We're all a Little Odd

We're all a Little Odd

Once upon a Number Line, were numbers Odd and Even.

Our hero is the number One, someone to believe in.

He played the fiddle clean and sharp; the best there ever was!

When he first played to Three and Five it was to great applause.

His friends were all the Odds, and they just loved to hear him play.

They’d cheer, and cheer, and cheer for him, and cheer for him all day!

He wanted to impress them with a song that he had wrote.

He held his fiddle—out a little—then he cleared his throat.

That first note sounded perfect, but he knew something was wrong.

His fiddle would sound better with a cello and a drum.

But none of the Odd numbers played an instrument like him. 

His dreams were bright but now that light was starting to go dim.

Then suddenly, he heard a voice which then began to say,

“Mistake me not I clearly thought I heard that Two can play!”

In his excitement One took off in search of number Two,

while hoping that she played the cello, not a pink kazoo.

He walked from here to over there, while singing as he went.

Until he read a wooden sign, not liking what it meant:

No Odds allowed beyond this point, but Evens come on through!

You know you’re Odd when you are not a multiple of two!

He passed the sign and just in time to see the number Eight,

who was alone and, on their phone, and clearly in debate.

So, number One walked up to him and gave a little grin.

He looked at him and then he said, “Why, Eight how have you been?”

“Don’t talk to me.” Said number Eight, “I’m busy can’t you see?

Besides, you’re odd and don’t belong, so please just let me be!”

“I think I will be on my way because you’re rather rude…

In case you didn’t notice, I’m a number just like you!”

So, One continued on his way to find himself a friend.

A number who would play with him until the very end.

It wasn’t long until he saw some Evens in a zoo.

The numbers Six and Four were there and so was number Two!

While lifting up his fiddle, One approached them and declared,

“Why, hello there! I wrote a song, and sure would love to share!”

At first the Even numbers just ignored what he had said,

pretending that he wasn’t there while looking straight ahead.

He spoke the words with so much passion, yet, they simply sat

ignoring him pretending that his words had fallen flat.

But number Four had heard enough and so she dropped her harp,

she turned to One and spoke some words that sounded rather sharp.

“I just might want to play with you if you were not so odd,

but Even numbers simply can’t be playing with you Odds!

We Even numbers make more sense, there isn’t much to show,

we’re better, neater, more completer, surely this you know!”

“Why, no I don’t!” said One to her, his fiddle still in hand.

“I cannot, cannot, will not, ever truly understand!

You think that I’m a weirdo, say I’m odd and don’t belong,

but won’t you, can’t you, please just sit and listen to my song?”

“I’m sure that once you hear it, no, I know you’ll understand

the power that this music has to join us hand in hand!”

“I don’t know what to tell you, One with you I will not play,

perhaps maybe I will if you become less odd someday.”

One drooped his head, and turned around, and then he walked away.

If only they could hear my song and listen to me play!

And at that moment One remembered all those magic notes,

he held his fiddle—out a little—playing what he wrote.

His song began to soar within the air upon a breeze,

while drifting to the Even numbers, flowers, and the trees.

The world had stopped to listen as it heard his pretty song—

but all the Even numbers knew that there was something wrong…

So, number Six he grabbed his sticks, and joined the number One.

They played together handsomely while Six beat on his drum.

The sound they made intensified; the song was something more.

What first was just a simple meow had turned into a ROAR!!!

Yet, something still just wasn’t right, the song still sounded thin.

But number Two knew what to do and soon she too joined in!

As One, and Two, and Six together played under the sun,

the number Four came dancing by them clearly having fun.

“Why, hi there, One! I must admit, this tune is quite divine.

I hope that you’ll forgive all of the rudeness that was mine!

Now that I see just what you mean, my math was clearly flawed;

for all the Even numbers aren’t complete without the Odds!”

“I must agree with Four you see, I too apologize.”

The number Eight had said to them as he came dancing by.

“Dear, number One I wasn’t fun, and really rather rude.

But now I see this clearly, I’m a number just like you!”

So, Four and Eight kept dancing, while the band kept playing on.

They played, and played, and played all day until the sun was gone!

When finally, they had to stop to much a-great applause.

They joined each other hand in hand, two Evens and an Odd.​​

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The End