One + One = Two (story)

David has a new neighbor. Her name is Robin.

She is his first friend since his family moved to the village of North River, in Nova Scotia. And it makes him very happy.

One friend plus one equals two friends.

Robin is eight, a year older than David. She can also run faster than he can. Their first race was on a hill back of his house. And he lost.

David also likes math. His favorite number is 2.

He thinks it is one of the most important numbers there is. Two legs help him run quickly when Ace barks, especially when he is chasing.

And David has two hands to help dad carry groceries. His two arms give mom huge hugs. She needs them after a hard day at work.

He even uses them on his rope ladder. Both he and Robin need to be strong to climb up to the tree house.

At the breakfast table David checks the time. He doesn't think there is anything unusual about wearing two watches.

Uncle Larry's gift is on his right wrist. It has a white face with a red maple leaf in the middle.

His other watch has a black face with white numbers that glow in the dark. Aunt Esther bought it for his seventh birthday.

David could not decide which one to use. So he decided it was only fair to use both.

One watch plus one equals two watches.

It was a sunny Saturday for David's special walk downtown. But first he had to get Robin who promised to come with him.

David had already asked mom and dad if he could do something different. Today was the day.

His mom made him some laughing clothes, just the way he wanted.

Instead of wearing two of everything, he wanted to have clothes with other colors.

It was for a reason.

Like why he was wearing two watches.

He had two nice pairs of running shoes, the same as many boys his age. This morning he placed a white one on his right foot and a black one on his left foot.

Then he switched his shoelaces so he had white with a black shoe. And black laces with a white shoe.

One color running shoe plus another one equals two running shoes.

Mom also dyed one of his jean legs green and the other blue. Neat, he thought. One color leg plus one equals two.

Now his white shirt had two colors. One arm was purple and the other orange. One arm with color plus one equals two arms with bright colors.

Even deciding which socks to wear was fun. One was red and the other brown. Good thing no one could see a pink toe peeking out.

It didn't matter what he looked like, or how people might stare. He simply wanted to help people smile today.

David had been hearing too much sadness on the television news lately. It made people grumpy. And their faces looked sad.

He wanted to do something about it. “It’s a great plan,” Robin said.

Would anyone laugh? Or even have smiling faces? He would soon find out.

As he walked down the street with his friend Robin, people turned their heads and stared. At first they slowed their cars, then parked by the road and watched.

David began jumping around, waving his arms and chasing Robin. Some people hung out of windows, not wanting to miss anything.

Other children stopped skateboarding.

Some just sat on their porches and watched as the village began to wake up on this Saturday morning.

Hands waved and fingers pointed. Hearty chuckles even snuck out from between surprised lips.

A few people sat down on the sidewalk. Others rolled around on their lawns holding onto their laughing tummies.

Some screeched and howled at the sight before them.

Others squirmed and twisted trying to get a better look as David and Robin walked past.

By now a gathering crowd began to follow both children. David marched down Main Street, past grocery and gift shops. He wasn’t shy to travel from one end of the short street to the other.

Soon, the collection of children and people turned into a little parade. Dogs, cats and a few horses also trotted along.

Seagulls and curious crows flew low to get a closer look at the fun. Nearby, on the edge of the crowd a mom and dad proudly watched.

Their son David and his friend Robin walked boldly back through the village all the way home.

Behind them were shouts and laughter with much clapping. Sadness was a stranger, at least for now.

One smile plus many others equals more than two.

And David plus Robin, equals two friends.

- The End -

© Richard & Esther Provencher