The Brave Number Four
by Daniel Errico
Number Four lived in the Land of Numbers.
He wasn’t afraid of anything.
He wasn’t afraid of the dark.
He wasn’t afraid of thunder.
He wasn’t even afraid of wild animals.
It’s been said that he even rode a wild animal during a thunderstorm one night.
One day Number Six asked him if he would help her find her missing pet.
“Of course I will,” said Number Four.
“He ran away into the Forest of Forgotten Numbers,” she said, “And nobody else is brave enough to go in after him.”
“I’m not scared of anything,” he said. “I’ll find your pet, and bring him back.”
Number Four walked into the Forest of Forgotten Numbers while all the other numbers watched.
He went deeper and deeper into the forest until he could barely see anything at all.
There were spooky noises all around him, but they did not scare him.
He asked an owl up in the tree, “Have you seen my friend’s pet?”
“It ran into that cave over there, but it’s much too scary for you to go inside,” said the owl.
The Brave Number Four walked right into the cave and looked around.
He asked a snake on the ground, “Have you seen my friend’s pet?”
The snake was surprised that Number Four was not scared of him.
“He ran down that tunnel, but a monster lives down there, and . Surely you are too scared to follow,” said the snake.
The Brave Number Four walked right down the tunnel and found Number Six’s pet sitting by a warm fire.
He picked up the pet and started to walk out when a great big hairy beast stopped him.
“I am a terrible monster!” it said, “Tremble with fear!”
“Sorry,” said Number Four, “but you don’t scare me.”
The monster was shocked.
“Well, can I at least keep playing with your pet?” it asked.
“This is my friend’s pet, and she’s looking for it,” said Number Four.
He brought back the pet through the tunnel, through the cave, and out through the forest.
All the numbers cheered when they saw him return.
“You saved him,” said Number Six, “How can I ever thank you?”
“It was nothing. Everyone is afraid of something , -it’s just different for different numbers,” said Number Four.
“I’m so happy I could kiss you!” said Number Six.
And that was the first time that Number Four knew what it was like to be scared.
