Read The Gift of Numbers for Free Online Page A

draw them."
    "I see what you mean. That does look more like a caterpillar."
"He bought the same number of handkerchiefs the second time
but more socks. Five pairs is a lot to draw.... Mine are starting to
look like caterpillars, too."
    "No, they're fine. And you're right, only the number of socks
increases, along with the price. Why don't we check to see how
much the price went up?"
    "So, you'd subtract ¥380 from ¥710...."
    "Always show your work, and do it neatly."
    "I usually just scribble on the back of scrap paper."
    "But every formula and every number has meaning, and you
should treat them accordingly, don't you think?"
    I was sitting on the bed, doing some mending. Whenever they
started Root's homework, I tried to find something to do in the
study in order to be near them. I would iron the Professor's shirts,
or work on a stain in the rug, or snip string beans for supper. If I
was working in the kitchen and heard their laughter drift in from
the other room, I felt terribly excluded—and I suppose I wanted
to be there when anyone was showing kindness to my son.
    The sound of the rain seemed louder in the study, as if the sky
were actually lower there. The room was completely private,
thanks to the lush greenery that grew up around the house, and
there was no need to close the curtains even after dark. Their reflections
appeared dimly in windowpanes, and on rainy days the
musty smell in the study was stronger than usual.
    "That's right! Then it's just a matter of simple division and
you've got it."
    "So, you get the price of the socks first: ¥110."
    "Okay, but you've got to be careful now. The handkerchiefs
seem innocent, but they may turn out to be tricky."
    "Right. But it's easier to do the sums when the numbers are
small."
    The desk was a bit too high, and Root was forced to sit up very
straight as he leaned over his problem, a well-chewed pencil
clutched tightly in his hand. The Professor sat back, legs crossed
and looking relaxed, and his hand drifted to his unshaven chin from
time to time as he watched Root work. He was no longer a frail old
man, nor a scholar lost in his thoughts, but the rightful protector of
a child. Their profiles seemed to come together, superimposed on
one another, forming a single line. The gentle patter of the rain was
punctuated by the scratching of pencil on paper.
    "Can I write out the equations separately like this? Our teacher
gets mad if we don't combine them all into one big formula."
    "If you're doing them carefully and correctly, he has no reason
to get mad."
    "Okay, let's see.... 110 times 2 is 220. Subtract that from
380.... That's 160 ... 160 divided by 2 ... is 80. That's it. One
handkerchief costs ¥80."
    "That's right! Well done!"
    As the Professor rubbed Root's head, Root glanced up into his
face, not wanting to miss the look of approval and pleasure.
    "I'd like to give you a problem myself," said the Professor.
"Would you mind?"
    "What?"
    "No long faces now. Since we're studying together, I feel like
playing the teacher and giving you homework."
    "That's not fair," said Root.
    "It's just one little problem. All right? Here it is: What is the
sum of all the numbers from 1 to 10?"
    "Okay, I'll let you give me homework if you'll do something for
me. I want you to get the radio fixed."
    "The radio?"
    "That's right. I want to listen to the ball games. You don't have
a TV and the radio's broken. And we're coming down to the pennant
race."
    "Oh, I see ... baseball." The Professor let out a long, slow
breath, his hand still resting on Root's head. "What team do you
like?" he asked at last.
    "Can't you tell from my hat?" Root said, picking up the cap
he'd left with his backpack and pulling it over his head. "The
Tigers!"
    "The Tigers? Is that right? The Tigers," the Professor murmured.
"Enatsu! Yutaka Enatsu, best pitcher of all time."
    "Yes! Good thing you don't like the Giants. Okay, we've got to
get the radio fixed," Root insisted. The Professor seemed to be
muttering something