If you want to be inspired or read something deep and philosophical... skip this entry and move down a little

This was a stupid math assignment we had to do. Write a creative story about a number.
I learned a lot about math doing this assignment, and now think I am more prepared for my major in International Studies and Spanish. What a worthwhile thing with which to occupy my time. :)

Erika Hepburn
Math 203
10 February 2009
Journal #2


Our story begins on the other side of the world under a hazy moonlit sky. Tucked into an unknown corner of an enchanted forest, beneath a willow so weepy its limbs slowly sweep the ground, lay two hooded figures leaning over a cradle. Peacefully sleeping in this cradle is no ordinary child, but behold! A newborn numerical figure, whose parents christened him Nine.
Many moons previous to this sacred night, Nine’s parents, Four and Five, met par chance in a smoky bar in southern Andalusia. It was January and the moon was in its first quarter. A few evenings later, in a clover-covered field, Nine was conceived beneath an eerie full moon. Perhaps this is what led to his luckiness. For those who already know the old tale of number Nine know that he is the first composite lucky number.
Four, Nine’s mother, knew from the moment her little Nine became an embryo that he would be unique. She believed that he perhaps he was an enchanted number as her belly glowed and glittered. Four and Five spent many a night admiring their little Nine’s silhouette performing from within her womb — pirouetting and swimming, dancing and singing in a way only a precious, innocent fetus could.
Nearly nine months had soon passed. Four and Five made their way to the enchanted forest where they wished to give birth to their son in a tranquil environment — an environment just as enchanted as their pirouetting little fetus. The trees and forest creatures whispered amongst themselves, while the elusive wood nymphs made their ways to the tops of the trees throwing glitter and sequins into the air. They created a sparkling rain in the forest as a welcome to the soon-to-be-born number.
After nine hours of labor, on the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, Four gave a final push and scream, and henceforth came noble number Nine. He was a radiant and vibrant shade of green and possessed eyes as rich and red as rubies. His parents draped him in a king’s cape. The forest’s cacophony suddenly dimmed to complete mystical silence. They waited for Nine to cry laugh or scream, but he must have already realized his importance because he composed himself with such a great magnitude of dignity.
Four, Five and Nine spent the entire day together. From 9 a.m. until dusk. They ran, laughed and played — what a happy family they were, indeed! But because numbers mature much more quickly than humans, Four and Five gave Nine an inline skate, put it on his little foot and gave him a fishing pole.
“Skate away, little Nine, skate away. Live off the land like we have taught you, and know that your purpose in life is to multiply — to create larger numbers than your we ever could,” they exclaimed. “And don’t lose Eight’s phone number!” Five cried as a final piece of advice to his departing son.
Five always tried to be a man and keep his emotions nestled deep within him, but as part of him, his precious little Nine, skated off into the sunset, a single tear could be seen glistening across his cheek. He took Four’s hand and helped her into their kayak as they drifted down the river back to Andalusia.
As for Nine, he experienced a lot of adventure in his time. He learned Portuguese and once killed a tiger with his bare hands. He caused quite a lot of controversy during his visit to Russia in the early 80s when he tried to quietly settle down with Seven (a sleek and slender beauty, already married to Six). He did finally give Eight a call though, and they still live a happy life together in a cottage in the hills of Kentucky. They make a decent living running a coalmine, and can often be seen saddling up their giant turkey and taking a ride into town for fancy dinners and ballets.