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Post by Bruce Wayne on Aug 24, 2013 20:57:31 GMT
He shrugged, "I make it a point not to shop for anyone like that," he said.
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Post by Jeffery Thompson on Aug 24, 2013 21:07:31 GMT
Jeff clasped Bruce on the back. "That certainly would make it easier. Finding the 'perfect present' really does take a lot of effort. You're better off avoiding the whole thing."
Jen took out her notebook. "Okay...I'm not sure what's appropriate for a donation. Do you have the total from last year? I can estimate the number of people and do an average then multiply that by two and know what to write a check for!"
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Aug 24, 2013 21:10:37 GMT
He turned to Jen, "Just pay what you want. Besides, I don't have those figures." He could get to them, but that would take some time, and he didn't want her to feel any obligations.
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Post by Jeffery Thompson on Aug 24, 2013 21:43:46 GMT
Jeff laughed. "You have no idea what you've just done!"
Jen did a brief head count. "Hmm...So there are x people now..But it's been a while. I need to take into consideration how many people came before. Then estimate the wealth of everyone. Take social obligations into account...estimate what everyone here has donated...the ones before..." She began scribbling furiously.
"Girl needs her equations for everything or she goes nuts."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Aug 24, 2013 21:48:02 GMT
"Just remember the variables," he told her, "Some give more, some less. Some care, some don't."
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Post by Jeffery Thompson on Aug 24, 2013 21:55:59 GMT
Jen sighed. "I know. It's the human element that makes it so unpredictable and hard to calculate! Often times the poorer people will donate more. But..." She flipped through her notebook and proudly held out some equations. "Earlier when I was bored I was trying to make an equation for how much a person donated dependent on wealth, education, religion, and social connections," she said proudly. "It's no where near perfect but I'll have to rely on those to help with this estimation."
Jeff smiled at Bruce. "I'm not kidding when I say she goes nuts without her perfectly ordered equations. She made one up to try and figure out what to get me for Christmas."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Aug 24, 2013 22:28:35 GMT
"I can see that," he told Jeff. He looked back to Jen, "I don't think those are all that matter in figuring out the math."
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Post by Jeffery Thompson on Aug 24, 2013 22:41:13 GMT
Jen looked up. "I know. That's why I say it's no where near perfect. It was just something I was playing around with a bit when I was bored. But if you have further suggestions I'll be happy to take them under consideration. What other variables do you think I should put in there?" she asked eagerly. Whether it was practical or not, once she had set her mind on something she was determined to solve the puzzle.
"How do you know Jen, anyway Mr. Wayne? Was she always like this?" Jeff asked, gesturing to Jen as she was poured over her notebook writing furiously. He hadn't known Jen had any connection to the man.
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Aug 24, 2013 22:43:46 GMT
"College," he told Jeff, "Pretty much, as far as I recall." He spoke back to Jen, "I've got nothing. The drives of men are hard to put into formulas. I don't think I can help there."
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Post by Jeffery Thompson on Aug 24, 2013 22:48:48 GMT
Jen nodded. "I know! Perfecting the equation will be impossible. It'll always be a rough approximation." She continuing scribbling in her notebook. "He saved my notebook," she explained to Jeff.
Jeff laughed warmly. "You must be her friend for life then. There are few things she cares about more."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Aug 24, 2013 22:50:45 GMT
"Well, for your sake let's hope you're one of them," he joked.
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Post by Jeffery Thompson on Aug 24, 2013 22:55:24 GMT
"Hey Jen, me or notebook, which would you save?" Jeff asked cheerfully.
"Finished or work in progress?" she questioned.
"Work in progress," he replied.
"I can only save one?" she asked.
"Yes," he confirmed.
"Notebook," she said without hesitation.
Jeff laughed. "There you have it."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Aug 24, 2013 22:57:19 GMT
"Well, better luck next time," Bruce told him, "That's some pretty stiff competition you've got against you."
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Post by Jeffery Thompson on Aug 24, 2013 23:01:02 GMT
Jeff rubbed his chin. He leaned in closer towards Bruce. "See, there's a problem. That notebook there hasn't committed a crime yet." He waved his hands helplessly. "Until it does there's not much I can do to hedge my bets."
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Post by Bruce Wayne on Aug 24, 2013 23:02:27 GMT
"But there's always more notebooks and formulas," he whispered back.
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