Today’s Positive Adjective:
Heuristic: involving or serving as an aid to learning, discovery, or problem-solving by experimental and especially trial-and-error methods

Jane loved studying her favorite primates in their natural habitat. The monkeys were leery of Jane at first, but after a while, they ignored her. As she became more familiar with the troop, she recognized individuals. Breaking a research taboo, she named her new subjects.

Harry was the dominant male, king of his domain he put any potential challenger in their proper place. The top female Jane called Hermione. Hermione was smart, and she carried a small twig with her wherever she went. She used the stick to correct the juveniles and sometimes even Harry.

Little Ginny lived at the bottom rung of the monkey hierarchy.  The best and sweetest fruits grew high in the trees and social status determined where the clan members could forage. They relegated Ginny to the forest floor, where she scavenged, hoping her family would drop unwanted tidbits. Ginny’s plight touched Jane’s heart, but the ruled bared Jane from intervening.  Jane’s observations led her to believe Ginny was perhaps smarter than the others.

Jane study focused on how they gained new skills. She created an experiment designed to illuminate how they learned and passed the latest technique to the rest of the troop. Jane devised a crate filled with the monkey’s favorite food. They could see it and smell it, but releasing the fruit required learning how to work the dispenser. First in line, Harry jumped on it, trying to crush it, he hit it with a rock before attempting to pry the box apart. When he gave up, it was Hermione’s turn. She waved her wand at the carton, then she tried poking her stick in the hole to wiggle the plastic door open. Failing she conceded and allowed the others to try.

Jane wondered if the puzzle was too difficult as one by one each monkey failed. Finally, Ginny got her shot. Slow and methodical used every heuristic device at her disposal. While she explored, no one bothered her. Ginny spent more time with the box than any of her family members had. She was determined to get her reward.

Ginny worked at the dispenser until a sprinkling of goodies spilled into her palm. She glanced around to see if anyone had noticed, but they had returned to the treetops. With a fistful of food, Ginny waited, making sure the coast was clear before she stuffed every morsel in her mouth. Her hand covered her lips as she chewed.

Ginny watched her family before she manipulated the dispenser again for her second serving. Ginny operated in stealth mode, and Jane knew she would not share her hard-won knowledge with anyone else.

__________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

 

Today’s Positive Adjective:
Germane: being at once relevant and appropriate: FITTING

Barb accepted the position expecting a week of work. It seemed easy enough. Assist Professor Heinzman. They said she would help him catalog organize, analyze his research data. Then compile the information to prepare for writing his conference paper.

She arrived at Professor Heinzman’s office and knocked at the door. No response. She checked her phone. She was a few minutes early, so she dropped her bag on the floor and reclined on the wall, figuring she would answer her email. Lost in her work she didn’t notice the thin man walking approaching her.

“You Barb?” he barked as he leaned toward her. Watery blue eyes blinked at her through chunky trifocal glasses.

“Yeah. Are you Professor Heinzman?” she countered. She plastered herself against the wall, sidestepping, to escape his invasion of her personal space.

He didn’t notice as he turned, fumbling to find the correct key on his keyring.

“Good, I hate when people are tardy,” he said as he unlocked the door.

Retrieving her bag, she slung it over her shoulder and glanced at her phone. She almost laughed. Twenty minutes late. Horror replaced her cynicism as the door opened and she looked inside.

From her experience, college professors commanded a generous-sized office, about twelve feet square, plenty of area for a desk or two and a few chairs for meetings. But she had seen nothing like this. Barb wondered how they would fit. Bookshelves lined the room, covering the window, Barb knew it must have. Books, binders, folders, and reams of paper filled each shelf. He had jammed them into any available space. Thick layers covered every chair, table, and counter and overflowed onto the floor.

Professor Heinzman picked his course along a small path and navigated to a spot behind one desk. When he sat, his head disappeared.

“This way dear, you can sit next to me.”

Barb proceeded gingerly afraid a wrong step might cause a landslide. Papers covered the seat he showed her.

“Just move those anywhere,” he said shaking his hand in the general direction of the chair.

Barb scooped the loose papers into her arms. After considering her limited options, she tucked them underneath the chair and sat.

“Where’s the data I need to compile?” she asked, her bag balanced on her lap.

“You’re looking at it,” he said waving his hands.

“Ah, which stack?”

“Why, all of it. It has taken me years of study and refinement to reach this point. I’m on the verge of the Nobel,” his voice rose, and he hopped up and down on his seat.

“Where are your computer files?”

“Computer files?” he scoffed. “I don’t trust those things. Touch the wrong key and everything disappears.” His fingers wiggled as he spoke. Stretching his arms wide he blinked and snapped his fingers. “Poof. Gone.” he finished.

This time Barb laughed when she wanted to cry.

“Okay. Well, can we start with the most germane parts?”

“Oh sure,” he said and flitted around the room pulling a binder form here, a folder there and depositing them onto her lap. The stack grew until she feared she wouldn’t be able to stand.

“Professor,” she called, “Professor.”

Startled he froze and a loose page fluttered to the floor.

“How about I start with this? When I’m done, I’ll come for more.”

__________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Today’s Positive Adjective:
Flamboyant: marked by or given to strikingly elaborate or colorful display or behavior

Paco was a quiet, unassuming man. Curly black hair cascaded over his eyes, hiding his soul from the scrutiny of others. Walking into the bar, friendly patrons greeted him and shook his hand. He was polite, murmuring hello, or nodding his acknowledgment. The throng pressed on him, impeding his progress. He lifted his guitar case vertically in front of his chest, clutching it in in both hands he used it as a shield as he zigzagged through the crowd.

He reached the safety of the stage, his little corner of the world. With his instrument tuned, he signaled he was ready, and the dancer took her place. She stood alone, poised, unmoving while the house lights dimmed.

Their fans grew silent. This was why they waited. Anticipation thick in the air, Paco’s fingers strummed the strings. Softly, the melody flowed, and the performer tapped her toe.  The Canté swelled, the bailaora’s movements developed, gaining in intensity.

Paco’s music was flamboyant, emotional, moving. It pushed the bailaora, driving her expressions. She conveyed intense emotions with each swirl, every foot stomp, and arm gesture. Paco played, lost in his reverie. The performance mesmerized the audience. They pulsed, swaying with the beat, transfixed by the story’s passion.

Too soon the Canté ended. A momentary silence descended.  Ecstatic applause thundered through the room, and Paco smiled.

__________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer