, I decided to follow them. Perhaps the randomness of a child was the answer, I thought. They took a couple of turning, which I frowned upon, and I expected to hear them sigh, and turn back each time, but they never did, they just kept going. I could hear whispered voices, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Then the began giggling, and I saw them break into a run just before they reached a corner. It was at this point that I regretted keeping such a distance between them and myself. Especially when I went around this corner to see no sign of them, but a long straight, with at least four visible options to turn off.
I signed, and felt at my throat. I looked up at the hot sun and cursed. I looked at my black t-shirt, and cursed again. Not only was I hot and thirsty, I was starting to stink a little.
I figured that the children couldn't have gone down any of the far away turns, as I surely would have seen them, so I decided to simply go for the first one I came to. After walking around a number of corners, always turning to the left, I found myself at another dead end. I made my way back to choose another path, walking much slower when shaded from the sun by the tall plants, and hurrying through the patched with little cover. My arms were going a little red, so I was probably going to end up sun burnt too.
The second path seemed to be better, I came to a fork, and followed it to the right. Unfortunately what followed were three corners taking me to the left, and all the way round, and I had no option but to head back to the main path to take another of the paths. As I was heading back I could hear footsteps again. Around the corner came the three children. I called out to them
"Another dead end down there?"
"No, you can get to the centre that way." said one of the boys. He was wearing a red cap, to keep the sun from his face. The other two were drinking from bottles of water that they'd brought with them.
"Is it easy to get there?" I asked.
"Well, there are a couple of choices to make, but it was easy, we went the right way every time."
"How did you choose, what was your pattern?" I asked. These young children had figured it out, when I couldn't. How was that possible.
"Well we just kind of headed towards the middle."
"Yeah" said one of the other kids "you can tell when it's going to be a dead end."
"Can you take me there?" I asked.
"No. We're heading out, my Mum is picking us up soon."
"I'll pay you."
"How much?"
"A pound!"
They looked at each other and laughed.
"Each?" I said, hopefully.
"Fiver each" said the boy that had been silent up until this point.
I checked my pocket, I had enough.
"Okay, but only if you let me finish of one of your drinks."
"Done. Cash up front though mister."
I paid the boys, and took a bottle from one of them. It was icy cold.
"We had the bottle in the freezer over night, to keep it cool." said red cap.
I smiles, and took a swig from the bottle. My throat gulped it down, thankful for the liquid that it was so badly lacking. I poured a little onto my hand, and rubbed it on the back of my hot neck, then I finished the rest of the drink.
The boys just starred at me, like I'd done something wrong.
"Now what are you going to do when you get thirsty on the way out?"
"Come on." I said, and ushered them to lead me to the centre.
Within minutes we were there. They darted through the maze, taking turns that I thought were completely ridiculous, but I was wrong, they knew what they were doing, and they got me to the centre.
I read the short congratulatory message on the wooden sign-post (this one was willy-free) and sat down on the bench, happy to get off my tired feet.
The children turned around, ready to leave.
"Hang on, I'm not ready to go yet!" I said.
"Mister" said red cap "The deal was only to get you to the centre."
Before I could even begin to argue they were running off, giggling as they went.
I sat victorious on that bench for some minutes. It was in a nice shady spot, and I really needed the rest. The last thing that I wanted to do was find my way out again. two hours it had taken me to get to the centre, and every turn on the way back would no doubt feel familiar, but I'd been down every dead-end, some more than once.
No, I stayed right where I was until the next person reached the centre. It was a woman (sensibly dressed and carrying liquid) and she said she wouldn't mind if I accompanied her on the way back. We did hit a few dead ends, but at least we did so together. I let her make all the choices too, and I didn't once feel the need to tell her that I was a mathematical genius from Cambridge University.
I like it. Even though nothing major happens. It's a nice story all the same, and I enjoyed reading it.
I'll probably take your advice and start a new topic, although there are so many stories in here recently that people are probably bored of them. I still need to type it up anyway, so it might be tomorrow or later before it gets posted.
I'll probably take your advice and start a new topic, although there are so many stories in here recently that people are probably bored of them. I still need to type it up anyway, so it might be tomorrow or later before it gets posted.
