12 Comments
Dec 22, 2023Liked by Rebecca Makkai

Rebecca, this mystery is made for the Heavyweight podcast. https://gimletmedia.com/shows/heavyweight You should ask Jonathan Goldstein to get on the case. He and his team will crack this kiddie case wide open.

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#6 adjacent: "not a creature was stirring..." but the kid's a mouse in a mousehole (ala Tom and Jerry) and you can only see the eyes ("not stirring").

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This might be the first time a Substack sent me into giggling fits. I have no new theories to add. But I have deep gratitude to you for yours (and to that kid for spawning joy decades later).

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Dec 23, 2023Liked by Rebecca Makkai

So some of the kids look like they are being elves. Could that one be a "sack of toys" they have filled? I'm just spitballing here.

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Dec 22, 2023Liked by Rebecca Makkai

My first thought was a rock like from The Great Pumpkin. Then I realized it’s the wrong holiday. So I vote for lump of coal.

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founding

I don't know, but didn't he grow up to start the Black-Eyed Peas? (I know, should be white-eyed, according to this pic, and peas aren't black, but you took all the really funny answers.)

Gun to the head, I vote lump of coal.

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I dunno but that kid's name was definitely Jason and I'm pretty sure the girl whose hand you're holding is either Jennifer or Michelle.

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Lump of coal!

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Lump of coal. Definitely.

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That's a boy who doesn't want to be seen holding hands with a group of girls. That boy went on to invent the poop emoji.

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Hilarious! thanks for the laughs today, Rebecca.

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You were such a cutie and a kind one holding the hand of a kid who is clearly misrepresented.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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