Lateral Puzzles • View topic

by **GalFisk** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 4:15 pm

"There's a fire in the dormitory building! The stairs have collapsed, and we can't find Mr. Wilkins or any other teachers!"
"We should've cleaned the carburettor on the fire truck, instead of polishing brass! We'll never get there in time to save the school children!"
"Mr Wilkins has hanged himself!"

In the end, everyone involved were happy. What's the story here?

by **Doriana** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 4:31 pm

Mr Wilkins = The teacher from the other Jennings puzzle?

Sentence #1 = uttered by a H/T/M? If so, Jennings? H/A/M?
Sentence #2 = uttered by a firefighter?
Sentence #3 = uttered by a H/T/M? H/A/M? Same person who uttered sentence #1?

Was there actually a fire in the dormitory building? Had the stairs actually collapsed? Could the school children be saved? Had Mr Wilkins actually hanged himself? Does anyone die in this puzzle?

Dormitory building = of a boarding school?

by **GalFisk** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 7:57 pm

Mr Wilkins = The teacher from the other Jennings puzzle? Correct.

Sentence #1 = uttered by a H/T/M? If so, Jennings? Yes. H/A/M?
Sentence #2 = uttered by a firefighter? Yes.
Sentence #3 = uttered by a H/T/M? This. H/A/M? Same person who uttered sentence #1? No, but irr.

Was there actually a fire in the dormitory building? Had the stairs actually collapsed? No to all. Could the school children be saved? They didn't need saving. Had Mr Wilkins actually hanged himself? No, but OTRT. Does anyone die in this puzzle? No.

Dormitory building = of a boarding school? Correct.

by **Doriana** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 7:59 pm

Does Jennings say this to the firefighter? on the phone? is he playing a prank?

by **GalFisk** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:01 pm

Does Jennings say this to the firefighter? on the phone? Yes to both. is he playing a prank? No.

by **Doriana** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:11 pm

Is Jennings at the dorm when he makes the call? Does he want the firefighters to come to the dorm? Do the firefighters go to the dorm? Does Jennings go to the firehouse?

Does this happen during school hours? After school? On the weekend?

Is there any other relevant emergency?

Does it look like Mr Wilkins hanged himself? Had someone hanged a dummy that looked like Mr Wilkins?

by **GalFisk** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:16 pm

Is Jennings at the dorm when he makes the call? Yes. Does he want the firefighters to come to the dorm? No. Do the firefighters go to the dorm? Yes. Does Jennings go to the firehouse? No.

Does this happen during school hours? Yesish (not during classes). After school? On the weekend? No to both.

Is there any other relevant emergency? Yes.

Does it look like Mr Wilkins hanged himself? No, but... Had someone hanged a dummy that looked like Mr Wilkins? No.

by **Doriana** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:27 pm

The other relevant emergency: A fire? a flood? a power cut? a natural disaster? a medical emergency? an accident? a person trapped somewhere? an animal trapped somewhere? a crime? something you'd usually call the firefighters for?

Time between sentence #1 and sentence #2: seconds? minutes?
Does the firefighter say sentence #2 to another firefighter? to Jennings?
Time between sentence #2 and sentence #3: seconds? minutes? hours? days?

by **GalFisk** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:29 pm

The other relevant emergency: A fire? a flood? a power cut? a natural disaster? a medical emergency? an accident? Yes. a person trapped somewhere? This. an animal trapped somewhere? a crime? No to the rest. something you'd usually call the firefighters for? Yes.

Time between sentence #1 and sentence #2: seconds? minutes? This.
Does the firefighter say sentence #2 to another firefighter? This. to Jennings?
Time between sentence #2 and sentence #3: seconds? minutes? This. hours? days?

by **Doriana** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:31 pm

The trapped person: Jennings? Mr Wilkins? a student? a teacher? another staff member?

Is the person trapped in a confined space? in a tree? on a roof? in a locked room? Is the place where the person is trapped located within the dorm? near the dorm?

by **GalFisk** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:34 pm

The trapped person: Jennings? Mr Wilkins? This. a student? a teacher? another staff member?

Is the person trapped in a confined space? No. in a tree? Noish, but OTRT. on a roof? in a locked room? Is the place where the person is trapped located within the dorm? No to all. near the dorm? Yes, explore.

by **Doriana** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:38 pm

Was he trapped indoors? outdoors? on the ground? above ground? below ground?

Noishly in a tree, but OTRT: Nature relevant at all? plants? trees? Was he trapped under a branch that had fallen down?

