I’ve always thought that each number had its own personality. Some are villains, some are heroes, and some are perfectly normal. This story is exactly how I’ve seen them in my head since I was little, which is why it’s written as a children's story.
It was a bright summer day when 4 woke up to see sun streaming in through her bedroom window. She smiled as she hopped out of bed and thought about all the possibilities the day held for her. It was an exciting mystery.
As 4 opened her bedroom door to make her way down to breakfast, her little brother 3 crashed into the room. He had his toy airplane out and was making buzzing noises as he flew it around her room.
“Oh 3, you’re so silly!” She laughed. “Come down to breakfast with me before Momma 2 thinks we’ve slept in too late.”
“Okay!” Piped 3 as he ran past her to fly his plane down the stairs or their little cottage.
When 3 and 4 reached the bottom of the stairs they saw their elderly Grandpa 1 sitting at the table, twisting his long white mustache around his finger as he loomed over a newspaper. “Good morning Grandpa 1!” They called in unison as they came over and kissed Grandpa 1’s slim and withered cheeks.
“Good morning 3, good morning 4.” He said cheerily as he gave them each hugs.
“Good morning Momma 2.” 4 said as she hugged her mother who was finishing cooking breakfast.
“Why hello there 4. What are your plans today?” Momma 2 turned around and started setting the table.
“I’m not sure.” 4 replied as she sat in her usual spot. “I think I’m going to go for a walk and see what happens from there.”
“You be careful,” Grandpa 1 told her. “Snidely 9 and his sidekick 7 are on the loose and doing terrible things in the town.”
“Don’t worry Grandpa 1, I’ll be careful.” 4 promised.
When she was done with her meal, 4 said goodbye to her family and started her walk.
4 didn’t get very far before she ran into her neighbor 6 playing in the woods near their houses. 4 and 6 went to school together, but 6 was a little older. He was a very shy boy, but very nice. His best friend was 8, the most popular kid in school. 8 was nice and was the star of the school track and football teams.
“Hello 6!” 4 called.
6 looked surprised, but when he saw that it was 4, he smiled and waved. “Hi 4. What are you doing today?”
4 stopped to talk to 6. “Going for a walk and seeing where the day takes me. How about you?”
6 shrugged. “I’m just messing around with these new action figures my mom got me.” He blushed.
“That sounds like a lot of fun.” 4 said cheerily.
Suddenly, there was a rustling in the trees near them. 4 and 6 looked up to see two interesting characters. One was very tall and thin with a worn top hat and a black handlebar mustache. The other was also thin, but a bit shorter. His back was hunched and he smiled like a wolf.
“Hello there, children.” The one with the top hat said in a British accent. “What are you doing out here alone?”
6 was frozen with fear, but 4 answered politely. “Good morning, sir. We’re just playing.”
The one with the top hat tisked and shook his head. “That is very alarming. I’ve heard there’s a very dangerous character roaming these woods. You wouldn’t want to run into him, now would you?”
“No sir.” 4 responded.
“No, no. I didn’t think so. You children should run along before…Hmm.” The man trailed off. “I don’t’ remember the villain’s name.” He turned to the hunched over man next to him. “Do you remember his name, good fellow?”
A shrill laugh came from the man. “Yes!” He wheezed.
“Oh that’s right!” Said top-hat man. “Snidely 9…at your service.” He took off his top hat and put it over his heart, holding out his hand to shake with 4.
Not thinking, 4 took his hand. Snidely 9 pulled her toward him, grabbing her. “Take her 7!” He called as they rushed back into the woods with 4.
6 jumped up and ran down the path toward town. He wasn’t sure where he was going; he just knew he needed to tell someone what had happened. 6 was almost home when he literally ran into his best friend 8 who was waiting in line at an ice cream stand.
“What’s wrong?” 8 asked as he steadied his friend who was shaking and panting.
“4! 7! Snidely 9! Woods!” 6 was puffing so hard he couldn’t talk in complete sentences. Luckily 8 and 6 were such good friends that 8 understood.
“Snidely 9 and 7 grabbed 4 and took her into the woods?” He asked, concerned.
“Yes! You have to go help her!” 6 finally got out.
8 didn’t say anything more and started running. He ran through the woods, looking for clues of where Snidely 9 and 7 could have take 4. 8 was about to give up when he heard some faint screaming.
“4.” He said to himself quietly, and started running toward her screams
As 8 was about to burst out of the woods, he heard a whistle. When he cleared the trees he saw train tracks. There was 4, tied up and lying on the tracks. The whistle he’d heard was a train heading right for her.
“8! Help me!” She called when she saw him.
8 moved as fast as he could, running toward 4. Just as the train was about to run her over, 8 swooped down and pulled 4 off of the tracks, quickly untying the ropes around her. 4 clung to him, giving him a hug. “Thank you so much 8! You saved me! My hero!”
8 smiled down at her and hugged her back. “I’m glad you’re safe.” He said. “Now, where are Snidely 9 and 7?”
“They’re back at their hideout.” 4 said. “I’ll show you.”
4 took 8 to Snidely 9 and 7’s hideout where they found them sitting in front of a fireplace, sipping tea. 8 and 4 worked together and were able to apprehend them, 4 using her sweet karate skills and 8 using brute force. They called the police and waved Snidely 9 and 7 goodbye as they were taken away.
Later that night there was a big party. Momma 2 made a cake for 8 to thank him for saving her daughter. Grandpa 1 spent the evening telling old heroic tales from when he was younger. 3 sat patiently next to 8, his new hero, as they politely listened to Grandpa 1’s stories. 6 even stopped by and shyly accepted a huge hug from 4 for helping in her rescue.
They lived happily ever after.
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