It was a game, and it was advertised as fair, yet challenging. So Robert arrived at the agreed upon location, at the agree upon time, ready for his opportunity to win $5000 in the competition. He had eaten a light breakfast, he had stretched and had a good night’s rest, the night before. Robert was ready.
Two other gentlemen arrived, just moments after Robert’s arrival, in separate vehicles, one almost immediately after the other. The first, Constantine, was the official who would be overseeing the contest and giving directions and rules. The second, Alfonso, was the other contestant. At first glance, Robert knew he would take this contest, easy. Alfonso was a least a foot shorter and 100 pounds heavier than Robert. Robert’s heart fluttered.
Alfonso emerged from his car, gave a genuine “hello” and began his own attempts at stretching. Constantine addressed both men with the rules, which were very simple. They were to both stand inside a spray-painted circle and, upon hearing the whistle blown, were to run to the nearest tree, grab the flag and run back, handing the flag to Constantine. The first to do so would receive the prize.
Upon hearing the instructions and acknowledging their comprehension of the rules, both men were led to their spray-painted circles. Alfonso first, stepped into his circle and waited for the whistle. Robert was led to a four-foot-wide, ten-foot-deep hole in the ground, with his circle painted at the bottom. “Hop in”, Constantine instructed, rather nonchalantly. “Uh, wait a minute,” Robert replied. “Are you telling me I have to climb out of the hole first and then run?” he asked. “You both need to step out of your circles and retrieve the flag. We just went over the rules.” Constantine replied, looking rather perturbed.
Robert drove home, empty handed.
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