Riddle 020: Calling All Crooks

[questionauthority]

A. [At Mayfield High, Edward is taking to his new job as Ethics teacher with very little enthusiasm. Any kids in his class? Your first assignment is being written on the board in a neat, tidy scrawl:

"How far would you be willing to go to escape this place?"]

Discuss.

B. [Later on that afternoon, Edward makes a public phone call, filtered away from drones, Grady, the Mayor, the Smiths, and the like.]

Mayfield, Mayfield, Mayfield. You know what I like to do every Sunday night when I'm not scheming a daring escape? I like to think up riddles. Like this one, for example: "What is the one question you can ask at any point in the day, and still get a different answer?" Give up? Hmm?

Answer: "What time is it?" See? Simple. I could say "7:26" just as easily as I can say the time is 9 o'clock PM. Or this one---actually, my old college roommate, Andrew, was instrumental in helping me think this one up.

"Brothers and sisters have I none, but that man's father is my father's son!" I'll let you figure out the answer to that one on your own.

Hmm. Perhaps this Sunday night, I'll think up another good riddle. Or perhaps I'll finally find a way for all of you to get out of here. Who knows? Maybe I already have. Interested? Well---you already know where to find me. I've practically given you all the answers, regardless.

[He chuckles obnoxiously.]

Comments

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

You make up one component of the riddle. You are your father's son. But there is one more person in this riddle you need to bear in mind, aside from you and your father.

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

Yes, and if that man's father is me, and I have no siblings, then logically I am the correct answer. There's a mother in the family structure somewhere, unless we're getting into stepparenthood.

[He's clearly getting frustrated. Not a difficult feat, particularly.]

You're being evasive on purpose!

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

And yet you still fail to take into account the identity of "that man" to begin with.

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

That man is my son! Do I have to spell it out for you?!

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

There you have it, then.

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

...You knew I knew it! The whole time!

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

At any rate, you've got the answer. Good work.

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

And what was the point of that, again?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Haven't you been paying any attention, friend?

[A derisive chortle as he mutters to himself.] How sad. You'd think people would be more enthusiastic to leave Mayfield. Or at least smart enough to catch on when you offer them a hook.

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

I'm brilliant, you evasive snake!

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you are.