Benji had been looking forward to the Mathletics competition for weeks…
He had sharpened six pencils, packed his favourite biscuits and practised his multiplication tables all the way up to twenty-seven. He was so excited that his ears had been standing even straighter than usual, which nobody had thought possible.
Charley had volunteered to accompany him. He wasn’t particularly interested in mathematics, but he was very interested in making sure nothing happened to Benji. He had packed a first-aid kit, a bottle of water, two emergency sandwiches and a large cushion in case Benji fell off his chair.
The competition was held in the village hall. There were rows of little tables, a large scoreboard and a buzzer for each contestant. Charley examined Benji’s chair for loose screws, checked beneath the table and positioned himself directly behind him, where he could keep an eye on the other competitors.
Benji was delighted. The first question involved fractions, and he knew the answer before the judge had finished reading it. He pressed his buzzer.
BUZZ!
Benji shot straight out of his chair.
Charley caught him before he hit the floor.
The judge looked over his spectacles. Benji, still dangling in Charley’s enormous hands, gave the correct answer and earned ten points.
Charley was not impressed. He examined the buzzer suspiciously, then tried covering it with a handkerchief. The next time Benji pressed it, the noise was just as loud. Benji jumped, Charley caught him, and another ten points went on the scoreboard.
By the fifth question, Benji was comfortably in the lead. Charley had caught him four times, knocked over a chair twice and accidentally frightened one of the judges by growling at the buzzer.
Then came the final question. It was a complicated problem involving trains, distances and different speeds. Benji’s eyes lit up. He loved problems about trains.
He worked out the answer in his head, reached for the buzzer and stopped.
Charley was crouching beside him, holding the cushion above his head.
“Ready,” Charley whispered.
Benji pressed the buzzer.
Nothing happened.
Charley had disconnected it.
Benji stared at the silent button. The judge waited. Across the hall, another contestant pressed their buzzer and answered the question.
Benji lost the competition by five points.
Charley was terribly upset. He apologised all the way home, carrying Benji’s bag and offering him both emergency sandwiches. Benji didn’t seem particularly bothered. He’d had a wonderful afternoon, solved some excellent problems and made two new friends.
Besides, he’d won a little certificate for coming second.
When they reached home, Benji proudly showed it to MammaSteena.
“OOOOH! HURRAH!” MammaSteena squealed.
Benji jumped so high that Charley had to catch him again.
