Snow Blind
A challenge! This is going to be a great night.
I'm flopping down on the floor in front of the coffee table with an open puzzle box in front of me. White. Nothing but white. Who in the the hell made a jigsaw of a snow scene? Well, not even a scene. An actual scene would have involved trees, or a barn or maybe even a frozen pond. Nope. This is just white.
But I'm determined and I'm stubborn. And I'm GOOD at puzzles. I'm going to finish it even if it kills me. I'll show that ol' mud sucker. Thought he could pull one over on HM Murdock? Ha. You gotta get up pretty early in the morning to do that. I'm made of sterner stuff.
It's just a matter of organization, right? Time to dump the little pieces on the table and toss the box top aside. After all, no point in looking at it. It's just all white, with no clues. Who in the world ever came up with the idea of...?
Distracted. Okay. I gotta focus. The next step is to sort the edge pieces from the middle ones. No problemo. This is a piece of cake! I'm humming happily and the border's coming together. So far so good. This is going smoother than I thought!
Then I finish the outline.
Nope. Nuh uh. There's no joy in Mudville tonight folks. Ol' HM is striking out. I'm going snow-blind as I eye the white piece in my hand. If only that little nub wasn't in the way. It'd fit perfectly then! There's a spot right there... and a piece that fits ALMOST perfect right here... Do I dare? No one will know if I cheat just a little with this one piece right? And thwarting my nemesis would render any cheating moot. Right? Right!
No scissors. See, that's the problem with living in the psychiatric unit of VA. No sharp pointy things allowed. Ever tried cutting into a steak with a spoon? No fun. Checking over my shoulder. Nobody's watching. I'll have to chew that little part off. Yuck. Cardboard. But then what was I expecting? Snow?
Ah ha! It fits perfectly now!
Time flies when you're having fun. Two hours later I'm leaning back against the chair admiring the pristine white rectangle in front on me. I've finished it and I'm still alive - a bonus.
"Umm Murdock?"
I've been so busy basking the glow of my handiwork that I hadn't seen Chuck walk up beside me.
"Hiya, Chuck! Isn't she a thing of beauty?" My smile's a bit smug if I do say so myself.
"Yeah I guess. What is it?
"Snow. A beautiful field of snow!"
I'm leaning back with a sigh of satisfaction when out of the corner of my eye I can see him pick something up off the floor. A white puzzle piece. Crap! Missed one! I can feel my eyes roll back in my head as I sag against the chair.