Did Jennings think the firefighters would come faster if he told them the dorm was on fire?

by **GalFisk** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:42 pm

Was he trapped indoors? outdoors? This. on the ground? above ground? And this. below ground?

Noishly in a tree, but OTRT: Nature relevant at all? plants? Yes to both. trees? I don't know if they're considered trees. Was he trapped under a branch that had fallen down? No, but a branch is relevant.

Did Jennings think the firefighters would come faster if he told them the dorm was on fire? No and FA.

by **Doriana** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:45 pm

Shrubs relevant? bushes? hedges?

Relevant how Wilkins got there? why? Did the firefighters free Wilkins from where he was trapped?

by **GalFisk** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 8:46 pm

Shrubs relevant? bushes? hedges? No to all.

Relevant how Wilkins got there? why? Did the firefighters free Wilkins from where he was trapped? Yes to all.

by **Doriana** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 9:39 pm

Is whatever he is trapped in a plant? a manmade thing? something made of branches?

Did he end up there voluntarily? Was he running away from something? Did someone trick him into going there? Did he get there using a ladder, and the ladder fell down before he could get down again?

by **GalFisk** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 5:55 am

Is whatever he is trapped in a plant? Yes. a manmade thing? No, but explore this. something made of branches? Yes.

Did he end up there voluntarily? In the place, yes, but stuck, no. Was he running away from something? No. Did someone trick him into going there? No. Did he get there using a ladder, and the ladder fell down before he could get down again? No.

by **Doriana** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 7:52 am

Is there a manmade thing in the plant? Treehouses relevant?
Did he want to put a manmade thing into the plant? If so, a banner? a flag?
Is it Jennings' fault that Wilkins got stuck?

by **GalFisk** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:47 am

Is there a manmade thing in the plant? OTRT Treehouses relevant? No.
Did he want to put a manmade thing into the plant? If so, a banner? a flag? No to both.
Is it Jennings' fault that Wilkins got stuck? No.

by **Doriana** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 7:13 pm

Is the plant supported by a manmade object? Is the plant itself manmade, i.e. artificial/fake?

Is the plant on the dorm itself? Is it ivy? another climbing plant?

by **GalFisk** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:21 pm

Is the plant supported by a manmade object? Yes. Is the plant itself manmade, i.e. artificial/fake? No.

Is the plant on the dorm itself? Is it ivy? Yes to both. another climbing plant? No.

by **JenBurdoo** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:24 pm

Is Mr. Wilkins a teacher? H/A/M?

by **GalFisk** » Wed Jul 22, 2020 11:31 pm

Is Mr. Wilkins a teacher? H/A/M? Yes to both.

by **Doriana** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 8:40 am

So, Mr Wilkins is stuck in the ivy that's climbing up the dorm walls, correct? Relevant how high up he is stuck? Did he get there from the inside of the building? from the outside? Did he want to trim the ivy? Was an object stuck in the ivy that he was trying to retrieve?

by **GalFisk** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 9:17 am

So, Mr Wilkins is stuck in the ivy that's climbing up the dorm walls, correct? Correct. Relevant how high up he is stuck? High enough to need a fire truck. Did he get there from the inside of the building? Yes. from the outside? No. Did he want to trim the ivy? Was an object stuck in the ivy that he was trying to retrieve? No to both.

by **Doriana** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 12:10 pm

Did he climb out of a window to get there? fall out of a window? Emergency exits relevant?

by **GalFisk** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 12:51 pm

Did he climb out of a window to get there? Yes. fall out of a window? No. Emergency exits relevant? Yes(ish), explore..

by **Doriana** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:06 pm

Did he expect a fire escape on the outside? If so, was there a fire escape somewhere on the building? But it was not accessible from the window that Wilkins climbed out of?

by **GalFisk** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 3:05 pm

Did he expect a fire escape on the outside? No, but... If so, was there a fire escape somewhere on the building? No, but OTRT. But it was not accessible from the window that Wilkins climbed out of? Something relevant was accessible from the window.

by **Doriana** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:23 pm

Was there some other relevant object on the building except for the ivy? A balcony? a staircase? a flagpole? Scaffolding? Had the object been removed without Wilkins' knowledge?

by **GalFisk** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 6:29 pm

Was there some other relevant object on the building except for the ivy? Yes, DOYD of "on". A balcony? a staircase? a flagpole? Scaffolding? Had the object been removed without Wilkins' knowledge? No to all.

