1. The Homework Reminder
Ms. Lee told her class that the best way to remember homework was to put a reminder somewhere they would see it in the morning.
On Friday, one student arrived without his assignment.
“Where did you put your reminder?” she asked.
“On my shoes.”
“And you didn’t see it?”
“I saw it. It said ‘Do homework.’”
“Then why didn’t you do it?”
“Because by the time I had my shoes on, I was late for school.”
The following week he handed everything in early. Ms. Lee asked what had changed.
“I put the reminder on my pillow,” he said. “Now I see it before I fall asleep.”
2. The Museum Audio Guide
At the museum, a visitor rented an audio guide. In the first room it told him, “Stand in front of the portrait and look closely.”
He did. After a pause it said, “Notice how the artist captures the subject’s impatience.”
The visitor studied the expression. “That’s remarkably accurate,” he told his friend.
In the next room the guide told him to admire a landscape, then began describing a sculpture behind him.
He went to the desk. “I think my guide is a room behind.”
The attendant checked the device and nodded. “You’re right.”
“How could you tell?”
“It has been telling everyone to hurry up since you arrived.”
3. The Lost-and-Found Desk
The community center put a box at reception labeled LOST AND FOUND. On Monday it held a blue scarf. On Tuesday there were four blue scarves.
The receptionist asked the cleaner whether someone had found a collection.
“No,” she said. “Three people saw the first scarf and thought it was theirs. They went home and brought back the one they had.”
By Friday the box contained seven scarves and a note: PLEASE DESCRIBE YOURS BEFORE TAKING ONE.
A woman came in, read the note and pointed at the pile.
“Mine is blue,” she said.
The receptionist sighed. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
“It’s the one I haven’t brought in yet.”
4. The Wedding Seating Plan
At his sister’s wedding, Omar was asked to help guests find their tables. He studied the seating plan and noticed that Aunt Farah was listed twice.
He told the bride. “Which table should I send her to?”
“The family table,” she said. “Why is she on the other one?”
“I don’t know.”
Aunt Farah arrived and looked at both listings. “The second one is my handbag,” she explained. “It gets its own chair at long dinners.”
Omar moved the extra place card to her table. Halfway through the meal, the waiter asked if the empty chair was available.
Aunt Farah glanced at her bag. “Only if you ask her.”
5. The Optician’s Test
At the optician, Daniel read the smallest line on the chart perfectly. The optician asked him to read it again with the other eye covered.
“P, R, T, E, O,” Daniel said.
The optician changed the chart. Daniel read that one too.
“Your eyesight is excellent,” she said. “What brings you in?”
“I keep losing my glasses.”
“Perhaps you don’t need them.”
Daniel looked pleased until he reached the front desk and searched every pocket.
“What are you looking for?” the receptionist asked.
“My glasses.”
“They’re on your head.”
“I know,” he said. “I was looking for the case.”