The Humble Number

Once, there was a number. This number was 39. They lived in a maths mini game, which was inside an even bigger maths game, called Arithmetic School. The game was to guess the value in tens, ones, etc. and type the answer in. You would think 3 and 9 would be as alike as two peas in a pod. Far from it. They were like a lemon and a lemur. A cupcake and a chalk. And 9 wasn’t the cupcake. Oh no. 9 was boastful, and had a conceited ego. However, 3 was the complete opposite of 9. It was humble and helpful. One day, a little girl with an account on the game came on. Her name was Sapphire. “Hmm, what game shall I play?” murmured Sapphire. Her eye suddenly caught on the mini game 39 lived in. It was for third graders, but Sapphire was a second grader. She did love a challenge. She pressed play and started the game. She moved through steadily and well. At the very last question, 39 came on. “Oh! I have to figure out which digit is bigger in value! I have to do it out loud!” said little Sapphire. “I’m sure to be the bigger value digit!” boasted 9 gleefully. “ Hmm, the 3 is in the tens place, and the 9 in the ones place. So, 3 must be the more valued number!” worked out Sapphire. The digits could not believe their ears ( if they had ears!). This has got to be wrong! thought 9 desperately. She tapped on the submit button, and lo and behold, it was correct! Sapphire got a score of 100% in the game and was very happy. Shocked by this experience 9 became humble and helpful too. And 3 and 9 was finally as alike as two peas in a pod.

Moral: Pride comes before a fall.