by **Doriana** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:22 pm

Is the other relevant object part of the building? attached to the building? attached to the ivy? Chimneys relevant?

by **GalFisk** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 8:05 pm

Is the other relevant object part of the building? attached to the building? This. attached to the ivy? Chimneys relevant?

by **Doriana** » Wed Jul 29, 2020 7:51 am

Is the other relevant object natural? manmade? bigger than a breadbox? bigger than a refrigerator? Does it serve a functional purpose? decorative purpose? Is it made out of metal? wood? glass? stone? fabric? plastic? Is it an object commonly found attached to buildings?
Did Wilkins want to use the other relevant object? Remove it? Had he placed it there? Was he mistaken as to where the object is located?

by **GalFisk** » Wed Jul 29, 2020 9:05 am

Is the other relevant object natural? manmade? This. bigger than a breadbox? About that size, I believe, but eventually much longer. bigger than a refrigerator? Eventually longer. Does it serve a functional purpose? Yes. decorative purpose? Is it made out of metal? Some of this. wood? glass? stone? fabric? No, but OTRT. plastic? Possibly some of this. Is it an object commonly found attached to buildings? I don't think they're common nowadays, but they probably were.
Did Wilkins want to use the other relevant object? Yes. Remove it? Had he placed it there? Was he mistaken as to where the object is located? No to the rest.

by **Doriana** » Wed Jul 29, 2020 9:43 am

Is the item's purpose related to safety? ventilation? heating? cooling? drainage? theft prevention? Is it a chute of some sort? A pipe?

by **GalFisk** » Wed Jul 29, 2020 10:26 am

Is the item's purpose related to safety? This, no to the others. ventilation? heating? cooling? drainage? theft prevention? Is it a chute of some sort? A pipe?

by **irishelk** » Thu Jul 30, 2020 2:48 pm

Is it a fire alarm? Other PA/sound system?

So Jennings said statement 1 to the firefighter on the phone, but he did not want the firefighters to come, correct? Did he change his mind at some point about wanting the firefighters? Is he trying to send them elsewhere? Does he know they will be slow to respond? When he says "dormitory building," is he referring to the same building that Mr. Wilkins is on? Is Mr. Wilkins on it when he calls?

Is Jennings trying to explain Mr. Wilkins' behavior? Save him from embarrassment? Is he trying to trick anyone? Can Mr. Wilkins relevantly hear any of the conversation?

Do the firefighters take a long time to respond? Relevant?

by **GalFisk** » Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:54 pm

Is it a fire alarm? Other PA/sound system? No to both.

So Jennings said statement 1 to the firefighter on the phone, but he did not want the firefighters to come, correct? Correct. Did he change his mind at some point about wanting the firefighters? Yes. Is he trying to send them elsewhere? No. Does he know they will be slow to respond? No. When he says "dormitory building," is he referring to the same building that Mr. Wilkins is on? Yes. Is Mr. Wilkins on it when he calls? No.

Is Jennings trying to explain Mr. Wilkins' behavior? Save him from embarrassment? Is he trying to trick anyone? Can Mr. Wilkins relevantly hear any of the conversation? No to all.

Do the firefighters take a long time to respond? Relevant? Yes to both.

by **Acridian9** » Wed Aug 05, 2020 2:16 pm

Was Mr. Wilkins climbing up or down when he got stuck? Was he climbing using the ivy to hold on? A wire trellis?

Was he using rock-climbing equipment? Rope, webbing, carabiner, quickdraw, harness, belay/rappel device, ascender, sling (straight from wikipedia... I'm not an expert

)

by **GalFisk** » Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:03 am

Was Mr. Wilkins climbing up or down when he got stuck? Down. Was he climbing using the ivy to hold on? A wire trellis? No to both.

Was he using rock-climbing equipment? No. Rope, webbing, carabiner, quickdraw, harness, belay/rappel device, ascender, sling (straight from wikipedia... I'm not an expert

) But he was using a sling, rope and some kind of belay device - it was a fire escape rope.

by **Acridian9** » Thu Aug 06, 2020 11:51 am

Ok, so Mr. Wilkins was using a fire escape rope, but there was no fire at all, correct? And the rope got stuck in the ivy?

Was he alone when this happened? Did someone see him?

Was he trying to reach something? like a window in a lower floor or an object? Or he just wanted to exit the building?

by **GalFisk** » Thu Aug 06, 2020 4:40 pm

Ok, so Mr. Wilkins was using a fire escape rope, but there was no fire at all, correct? Correct. And the rope got stuck in the ivy? Yes.

