Maria in the lab with the shoe

Maria chooses the shoe and the lab.

The shoe is actually a stiletto-heeled boot, which allows Maria to get on her hands and knees and quickly pop individual balloons with the heel.

She does not count out loud, but stops before all of the balloons have been popped, so apparently did not assume that the room contained precisely 99 balloons.

Unfortunately, Maria neglects to say the required phrase to end the task, instead simply commenting that she is uncertain about her counting, and then leaving the room. She is therefore assigned the maximum amount of time (10 minutes).

However, Maria pops just 97 balloons, and so earns a single participation point.

(Written by Jenny R and proofread by Karl Craven)

(Illustrations collected by Jenny R and adjusted by Karl Craven)