Jim
by Marnie

Jim sat next to Dan and listened as John gave his directions for the study project. Brian had been pretty insistent that they all attend. Jim, having taken a few psychology classes himself knew how hard it was to come up the diverse group that was often needed to get the best results for a research project. He was happy to comply.

Glancing around the room her noticed various expressions on his friend’s faces ranging from surprise to smugness.

The young researcher, John gave them the simple directions and Jim nodded his head. This doesn’t sound too hard, he thought. I’m pretty observant, if I do say so myself. I always had to be when I was younger just to survive and now, while life is easier, I think I still pay attention. Just then John started the video.

Leaning in, Jim watched as the 6 people on screen; three dressed in white and three dressed in black, passed a basketball between each other. Each set, black and white, had a basketball so he quickly concentrated on watching the white group move.

In and out they weaved and passed, while Jim counted.

One, two, three, four, he voiced the numbers in his head thinking that it would help him keep up better. There was no telling how high this number could be. Five, six, seven, eight, he continued.

Realizing fairly quickly that there was a bit of a pattern to the moves, Jim leaned further in; furrowing his brow, intent in making sure he didn’t miss a move. He narrowed his eyes, watching and counting as the group in white wove their way in and out on the screen.

Jim smiled. This isn’t so bad, he thought.

Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. Suddenly the screen went dark. Jim sat back in the chair, no longer noticing how uncomfortable it was.

Remembering the rest of the instructions given regarding the questions, Jim picked up his pencil and began to answer them in order.

That was easy, Jim felt confident in his answer. Writing 15, he moved on.

Wait, I wasn’t asked to do that. Frowning, Jim hesitated then wrote in No.

Wait just a minute here, Jim’s temper started to flare. They never said anything about counting both teams passes, only the white. I counted the white like I was asked to. I would have counted both teams if they wanted me to. Blowing an aggravated breath out sharply he wrote, I did not separate the passes from each of the teams as we had only been asked to count the passes from the white team.

Looking down at his response he stopped for a moment to reread it. Taking a few deep breaths and shaking his shoulders as if to shrug off the irritation he was feeling he looked at the next question. 4. Did you notice the color of the curtain at the start?

Well, I noticed there was a curtain, let me think, oh yeah it was something bright; red I’m pretty sure. in that response he moved on.

Wasn’t it still red, of course it was, but that’s not the question, the question is did I notice the color at the end. I did not. Writing No he moved on.

What, I didn’t study their faces, no of course not. Jim felt the back of his neck getting hot and knew he was letting his temper get the best of him. Taking a deep breath he worked his way through the final two questions.

I’m pretty sure it was three girls.

I think there were three boys as well.

Writing the final answers on the paper, Jim looked up and began tapping the pencil on the desk rapidly; his annoyance at not having answered all the answers perfectly showing in the movement.

Quickly scanning the people around him, he noticed that Dan was still answering the questions; however, Trixie had finished and was also scanning the room with her bright blue eyes.

I bet she knew how many times each group passed the ball. Schoolgirl Shamus Trixie she doesn’t miss much, Jim thought with a rueful grin.

Sitting back again Jim looked up at John just as he spoke.

“Now,” John said with a smile, “who saw the gorilla walk through the group?”

Jim shook his head slightly and felt his face flush. What is he talking about, gorilla. What gorilla? There wasn’t a gorilla in that video, I know there wasn’t.

However, looking around and seeing the affirmative nods and smiles on so many of the group Jim realized that it wasn’t a joke. There had been a gorilla!

After John dismissed them and was through talking with Trixie, Jim approached and asked to see the video again; He just couldn’t believe he had missed something as obvious as a gorilla walking through. John agreed and rewound the tape.

He watched as the imbedded screen ran quickly in reverse and began to play again. This time as the scene played out; Jim could plainly see that during the passing of the basketballs, someone in a gorilla suit strolled into the group from one side, turned to face the camera, beat its chest a few times, then turned and strolled off the other side.

That can’t be right, he thought as the video ended. That was a different film. However, as he stood there pondering, he began to realize that it was right. He had not seen the gorilla since he had been so intent on doing what he had been asked to do. He was told to watch the people in white pass the ball, and the gorilla suit was black. He had simply not seen what was in front of his eyes. That made sense to him, but thinking about how casually the gorilla had walked in and dominated the scene, he was unsettled.

Jim grinned sheepishly to himself. That was a lesson learned. I always thought I was observant, I guess this proves me wrong. It really makes me think. What other types of things do I miss when I’m concentrating? He wondered.

Suddenly an image of Trixie trying so hard to communicate with him via the SOS symbols from the alphabet code when she was being held-up in the store front when they were younger, rushed back to him.

Well, that’s one thing I missed, he thought ruefully. What else?

Then he began to think of more things, including the time Trixie had acted like she had feelings for Honey’s cousin Ben so she could give the diamond ring he gave her to Mr Lytell to hold as security for Brian’s jalopy. He hadn’t realized at the time that her pretending to like Ben was fake….he even remembered feeling pretty upset about it.

I should have seen that one, I knew she was up to something, but didn’t pursue it.

He also remembered that usually when Trixie was off and running with one of her mysteries, he tended to hold back or negate her clues, at least in the beginning.

I didn’t even believe her when she told me that a fortune was hidden in my uncle’s mansion, and I was certainly wrong about that.

Jim realized that him not seeing the gorilla was not really an anomaly or a failure on his part, just that his natural tendency was to see the forest, not always the trees. To see what he was supposed to see and not always what was there.

I guess I need to work on that, he thought. It’s not always good to just concentrate on what I should be seeing, I also need to look around and see what else is there, hidden in the picture. Widen my horizons. Look deeper, not just at the surface.

Giving thought to the other Bob-Whites and what would be their take on the trial, he cocked his head to the left and raised a corner of his lip in a half smile. I wonder what everyone else saw?