When the Student Is Ready
Penelope trembled as she stared at the final piece. Did she dare complete the puzzle? What would it reveal? Why had she believed such nonsense? She shook her head, remembering.
The Internet ad had caught her eye a few weeks ago. “Feeling lost? Puzzled about your life? She nodded, as if the computer could see her. She even spoke aloud. “Nothing to live for, no one to care about.” She scrolled down and gasped. The ad continued, “Nothing to live for? No one to care about?” She was terrified, but fascinated.
“You’ve come to the right place,” the ad assured her. “What should I do?” she cried.
“Order our Magic Jigsaw Puzzle,” exclaimed the ad in a bold new font. She quickly read on. The puzzle would scan her subconscious as she painstakingly put the one thousand pieces together. “The fragments of your deepest self will come together in an unparalleled moment of revelation and inspiration.” Of course it was a scam, too good to be true. But she was desperate, alone, frightened, in isolation. At least a puzzle would fill the empty hours.
Now, she faced the moment of truth. Nine hundred ninety-nine pieces in place. The almost-completed puzzle was a blur of dream-like colors and incoherent shapes, revealing nothing. She sighed and finally inserted the last piece.
The colors swirled into emerald and azure mountains, shadowy valleys. A silver ball slowly ascended each peak and delved into each dark valley, growing brighter as it traveled. Penelope suddenly understood. She could become the silver ball, lovingly navigating the contours of her life. No miraculous solutions, just ever more profound mysteries. No hurry to reach the destination, just exulting in the journey. Living for life itself, the great unanswered question. Caring about every living thing, beginning with the unique and wondrous being named Penelope.
Time to begin. She took one tentative step outside into a world fragrant with recent rain. The sun warmed her face. She saw the tip of a tiny green stem, bravely pushing through dark soil. She took another step and another, growing brighter as she walked.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleA fantasy tale with everyday truth at its core. Uplifting and powerful. Great concept that will be in our minds each time any of us complete a jigsaw puzzle. Great descriptions: “blur of dream-like colors and incoherent shapes”; “emerald and azure mountains, shadowy valleys”. Wonderful line “unparalleled moment of revelation and inspiration.”
Life is a puzzle, and I think we do sometimes look a little bit too hard to find the meaning instead of just getting out and enjoying it. Great story.
Thanks for reading and for commenting, Carrie!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHello, interesting take on the theme using the puzzle to inspire Penelope to venture forth, exulting in the journey for the journey itself. Are most jigsaw puzzle doers interested in the journey or are they subconsciously striving to get the blasted thing done? Incidentally, I never insert the last piece in a jigsaw puzzle because there’s nothing puzzling about that last piece. It has only one place to go. Maybe I missed… Read more »
That’s an interesting thing to say – that you never place the last piece! Here is a puzzle for you to ponder Alan – what if the last piece, happened to be your first piece?
Eric,what an interesting thought! You have a unique mind, that’s for sure!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThe first one now shall later be last because the times they are a-changing.
Hi Alan. Your comments are always interesting and thought-provoking! I think everyone is different – I would always get caught up in the beauty of an individual piece and forget I was supposed to put it somewhere. This is why no one wants to play chess with me – the shape of the pieces is more intriguing than winning! But putting that last piece in, calling out “Check-mate” – who knows what… Read more »
I have to say, Alan, your comment was truly what I like to call “food for thought”. It really makes you see puzzles in a different way, just like Juma’s story puts you in deep thoughts.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHiya Juma, a wonderful inner and outer duel between the self and its purpose. And in the end is the puzzle really a puzzle as Penelope discovers the beauty in the rain, and the sun, but also the tiny shoot pushing its way through the soil, the last piece of the jigsaw. Another wonderful write Juma – Thank You.
Hello Eric – You are so right, the tiny shoot pushing its way through the soil is the last piece of the puzzle, but as you suggested to Alan, also the first! Ah, sweet mystery of life!
How interesting that you took Penelope from weaving at her loom to assembling a wood jigsaw puzzle on her computer. In both cases, she is waiting and hoping for something to happen to get out of her isolated state. I love it that she found a sense of maturing in the process, accepting life as a mystery without a definite solution; looking at life, and even her own name, in a new… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleGreetings Christer! I hadn’t even thought of Odysseus’s Penelope when I picked the name for this story. It was suggested by a young (10 year old) friend of mine. But how interesting that there really is a connection. Penelope at her loom, weaving a shroud by day, unweaving it by night, waiting for her husband to return; our modern-day Penelope, lost in isolation, waiting for the pandemic to end — these are… Read more »
Congratulations, Juma! This story is beautifully written, and very inspiring.
Thank you Fuji. Your comments mean a lot to me.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleCongratulations, Juma! I enjoyed this story so much. Well done!
Hello Marianna. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.
Congratulations Juma. This was another great story from you – Thank You!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you Eric. I always appreciate what you have to say, and making that connectiion.
Congratulations. I love how you take life as a puzzle to solve. Very well written.
Thanks, Lotchie. I enjoyed playing with the idea of puzzle as metaphor.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou’re welcome.
Hi Juma, you gave to Penepole a wonderful story to live in! And she became the silver ball driving her life. Thank you Juma.
I love your comments, Santina. Your words are so artistic and creative, and full of warmth.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleJuma, congratulations! You have written another truly amazing story. Keep writing and sharing with the world your gift!
Katy, you are so kind. Thank you!
The story is a fantasy, but it is rooted in reality.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYes, the fantasy helps to underline some deep truths. Thanks for your insight, Dipayan
You’re welcome.
I am happy for you, Juma. Congratulations on another win.
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