Trifecta

This week's challenge: Check out the third definition of brain (below), and use the word exactly as it appears, in no less than 33 and no more than 333 words.

3

: something that performs the functions of a brain; especially : an automatic device (as a computer) for control or computation

The storage facility called about a single moving box left in her late father's abandoned locker. If she didn't retrieve it, they would toss it. Julie was tempted to say, "Go ahead." But her boyfriend was eager to go get it, saying, “I bet it’s filled with treasure.”

So that's how they came to go through a box of ancient office supplies. A pink disc typewriter eraser, complete with little black brush. Bottles of dried out liquid paper. And brads. Lots of brads.

"Why would anyone need this many brads?" Shawn asked.

"He used them to fasten his cuffs in a pinch," she said matter-of-factly.

"Really? Your dad sounds like quite a character."

"That's one word for it," Julie replied, going through file folders. It gave her pause to see his handwriting again for the first time in years. Dad cared more about his office life than his home life. So far, Julie was unimpressed by the paperwork that had been such a successful rival for his affections.

Shawn saw that she was getting sad. He attempted to distract her by shooting her with an old rubberband but it came apart in his hand. Instead he reached in the box and found a big black gadget.

“What’s this behemoth?” he asked.

 

“That’s Dad’s Bowmar Brain!”

“His what?”

“You know, ‘brain,’ like calculator,” she said, taking it from Shawn. “Believe it or not, this was once state-of-the-art. His boss gave it to him for Christmas and he wouldn’t let me even touch it.” 

Shawn continued rummaging. Julie continued reminiscing. “He was so impressed with this thing, even though I think it only did four functions. He told everyone it was the best present he got that year. Completely ignoring the picture frame I made for him. I decorated it in glitter and wrote ‘Daddy’ in …”

“Macaroni,” they said in unison as Shawn produced a gaudily framed photo of a very young Julie.

He smiled. “I told you we’d find treasure.”