Was he alone when this happened? No. Did someone see him? Yes.

Was he trying to reach something? like a window in a lower floor or an object? No to both. Or he just wanted to exit the building? Yesish.

by **Acridian9** » Thu Aug 06, 2020 5:58 pm

Was he testing the fire escape rope? Was he showing how to use it?

He was saved by the firemen, correct? Did he hang for a long time before the firemen arrived (I don't quite get the fact that they were late...)?

Did Jennings call the firemen before or after Mr. Wilkins got stuck? If before, the late arrival is w.r.t. the time of the phone call?

by **GalFisk** » Thu Aug 06, 2020 6:48 pm

Was he testing the fire escape rope? No. Was he showing how to use it? Yes.

He was saved by the firemen, correct? Correct. Did he hang for a long time before the firemen arrived (I don't quite get the fact that they were late...)? No, see below.

Did Jennings call the firemen before or after Mr. Wilkins got stuck? Before. If before, the late arrival is w.r.t. the time of the phone call? Correct.

by **irishelk** » Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:00 pm

Is Mr. Wilkins putting on some kind of safety demonstration? If so, is Jenning's line a prepared script for the demonstration? Is the firefighter's line?

by **Acridian9** » Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:04 pm

Ok, let's see if I got the right timeline
- Jennings believes there is a fire in the dormitory and calls the firemen
- actually, there is no fire at all and when he discovers it, Jennings regrets the call
- Mr. Wilkins shows how to use the fire escape rope and gets stuck in the ivy
- the firemen arrive several minutes after the call, but just in time to save Mr. Wilkins

Since the firemen mention the "carburettor"... did the firetruck break? So they had to find a replacement?

by **GalFisk** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:02 am

Is Mr. Wilkins putting on some kind of safety demonstration? Yes. If so, is Jenning's line a prepared script for the demonstration? No, but explore. Is the firefighter's line? No.

Ok, let's see if I got the right timeline
- Jennings believes there is a fire in the dormitory No, but explore. and calls the firemen Yes.
- actually, there is no fire at all Correct. and when he discovers it, No, but OTRT. Jennings regrets the call Correct.
- Mr. Wilkins shows how to use the fire escape rope and gets stuck in the ivy Correct.
- the firemen arrive several minutes after the call, but just in time to save Mr. Wilkins Correct.

Since the firemen mention the "carburettor"... did the firetruck break? Yes. So they had to find a replacement? No, they made a temporary repair. The important thing, though, is that they were late due to their own negligence.

by **Doriana** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 7:23 am

Does Jennings know that there's a safety demonstration going on? Is he instructed to call the firefighters?

by **GalFisk** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:15 am

Does Jennings know that there's a safety demonstration going on? The demonstration is part of something bigger. Is he instructed to call the firefighters? He thinks so.

by **Doriana** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:38 am

Is a fire drill going on? A first aid course? A general safety training?

Does Jennings misunderstand instructions?

by **GalFisk** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 2:31 pm

Is a fire drill going on? Yes. A first aid course? A general safety training?

Does Jennings misunderstand instructions? Yes, explore.

by **Acridian9** » Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:36 pm

Did someone call the firemen to rescue Mr. Wilkins?
Were the firemen happy in the end because, even if they were late for the "fire", they were on time to save Mr. Wilkins, and no one could blame their negligence?

Is the first sentence of the puzzle the instructions Jennings misunderstood?

by **GalFisk** » Sat Aug 08, 2020 10:16 am

Did someone call the firemen to rescue Mr. Wilkins? No, someone suggested it, and Jennings said he'd done it already.
Were the firemen happy in the end because, even if they were late for the "fire", they were on time to save Mr. Wilkins, and no one could blame their negligence? Yes.

Is the first sentence of the puzzle the instructions Jennings misunderstood? In essence, yes - but there are other relevant instructions too.

by **Acridian9** » Sun Aug 09, 2020 12:31 pm

Other relevant instructions: to remain in the dormitory? to try to escape from the dormitory? to go to a particular place? to help others escape? to find a teacher? to alert the firemen?

by **GalFisk** » Sun Aug 09, 2020 7:18 pm

Other relevant instructions: to remain in the dormitory? Yes. to try to escape from the dormitory? Yope, explore. to go to a particular place? Yes. to help others escape? No. to find a teacher? to alert the firemen? Yes to both.

by **Acridian9** » Mon Aug 17, 2020 1:58 pm

So... Jennings was told there was a fire and instructed to call the firemen? He knew there was no real fire, but took the instructions by the letter and called the firemen?

by **GalFisk** » Tue Aug 18, 2020 10:27 am

So... Jennings was told there was a fire Yope. and instructed to call the firemen? Yes, but see next. He knew there was no real fire, Yes. but took the instructions by the letter and called the firemen? Correct.
There are two sets of related instructions. Explore.

by **JenBurdoo** » Thu Aug 27, 2020 2:42 pm

Was Jennings a participant in the safety demonstration? Observing it?

