Karen, Thanks for posting these games. I've had family over here for the past few days and after they left, this was the BEST brain-drain ever!
Esther, I spent all day at this (
). I wrote it all down (me geek). If you are really going crazy, read on. Spoiler follows! Don't read this if you're trying to figure it out yourself. Only read this if you're at your wits end.
1. Police man and thief cross.
2. Bring Policeman back.
3. Policeman brings boy over.
4. Policeman and thief go back.
5. Father and Son go over
6. Father comes back.
7. Mother and Father over.
8. Mom comes back.
9. Policeman and thief over.
10. Father comes back.
11. Mother and Father go over.
12. Mother comes back.
13. Mother and Daughter go over.
14. Policeman and Thief come back.
15. Policeman and Daughter go over.
16. Policeman comes back
17. Policeman and Thief go over. Game over.
This is my convoluted logic. Anybody get less than 17 steps? I feel I'm missing something.