Blank wrote:
I did something like this recently, only I didn't finish the story. Anyway, my topic was "I wonder if this happens to a lot of people?"
Oh, and Blank, don't worry about word count with the story, in the competition on WriteLink they set a word limit on the day, so I'm just practising varying lengh stories. This one is around 1400 words long, by the way.
Oh and either post yours here or in another thread. You'll probably have more people read and respond in another thread though, but it's up to you.
----------------------
"I wonder if this happens to a lot of people?" I thought as I turned back from yet another dead end. It was quite embarrassing really, as I was a top student at Cambridge University, a mathematical genius according to some of the of the less reserved tutors. But I was well and truly lost in the maze. Actually, the called it The Maize, as it cut into a field of maize, and only open for part of the year. It didn't really matter what it was though, I was lost.
I'd gone into the maze just before midday. I walked down the path and was faced with two options, left for the 'easy' maze, right for the 'expert' option. Of course, being the intelligent and confident young man that I am, I chose right. I felt that the easy option just wouldn't cut it for me. . Estimated time to reach the centre was 45 minutes. I'd scoffed at that, thought I'd be there and back again in that time.
"Every maze has a pattern" That was what my Dad had once told me. Well maybe mazes cut into maize didn't stick to the standard rules. I'd tried taking every second right, alternating rights and lefts as I went along. I'd even tried adding up the number of possible turnings, and only taking them if the square route of that number was a whole number. But I just wasn't getting anywhere. In fact, for the last half an hour I've just been winging it really, taking turns at random.
It seemed like I was getting somewhere though, I was sure that the dead end that I'd just turned from wasn't one that I'd seen before. When I'd looked at my watch I chucked, it was half past one, I'd been in twice as long as the expected time. I was sure that I was making progress though, so it wasn't all bad. Well, not until I took the only route I knew I hadn't tried before and ended up back in the clearing with the patronising sign.
"Nearly there!"
Someone had drawn a little willy on the picture, so I was sure it was the same sign. I'd first seen this at around one o'clock, so had made no progress at all in half an hour.
I sat down with my head in my hands, I had no idea how I was going to get out, or how long it was going to take. I heard footsteps coming down on of the paths, and stood up quickly, I didn't want to be seen sitting there like that. Standing so suddenly made me feel a little queasy though, and I thought that I was going to be sick. This made me realise just how thirsty I was. I was a rather hot day, and I hadn't brought a drink in with me. I was becoming a little dehydrated. The signs suggesting that you were prepared, and took in a drink were just another one of those things that I'd scoffed at in my apparent superiority.
Three children went past me, and down a path I had travelled before. Nevertheless, I decided to follow them. Perhaps the randomness of a child was the answer, I thought. They took a couple of turning, which I frowned upon, and I expected to hear them sigh, and turn back each time, but they never did, they just kept going. I could hear whispered voices, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Then the began giggling, and I saw them break into a run just before they reached a corner. It was at this point that I regretted keeping such a distance between them and myself. Especially when I went around this corner to see no sign of them, but a long straight, with at least four visible options to turn off.
I signed, and felt at my throat. I looked up at the hot sun and cursed. I looked at my black t-shirt, and cursed again. Not only was I hot and thirsty, I was starting to stink a little.
I figured that the children couldn't have gone down any of the far away turns, as I surely would have seen them, so I decided to simply go for the first one I came to. After walking around a number of corners, always turning to the left, I found myself at another dead end. I made my way back to choose another path, walking much slower when shaded from the sun by the tall plants, and hurrying through the patched with little cover. My arms were going a little red, so I was probably going to end up sun burnt too.
The second path seemed to be better, I came to a fork, and followed it to the right. Unfortunately what followed were three corners taking me to the left, and all the way round, and I had no option but to head back to the main path to take another of the paths. As I was heading back I could hear footsteps again. Around the corner came the three children. I called out to them
"Another dead end down there?"
"No, you can get to the centre that way." said one of the boys. He was wearing a red cap, to keep the sun from his face. The other two were drinking from bottles of water that they'd brought with them.
"Is it easy to get there?" I asked.
"Well, there are a couple of choices to make, but it was easy, we went the right way every time."
"How did you choose, what was your pattern?" I asked. These young children had figured it out, when I couldn't. How was that possible.