Were the fire department aware of the demonstration? Were they conducting training, or a demonstration of their own? Was the statement by the firefighter spoken in jest, or sarcasm?

by **GalFisk** » Fri Aug 28, 2020 6:22 am

Was Jennings a participant in the safety demonstration? Yes. Observing it? He was observing the demonstration of the rescue rope, because...

Were the fire department aware of the demonstration? No. Were they conducting training, or a demonstration of their own? No. Was the statement by the firefighter spoken in jest, or sarcasm? No.

by **Acridian9** » Fri Aug 28, 2020 11:25 am

GalFisk wrote: He was observing the demonstration of the rescue rope, because...

He already knew how to use it? He didn't know how to use it? He didn't know where the rope was located? He didn't know the rope existed at all?

Did Jennings observe the demostration alone? By his own will? Was he forced to observe it?

by **GalFisk** » Fri Aug 28, 2020 12:58 pm

He already knew how to use it? No. He didn't know how to use it? He didn't know where the rope was located? He didn't know the rope existed at all? All correct. Why didn't he?

Did Jennings observe the demostration alone? No. By his own will? Was he forced to observe it? He had to, but had no reason to object.

by **JenBurdoo** » Fri Aug 28, 2020 1:46 pm

Did he not know it was a demonstration? Was he passing by at the time, or had he assembled with others specifically to watch? Did he think Wilkins was doing something else? Performing a magic trick? Climbing feat? WAG: Parachuting?

by **GalFisk** » Fri Aug 28, 2020 3:28 pm

Did he not know it was a demonstration? He did know. Was he passing by at the time, No. or had he assembled with others specifically to watch? Yesish. Did he think Wilkins was doing something else? Performing a magic trick? Climbing feat? WAG: Parachuting? No to all.

by **Acridian9** » Sun Aug 30, 2020 2:30 pm

Was this the fist fire drill Jennings attended? Are the other instructions: to remain in the dormitory? to find a way out? to pretend the fire is real? to follow what other students will do (and he was alone in his room/floor/building)?

by **GalFisk** » Sun Aug 30, 2020 4:15 pm

Was this the fist fire drill Jennings attended? Yes. Are the other instructions: to remain in the dormitory? This is one. to find a way out? Yes, specifically to use the rescue rope - BUT...to pretend the fire is real? Part of the first instructions Jennings got was to do this. to follow what other students will do No. (and he was alone in his room/floor/building)? No.

by **JenBurdoo** » Tue Sep 01, 2020 4:00 pm

Did Jennings follow some instructions but not others?

Was Jennings supposed to be on the rescue rope at some point?

Was Wilkins going UP the rescue rope? Back to Jennings?

by **GalFisk** » Tue Sep 01, 2020 4:16 pm

Did Jennings follow some instructions but not others? Correct, because...

Was Jennings supposed to be on the rescue rope at some point? Yes.

Was Wilkins going UP the rescue rope? Back to Jennings? No to both.

by **wunderland** » Mon Sep 28, 2020 6:26 pm

Did Jennings follow instructions that were intended for Wilkins? Vice versa?

by **GalFisk** » Fri Oct 02, 2020 8:55 pm

Did Jennings follow instructions that were intended for Wilkins? Vice versa?
No to both.

by **LemonCurry** » Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:04 am

Did he call the firefighters to get a "second opinion" if it was really necessary to go down the rescue rope? And the firefighters mistook the call for a real fire?

by **GalFisk** » Wed Nov 04, 2020 9:46 am

Did he call the firefighters to get a "second opinion" if it was really necessary to go down the rescue rope? No. And the firefighters mistook the call for a real fire? They did, but that was Jennings' fault.

by **LemonCurry** » Wed Nov 04, 2020 10:46 am

Was Jennings supposed to simulate a fire call as part of the drill, with a dead phone, and he proceeded to actually dial the number and all?

