Compass Encompasses

Prompt ▼

The birthday paradox states that in a group of 23 people, there is a greater than 50% chance that two people will share the same birthday. So write your story or poem about 23 people at a work retreat. While sharing about themselves, two of them discover they share the same birthday - AND something else (the more unique the better!) in common.

Choose EXPERIENCE as one of your genres

"Let's divide into groups, shall we?"

"Sure. How'll we split the participants?"

"Let's see. We did alphabetically yesterday. Let's go by - um - birthdays today."

"Birthdays? How?"

"Maybe by month, to start with, and see where that takes us."

So, the twenty-three participants were asked to group up, based on the month in which they were born.

Five of them were born in Jan, nobody in February, three in March, four in April ... finally, all twenty-three were in smaller clusters where they belonged.

The smallest group was the one for August, just two people. Alec and Alonzo shook hands. "August, too, huh?" Alec said. "What date, what year?"

"17th August, 1982," Alonzo replied.

Alec's jaw dropped. "Hey, that's the exact same date I was born."

"Listen up, listen up," the group leader called out. "The next activity is for teams, and the biggest groups we have here each comprise five members. Would the others like to combine together, to make teams of five or six?"

"Not us," Alec and Alonzo said together. Then, they turned to each other and burst out laughing. They'd had the same thought and uttered the same words without even consulting each other. They shook hands again, this time with more vim.

People regrouped or not, the pair didn't notice. They were wrapped up in getting to know each other better.

"If you'll step outside," the group leader said. "We'll now go into the forest, each team taking a different path, and seek the 23 objects hidden there. Where each object is hidden and what it is will give a clue to where another object is hidden. Work things out properly and you'll find it easy to find objects. The group who brings back the most objects at the end of the hour is the winner."

People started taking compasses out of pockets, or notepads and pencils. Again, without having to consult each other, Alec and Alonzo waited till every other group had disappeared among the trees.

"Get going, you two, or you'll be left behind," the group leader quipped. "I'm going to my tent now for a well earned cup of tea. I was up at dawn hiding those dratted objects!"

The two waited for him to go into his tent. They were now alone in the clearing.

"Alonzo," Alec said hesitantly.

"What?"

"We share a date of birth. What about the place? Where were you born?"

"If you don't mind ..." Alonzo began.

"The reason I'm asking, I think I know," Alec said.

"How can you know where I was born?"

"Because you were born at St. Mungo's Hospital. So was I."

Alonzo gasped. "You - you - you're a wizard, too?"

"Yes. Your name was familiar, and then your date of birth. I remembered. We'd been looking at the register at St. Mungo's to get me a certificate, and I saw your name there."

"Wow, this is crazy."

"It is. But how come you never went to Hogwarts?"

"Oh, we moved to India when I was three. I attended Shantiniketan School for Magic. We just moved back a few weeks ago and I was lucky to get this job."

"That's why I haven't seen you around. Well now ..."

They looked deep into each others' eyes. Each was silently asking the same question. To use wands to ACCIO the hidden objects, and win the game, or to play fair and seek like the Muggles did?

The silence wasn't long. Both smiled. Both straightened up.

"I knew you'd feel that way," Alec said.

"And I knew you would," Alonzo replied. "What Muggle devices do you have, and do you know how to use them?"

"I bought this compass at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. George showed me how to use it, but I'm not sure I remember."

"Well, look, it's not unfair to use a wand on the compass. After all, that puts us at level with Muggles, who know how to use it."

"What's the spell?"

"Not sure. Let's try Specialis Revelio."

They glanced around to ensure they were still alone and pulled out their wands. "Specialis Revelio!"

The needle spun around.

They headed into the forest.

***************************

"Twenty, twenty-one. Who is missing?"

"Alec and Alonzo."

"The August Team. I should've known. They were hanging around here long after you'd all left to seek the objects. Anyway, since all 23 objects are here, we can count up and declare first, second and third place."

The prizes were given out. Lunch was served.

"Do you think we ought to send out a search party?"

"We'll give it another half-hour. Then we'll alert the Rangers."

But they didn't need to wait the half hour. And the Rangers already knew. The Rangers' Landrover had already picked up the August borns from the heart of the forest, where they'd been wandering around, completely and utterly lost.

"You're in time for dessert, you two," the group leader called out, and invited the rescuing Rangers to join them as well. "And next time, don't get overconfident. Form bigger teams and use equipment correctly."

The pair winked at each other. They certainly wouldn't attempt to use Muggle equipment again!