SOLVE-IT-YOURSELF
Mystery
G
ood evening. I’m Craig Wayland, your host of Gimme the Money, the multiplechoice game show where contestants can win thousands of dollars! Our current champion, Harvey Patterson, has been on a hot streak, so let’s not waste any time. Are you ready, Harv?” Patterson nodded, his beady eyes darting back and forth as the lights came down. “The first category is past television shows,” Wayland continued. “First question: Who played the mother on Leave It to Beaver? Was it (a) Mary Tyler Moore, (b) Jane Wyman, or (c) Barbara Billingsly?” “C, Barbara Billingsly.” “That’s right—you just won another thousand dollars!” ayland pulled a card from Wayland a box in front of him, glanced at it and smiled. “I think this one is a little harder, Harv. Listen closely.” He read the question and choices. Patterson didn’t hesitate. “A.” “Right again.” The audience roared. “Our next category is science.”
Gimme the money
Wayland read the question and choices. This time Patterson said, “C.” “Correct.” Another card was pulled. “In the category world geography…” Again the question and choices were read. “The answer is B,” Patterson smiled. “You’re on a roll. But we have to pause now for a commercial break. Be right back, folks!” In the control room, Scott Brigham, the show’s producer, turned to Detective Sue Donald. “You see?” he asked. “On our show, when a contestant gets his third answer wrong, his turn ends and a new person comes on. This guy hasn’t missed a single question in six days. The odds of that are astronomical.” “You think he’s cheating?” “He has to be. And I’m afraid Wayland is helping him.”
“Come to think of it, I haven’t had my day”
“Wayland gives him the answers beforehand?” Brigham shook his head. “Impossible. Craig doesn’t know what the questions are until he pulls them from that box.” “Then how does he know which answer is right?” “The correct choice is underlined on the card.” “Then I don’t see how…” Detective Donald began, but the commercial break had ended. On set, Craig Wayland pulled another card. “Now the questions are going to get harder,” he said. “Algebra is the category.” He read the question and choices and waited as Patterson pondered his answer. “C.” “Amazing. That brings your total winnings today alone to $5,000. At this point,” Wayland said as he pulled a card from the box, “each question is worth $1,500.” He read the question. Patterson answered “B”— right again. This continued for the rest of the show: Wayland asked questions and Patterson got every answer correct. After almost 30 minutes, Wayland said, “I have your last
question for today in the category opera.” Again, he asked the question and Patterson’s answer of A was correct. As the show ended, Brigham turned to Sue Donald again. “I know they’re cheating. You have to prove it before the next show.” “That gives me all night to think about it,” Donald said. “No. We tape five shows a day. There’s a half hour break so Wayland and the contestant can change so it looks like a whole day has passed.” Donald sighed. “Can I go over today’s show somehow?” Brigham nodded. “I’ll have the technicians replay the tape.” Detective Donald reviewed the tape and smiled. “I’ll need some cue cards and a large black marker.” “What for?” “Tell Craig he is to read only what is on the cards. No improvising.” “You figured out how they’re cheating?” “Yes,” Donald said. “And this should prove it.” —Richard Ciciarelli Donald
Q: How were they cheating? A: Turn to pg 51
Order Up!
Person, Place or Thing?
Can you guess which happened first, second and third?
Can you guess what I am?
B. Raiders of the Lost Ark opens at the movies C. Reese Witherspoon is born in New Orleans
My name is Italian Some people seriously rely on me I might call your name out in public I have my own international world championship, held annually ■ I don’t make food, only drinks
■ My work requires a machine ■ I help wake people up ■ For me, the “daily grind” has a
double meaning ■ Cappuccino, latte—I love it all ■ You can find me at Starbucks Person, Place or Thing? I am a barista
A. Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter” hits the airwaves
■ ■ ■ ■
Order Up! A. 1970
C. 1976
B. 1981
