The Fold Under the Page

Ages 12-15

Aharon folds the answer section beneath the number-puzzle book.

Its old crease lets the puzzle pages lie flat. He can turn to a problem without seeing the answers printed at the back.

Beside the first four problems, he has written Solved.

He looks along the row. Four in an afternoon. There is time for one more before he needs to put the book away.

As he turns to the fifth problem, the folded section slips open. Directly beneath the number five, he sees the missing number.

He folds the section under again.

On his scrap paper, he copies the fifth problem. His pencil goes straight to the empty space.

He writes the number he has just read.

It fits. He checks it against the other numbers, then reaches for the book.

Solved would fit beside the fifth problem in the same neat space as before.

Aharon sets the pencil down.

He covers the number he added and studies the problem. He begins with a different pair of numbers. Then he draws arrows between them.

The empty space waits at the end.

Aharon picks up his pencil. He already knows what he will write.

He lowers it to the table and brings the book closer.

Beside the fifth problem, he writes Answer seen.

The words run past the ends of the four short Solved marks.

He turns to the next problem.

This time, he holds the answer section beneath the book while smoothing its crease flat. He copies the new numbers onto his scrap paper.

He tries adding the same amount each time. The first two gaps fit. The third does not.

He crosses out that attempt.

When his time is up, the sixth problem still has no mark beside it.

He folds the scrap paper and puts it inside the book.

Aharon opens to the unfinished problem once more.

He slides his bookmark beside it and closes the cover over it.

The answer section stays folded beneath the page.