by **GalFisk** » Wed Nov 04, 2020 10:08 pm

Was Jennings supposed to simulate a fire call as part of the drill, No, but he thought so, due to two sets of instructions and a misunderstanding. with a dead phone, and he proceeded to actually dial the number and all? He did make the call, but thought the fire department knew it was a drill.
Explore the specifics of the two sets of instructions and you've got it.

by **Hobbsicle** » Tue Nov 10, 2020 7:52 pm

Is a recap on the menu? If so, I’ll order one, please.

by **GalFisk** » Tue Nov 17, 2020 10:12 am

Sure thing.
The students boarding at Linbury Court preparatory school are told the afternoon will be spent on a fire drill. Jennings, to make up for not paying attention, is made to lead the drill. The instructions he's given are: you wake up in the middle of the light from the smell of smoke. You find that the strais have collapsed, and you're unable to locate any teachers. Even if it's pretend, you should act as if it was real.

Jennings then receive some other instructions. The nature of these instructions need to be determined. Something about these instructions causes the trouble.

Jennings call the fire department, and says: "There's a fire in the dormitory building! The stairs have collapsed, and we can't find Mr. Wilkins or any other teachers!". He thinks he is supposed to do this, see above.

The firefighters have been busy disassembling and polishing the piping on the truck, since the fire chef puts more importance on looks than function. Possibly out of boredom, since they almost never have an actual emergency to deal with. Of course they take the call seriously, and furiously assembles the truck, but the engine isn't in good condition at all. "We should've cleaned the carburettor on the fire truck, instead of polishing brass! We'll never get there in time to save the school children!" one laments as they cough and sputter towards the school. They do manage a quick field repair, but the journey takes more than half an hour.

Because of the nature of the second set of instructions, jennings is unaware of the fire rescue rope, and when he does become aware, he wants Mr. Wilkins to demonstrate it to them. Mr. Wilkins obliges (after some goading), but slips and gets stuck on the ivy covering the outside wall of the building.

"Mr Wilkins has hanged himself!" says a boy, when the principal arrives to check up on the situation. "up on the ivy," he continues.

"Somebody should call the fire department!" the principal says after some unsuccessful rescue attempts by himself and the boys.
"I've already done that," says Jennings, "they can be here any minute now!"

The firefighters arrive a few minutes later, and both them and Jennings are praised for their quick actions.

by **Hobbsicle** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:26 pm

Entertaining story.

Is the rope directly related to the second instructions?
Does Jennings believe that calling the fire department is what he was instructed to do?
Does he mishear a particular word? Are double meanings relevant?

by **GalFisk** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 10:40 pm

Entertaining story. Sure is. If you can get ahold of any of the Jennings books by Anthony Buckeridge, I heartily recommend them.

Is the rope directly related to the second instructions? Yes.
Does Jennings believe that calling the fire department is what he was instructed to do? Yes.
Does he mishear a particular word? Are double meanings relevant? No to both.

by **Hobbsicle** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 4:35 am

Does he not hear part of the instruction? Or not understand it? Forget part of it? Is the instruction ambiguous? Is the word rope used directly? Is he instructed to get help? To call? If it's a "fire rescue rope" does he only hear "fire rescue"? Is he told to look for something in a particular place and finds the phone?

by **GalFisk** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:27 am

Does he not hear part of the instruction? Close enough. Or not understand it? Forget part of it? Is the instruction ambiguous? Yope. Is the word rope used directly? Yope. Is he instructed to get help? To call? Yes to both. If it's a "fire rescue rope" does he only hear "fire rescue"? Is he told to look for something in a particular place and finds the phone? Yesish.
SPOILER:
The first instructions, givwn by the headmaster, say that he is to read and follow the instructions on the fire safety sheet pinned to the wall in every dorm room. Unfortunately, one of his roommates has stuffed this sheet in the keyhole to stop the draft, since it tends to blow right on his neck. The instructions say to keep doors and windows closed when possible, warn the others by hitting the fire gong, wake a teacher who will then call the fire department, but everything is ruined after "if no teacher is present, the boys shall..." and so he doesn't get to know about the escape rope at all, but concludes that they must be rescued by a ladder truck, and that the headmaster must have prepared the fire department to receive his call. He is very proud of having used his initiative and common sense, as he was told to.
In the end, both Jennings and the firemen are happy to sweep this under the rug, since it turned out well, and most of the school believe he really did use his initiative to get the teacher help, and that the fire department responded with praiseworthy haste.

[GalFisk] Jennings, again

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