"Well we just kind of headed towards the middle."
"Yeah" said one of the other kids "you can tell when it's going to be a dead end."
"Can you take me there?" I asked.
"No. We're heading out, my Mum is picking us up soon."
"I'll pay you."
"How much?"
"A pound!"
They looked at each other and laughed.
"Each?" I said, hopefully.
"Fiver each" said the boy that had been silent up until this point.
I checked my pocket, I had enough.
"Okay, but only if you let me finish of one of your drinks."
"Done. Cash up front though mister."
I paid the boys, and took a bottle from one of them. It was icy cold.
"We had the bottle in the freezer over night, to keep it cool." said red cap.
I smiles, and took a swig from the bottle. My throat gulped it down, thankful for the liquid that it was so badly lacking. I poured a little onto my hand, and rubbed it on the back of my hot neck, then I finished the rest of the drink.
The boys just starred at me, like I'd done something wrong.
"Now what are you going to do when you get thirsty on the way out?"
"Come on." I said, and ushered them to lead me to the centre.
Within minutes we were there. They darted through the maze, taking turns that I thought were completely ridiculous, but I was wrong, they knew what they were doing, and they got me to the centre.
I read the short congratulatory message on the wooden sign-post (this one was willy-free) and sat down on the bench, happy to get off my tired feet.
The children turned around, ready to leave.
"Hang on, I'm not ready to go yet!" I said.
"Mister" said red cap "The deal was only to get you to the centre."
Before I could even begin to argue they were running off, giggling as they went.
I sat victorious on that bench for some minutes. It was in a nice shady spot, and I really needed the rest. The last thing that I wanted to do was find my way out again. two hours it had taken me to get to the centre, and every turn on the way back would no doubt feel familiar, but I'd been down every dead-end, some more than once.
No, I stayed right where I was until the next person reached the centre. It was a woman (sensibly dressed and carrying liquid) and she said she wouldn't mind if I accompanied her on the way back. We did hit a few dead ends, but at least we did so together. I let her make all the choices too, and I didn't once feel the need to tell her that I was a mathematical genius from Cambridge University.
I did something like this recently, only I didn't finish the story. Anyway, my topic was "I wonder if this happens to a lot of people?"
Oh, and Blank, don't worry about word count with the story, in the competition on WriteLink they set a word limit on the day, so I'm just practising varying lengh stories. This one is around 1400 words long, by the way.
Oh and either post yours here or in another thread. You'll probably have more people read and respond in another thread though, but it's up to you.
----------------------
"I wonder if this happens to a lot of people?" I thought as I turned back from yet another dead end. It was quite embarrassing really, as I was a top student at Cambridge University, a mathematical genius according to some of the of the less reserved tutors. But I was well and truly lost in the maze. Actually, the called it The Maize, as it cut into a field of maize, and only open for part of the year. It didn't really matter what it was though, I was lost.
I'd gone into the maze just before midday. I walked down the path and was faced with two options, left for the 'easy' maze, right for the 'expert' option. Of course, being the intelligent and confident young man that I am, I chose right. I felt that the easy option just wouldn't cut it for me. . Estimated time to reach the centre was 45 minutes. I'd scoffed at that, thought I'd be there and back again in that time.
"Every maze has a pattern" That was what my Dad had once told me. Well maybe mazes cut into maize didn't stick to the standard rules. I'd tried taking every second right, alternating rights and lefts as I went along. I'd even tried adding up the number of possible turnings, and only taking them if the square route of that number was a whole number. But I just wasn't getting anywhere. In fact, for the last half an hour I've just been winging it really, taking turns at random.
It seemed like I was getting somewhere though, I was sure that the dead end that I'd just turned from wasn't one that I'd seen before. When I'd looked at my watch I chucked, it was half past one, I'd been in twice as long as the expected time. I was sure that I was making progress though, so it wasn't all bad. Well, not until I took the only route I knew I hadn't tried before and ended up back in the clearing with the patronising sign.
"Nearly there!"
Someone had drawn a little willy on the picture, so I was sure it was the same sign. I'd first seen this at around one o'clock, so had made no progress at all in half an hour.
I sat down with my head in my hands, I had no idea how I was going to get out, or how long it was going to take. I heard footsteps coming down on of the paths, and stood up quickly, I didn't want to be seen sitting there like that. Standing so suddenly made me feel a little queasy though, and I thought that I was going to be sick. This made me realise just how thirsty I was. I was a rather hot day, and I hadn't brought a drink in with me. I was becoming a little dehydrated. The signs suggesting that you were prepared, and took in a drink were just another one of those things that I'd scoffed at in my apparent superiority.
Three children went past me, and down a path I had travelled before. Nevertheless, I decided to follow them. Perhaps the randomness of a child was the answer, I thought. They took a couple of turning, which I frowned upon, and I expected to hear them sigh, and turn back each time, but they never did, they just kept going. I could hear whispered voices, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Then the began giggling, and I saw them break into a run just before they reached a corner. It was at this point that I regretted keeping such a distance between them and myself. Especially when I went around this corner to see no sign of them, but a long straight, with at least four visible options to turn off.
I signed, and felt at my throat. I looked up at the hot sun and cursed. I looked at my black t-shirt, and cursed again. Not only was I hot and thirsty, I was starting to stink a little.
I figured that the children couldn't have gone down any of the far away turns, as I surely would have seen them, so I decided to simply go for the first one I came to. After walking around a number of corners, always turning to the left, I found myself at another dead end. I made my way back to choose another path, walking much slower when shaded from the sun by the tall plants, and hurrying through the patched with little cover. My arms were going a little red, so I was probably going to end up sun burnt too.
The second path seemed to be better, I came to a fork, and followed it to the right. Unfortunately what followed were three corners taking me to the left, and all the way round, and I had no option but to head back to the main path to take another of the paths. As I was heading back I could hear footsteps again. Around the corner came the three children. I called out to them
"Another dead end down there?"
"No, you can get to the centre that way." said one of the boys. He was wearing a red cap, to keep the sun from his face. The other two were drinking from bottles of water that they'd brought with them.
"Is it easy to get there?" I asked.
"Well, there are a couple of choices to make, but it was easy, we went the right way every time."
"How did you choose, what was your pattern?" I asked. These young children had figured it out, when I couldn't. How was that possible.
"Well we just kind of headed towards the middle."
"Yeah" said one of the other kids "you can tell when it's going to be a dead end."
"Can you take me there?" I asked.
"No. We're heading out, my Mum is picking us up soon."
"I'll pay you."
"How much?"
"A pound!"
They looked at each other and laughed.
"Each?" I said, hopefully.
"Fiver each" said the boy that had been silent up until this point.
I checked my pocket, I had enough.
"Okay, but only if you let me finish of one of your drinks."
"Done. Cash up front though mister."
I paid the boys, and took a bottle from one of them. It was icy cold.
"We had the bottle in the freezer over night, to keep it cool." said red cap.
I smiles, and took a swig from the bottle. My throat gulped it down, thankful for the liquid that it was so badly lacking. I poured a little onto my hand, and rubbed it on the back of my hot neck, then I finished the rest of the drink.
The boys just starred at me, like I'd done something wrong.
"Now what are you going to do when you get thirsty on the way out?"
"Come on." I said, and ushered them to lead me to the centre.
Within minutes we were there. They darted through the maze, taking turns that I thought were completely ridiculous, but I was wrong, they knew what they were doing, and they got me to the centre.
I read the short congratulatory message on the wooden sign-post (this one was willy-free) and sat down on the bench, happy to get off my tired feet.
The children turned around, ready to leave.
"Hang on, I'm not ready to go yet!" I said.
"Mister" said red cap "The deal was only to get you to the centre."
Before I could even begin to argue they were running off, giggling as they went.
I sat victorious on that bench for some minutes. It was in a nice shady spot, and I really needed the rest. The last thing that I wanted to do was find my way out again. two hours it had taken me to get to the centre, and every turn on the way back would no doubt feel familiar, but I'd been down every dead-end, some more than once.
No, I stayed right where I was until the next person reached the centre. It was a woman (sensibly dressed and carrying liquid) and she said she wouldn't mind if I accompanied her on the way back. We did hit a few dead ends, but at least we did so together. I let her make all the choices too, and I didn't once feel the need to tell her that I was a mathematical genius from Cambridge University.