by Cathy Lichty
In the Village of Numbers there lived the numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. They all lived in their own little houses and would go to work anytime someone needed to count something. Except Zero, he was only needed if someone wanted to count nothing, and no one ever did.
The other numbers were not very kind to Zero. They bullied him and made fun of him. They kept reminding him that he was worth less (<) than they were. “You aren’t really a number at all. You have no business living in the Village of Numbers.”
The numbers weren’t very nice to any of the numbers. Two would pick on and tease One. Three would put Two down, “Two you are less than (<) Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine.” They all did that, with Nine lording it over all the other numbers. “I am greater than (>) all of you numbers.”
The Village of Numbers was not a very nice place to live, full of bullying and arguing all the time. Zero was especially lonely. He was never called on to help count and anytime he came near any of the other numbers they would be nasty to him. “Zero you are nothing, go away.” Zero really wanted a friend; someone to talk to and do things with.
One day he decided to go for a walk. Zero walked up to One’s front door and knocked. One answered the door scowling. “What do you want Zero? Oh right, Nothing!”, he sniggered starting to close the door.
“Wait, I wanted to ask you to go for a walk with me. I know you are awfully busy and are called on to count a lot. Nobody can count anything without starting with you, you are so important.” One stood a little straighter and pushed out his chest with pride. None of the numbers had ever acknowledged One’s importance like this. One opened the door a little wider.
“It’s just that I am lonely. I don’t get called on to count and the other numbers pick on me. But I know that they pick on you a lot too, so I thought maybe you would also be a little lonely. I just want some company to go for a walk.”
Zero’s little speech really made One think. He was lonely and he was picked on a lot, the other numbers always reminded him that they were greater than (>) he was. But Zero never picked on him. Maybe, it would be nice to have someone to take a walk with. “Alright, let’s go.” But One paused, thinking about what the other numbers would say if they saw One walking with Zero. “Let’s head out of town and walk in the woods where we won’t be seen.”
Zero understood right away what One was worried about, and that was okay with him. So, Zero and One set off for their walk in the woods. Having a partner to do something with was a new and very nice experience. “Oh look”, said Zero “there is a red bird in that tree.” “Yes,” said One, “One red bird in one tree.” Then he returned the favor to Zero. “Look there are no black birds here.” “Right,” beamed Zero, “there are zero black birds in these trees.” Zero and One smiled at each other. It was nice to have a friend.
After walking for ½ hour, they turned around and headed home. As they walked home side by side, One on the right and Zero on the left, they felt happy. They entered the village and were almost to One’s house when they came upon a group of numbers all arguing and shoving each other. The numbers turned and looked toward One and Zero. They went silent and stopped moving. Two pointed and gasped, “Look!”
One and Zero had a moment of panic but then remembered how good they felt being together. They moved just a bit closer to each other and stopped.
The entire group of numbers gasped and Nine groaned, “It’s Ten.” One and Zero looked at each other. Then Zero said, “Golly, they are right. Together we are Ten and Ten is greater than (>) Nine and all of the other numbers. Together we are Ten.”
The whole group stood there trying to take in this new thing they were seeing. Cooperating and working together, they began to realize could change their lives. What if Zero partnered with Two? It would make Twenty. Or, what if Two partnered with Nine? It would make Twenty-Nine. They all began trying out different partners. Of course, if they were to partner with other numbers they would need to be nice to the other numbers even Zero.
Nine stood next to Eight thinking they would still be able to boast of being greater than (>) all the others. But when One, Two, and Three stood together Nine sat down hard.
The numbers began to talk and laugh with each other, feeling the excitement of partnering, working together and no longer bullying each other. They spent a long, happy day exploring lots of different partnering. At the end of the day, they all went home to their own houses but none of them felt alone anymore. No one was happier than Zero.
Fini