Reading Is Fundamental

He led the mule to another set of posts.  Similar to the ones in the jumping rig, but farther apart.  Instead of supporting a pole, a rope was strung between the posts.  Every few feet, hanging from the rope, was a small sign.  The first ten had the numbers zero through nine.  The last three were Yes, No, and Maybe.

“You’ve seen Blossom display her grace, her speed, and the raw power she carries in her legs.  Now, she will show you her amazing intellect.  First, a demonstration of her ability to do mathematics.”

“In a moment, I will have volunteers from the audience construct a complex equation.  Blossom will solve it and provide the answer by touching her nose to the appropriate signs.”

“An example would be 90 + 62 - 377 + 475 = 250.  If that were the equation, Blossom would answer by touching her nose to the 2, the 5, and then the 0.  If the answer is a negative number, she’ll touch the No sign first.”

Elmer set up an easel, facing the audience, and placed a small chalkboard on it.  “I’ll need seven of you fine citizens to help pick the numbers.  Who wants to play?”

Jessie raised his hand and shouted “Me, me, pick me!”  So I raised my hand too.  Leonard did not follow suit.

Seven of us lined up next to Elmer.  “And I’ll need one more volunteer. It has to be someone good at addition and subtraction.  Someone to write down what the others select, and do the calculation.  So we’ll be able to tell if Blossom’s math is correct.”

Jessie started hollering again and ran back to where we were sitting.  He grabbed his brother by the arm and said, “Mr. Pickett, this is my brother Leonard.  He is the smartest person I know and he makes straight A’s in math class.  I volunteer him.”

Leonard’s face turned red but he went along as Jessie led him in front of the crowd.  

Elmer continued.  “Just to keep it simple, I’m going to restrict the numbers to three digits.  Nothing larger than 999.”  He turned to the first volunteer.  “You sir, what number do you select?”

“105.”

He spoke to Leonard.  “Please record the selections on the chalkboard.”  My brother did as asked.

To the next volunteer:  “Madam, would you have Blossom perform addition or subtraction?

“Addition.”

Next in line was Jessie.  I could have predicted the number he picked. “999.”

It was up to me.  Did I want addition or subtraction?  I thought Jessie was kind of mean making Blossom deal with a big number.  I said, “Subtraction.”

We went down the line.  Leonard marked on the chalkboard.  He did the math and wrote down the answer:

105 + 999 - 47 + 18 =  1075

Elmer spoke.  “I agree with your answer.  Is there anyone in the audience who came up with a different result?”  Nobody spoke.

Blossom had been waiting, standing in front of the numbered signs.  Doing the math in her head, according to Elmer.

“Now, it’s time for Blossom to tell us her answer.”

Elmer turned toward the mule.  He pulled the whistle from his pocket and gave it a short blast.  Blossom went into action.  She walked to her left, and stopped in front of the 1 sign.  The crowd gasped when she touched it with her nose.  

Blossom only had to turn her head to the left to touch the 0 sign.  We gasped again.

You could hear the buzz growing in the audience as Blossom began walking.  Until she stopped in front of the 7.  Then we went silent.  Jessie shouted, “Go on girl, you can do it!”  Blossom nudged the sign.

Just one more number.  Blossom nosed the 5.  The audience erupted.  People were cheering and whistling.  Jessie started chanting “Blossom, Blossom, Blossom…”