The missing piece – a jigsaw puzzle conspiracy

Yesterday, we went to see my grandma at her retirement home.

We had a lovely visit. Pumpkin was on her best behaviour, even though she missed her nap, and I think my grandma really enjoyed spending time with her great-granddaughter.

But this post isn’t about visiting my grandma. It’s about jigsaw puzzles.

You see, the home is a lovely and huge facility, with long hallways and apartments off to both sides. To break up the monotony of door-after-door, little sitting areas have been created here and there. I reckon these also give residents a place to stop for a rest if they need it along the way.

As well as sitting areas, there’s a library, a TV nook (with an actual VCR!!) and a few computer terminals. There are also tables with jigsaw puzzles.

Everyone is welcome to work on the puzzles. It’s mostly residents who take part, but I know one of my uncles likes to have a go when he visits. And it seems like a nice little demonstration of community teamwork.

But, there’s also a slightly sinister side to the jigsaw puzzles.

I mean, you know, as sinister as jigsaw puzzles can get.

Everyone in my family has noticed a trend with these puzzles. Whenever a one is completed, there’s a piece missing.

One little piece.

Always.

Now, at first, we thought this was just an unfortunate case of missing puzzle pieces. After all, pieces get knocked about all the time – and the cleaners probably aren’t too discerning with their vacuum cleaners.

But, it happens every single time.

And the funny thing is, after a few days the piece always shows up and the puzzle is completed.

I know what you’re thinking. “Oh, that’s nice. Somebody’s found the piece then. There’s nothing sinister about that, Shannon.”

I disagree.

My theory is that there is a conspiracy. Somebody in that retirement home wants to enjoy the glory of putting the last piece in the puzzle. So, he or she takes a piece, keeps it and waits until the puzzle is finished – or nearly finished – and then completes it when nobody’s looking.

Seriously – there’s an OAP evil genius in my grandma’s retirement home.

The even funnier part is that I think somebody else has cottoned on to what’s going on. And they’ve started a counter-attack.

When we arrived at the retirement home this morning, the piece I photographed was the only one missing.

But when we left, another one was gone.

I think somebody is tired of not getting to finish the puzzles, so they’ve taken one of their own.

Now there’s a standoff to see who will put their piece back first. It’s so perfectly passive aggressive.

It’s like jigsaw puzzle chicken. I love it. And it makes me laugh whenever I think about it.

Daddy-man thinks there’s a life lesson in there somewhere too.

• Somebody’s always after your last puzzle piece?
• Don’t let anyone else finish what you started?
• Take the glory when you can – even if you didn’t do the work?

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Hmmm – I think those need a bit of work. 🙂

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What do you think? Are we reading too much into this? Is it just a coincidence, or is there a jigsaw conspiracy? What do you think the lesson to be learned is? Leave your comment below!