The Math Monster

his tiny teeth. She looked at her homework. The papers were graded! Who had done this and why?

            “Ugh! I don’t have time for this. I’ll figure this out when I get home. I’m late!” she said as she

grabbed the pencil and her math.         

            “Ouch!” the pencil said.

             Danielle stopped instantly. “Umm…did you just say something?”

             “Yes, I did. Hello. My name is Matthew, the Math Monster. It’s a pleasure to meet you,

Danielle.” His voice was high and he spoke quickly.

             Danielle sat there in shock as she stared at her strange guest.  “How do you know my

name?”

            “Your name is on the papers that I’ve been grading,” he said as he stood up.

             Danielle couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So, a pencil has been taking my

homework and doing it for me?” she said sarcastically.

            “Well, actually I am ‘The Math Monster’.  I prefer that more than ‘The Math Pencil’.  It makes

me sound tough.”

            Danielle giggled. “I see. So there really is a Math Monster. Ok, Math ‘Monster’, why have you

been doing my homework and not giving it back?”

            The monster adjusted his glasses. “I love math. I noticed that you had done the work and I

wanted to look it over. That’s what I do. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you needed them back.” 

          Danielle frowned. “I got in trouble because I didn’t turn in my homework! It doesn’t matter. I

am awful at math and would’ve gotten a bad grade anyway. I have this math test today and I know

I’m going to fail.”

            “You’re not awful at math, Danielle. I’ve seen your work. You need to believe in yourself. I

believe in you.”

            Danielle smiled. “Thank you. But sadly, I am bad at it. I don’t understand it.”

            “Yes you do. What you need is some confidence!” Matthew said. “Math is easy once you

understand how to do it. Would you like it if I went to school with you today and we can review the

test material on the way?”

            “That would be terrific, thank you! Matthew, can I use you during the test? I know I will get a

good grade if I have you with me.”

           “Sure, but you don’t need me Danielle. You have all the answers right here,” he said as he

pointed to his pointy head.

            “Thanks for believing in me. You are a good friend, Matthew.”

            “You are very welcome. You can do it!  Let’s go ace that test!” the little pencil said. 

     Danielle walked into the classroom as the bell rang.

            “Please take out your homework from last night and a pencil,” Ms. Hunter said with a smile.

Danielle took out her homework and placed Matthew on top of the papers and smiled at her new 

friend as she raised her hand. “Ms. Hunter, I found all of my homework.”

           “Excellent. Please bring me your homework so I can give you credit for the week.”

Danielle scooped up the papers and walked to Ms. Hunter’s desk. As she passed by mean girl

Kristi, Danielle stuck out her tongue. Kristi growled as she watched Danielle pass her and looked

over at her desk.

            “What a cute pencil…” Kristi said as she took Matthew from the desk. “Too cute for her!”  

Thank you for reading a preview of The Math Monster by Jennifer Hazen Buss. If you would like to purchase the full version of The Math Monster and the other books in the Monster Series for your Kindle/Kindle Fire, please visit Amazon.com.