Seven Ate Nine: The Story Never Told

I’m sure you’ve heard the old tale of why the number six was afraid of seven. Simply put, “because seven ate nine.” Although this is true, and everyone knows its factual, there is little detail in this story. In the next two volumes I will share with you information that has never been known to man. Information revealing the true reason that Seven ate Nine and the true reason why Six was afraid of Seven. Please enjoy and be educated.

I. Why Seven Ate Nine

Seven has always been given the bad rep for eating Nine, but no one inquires why in fact Seven did this. It all starts with Seven’s psychological level. Seven was an only number growing up, and being a single digit, he was naturally very lonely. Unlike most of the other numbers, the doubles and triples, he had no one else to keep by his side. No one taught him how to react to his problems, he knew no right from wrong or wrong from left. He was alone, and this lead to poor decision making skills. These skills showcased themselves when Nine came onto the scene. This is the part where everyone turns a blind eye. No one knows, or cares to know, what kind of personality Nine had. He was one of the nastiest numbers around. Sure he was only a single digit like Seven, but he was the biggest single digit, and that thought had gone all to his head. Nine was the bully in school who would get more pleasure out of smashing his ice cream cone in your hair than actually eating the ice cream. He got his high by making other digits feel low. He felt like he owned the Single Digit realm. And he owned it with an iron fist. An iron fist that gave Seven’s psychological stability a firm beating, daily. Seven couldn’t take it, he had no one. No one to confide in or share how he felt inside. No one to help carry some of the physical and mental pain the he received from Nine. Seven could not take it any longer. He knew no other way. He saw no other options. He knew no concept of right and wrong. He did what made sense, and what made sense to Seven forever changed the way he would be viewed for the rest of time. Seven did the unthinkable. He waited for the time to be right, when Nine was picking on the little Five and Unders. The time was opportune. And as quick as the idea had conceived in Seven’s head, Nine was gone forever. Seven ate Nine. It was not bloody nor violent, but it did not have to be, for the damage was already done. The Five and Unders were all witnesses, all with their own view, but none showing Seven in good light. Before long everyone knew of the event that had occurred, even some Quadruples heard the news. Seven was finished. He sealed his fate that he would be alone forever because now everyone was afraid of him. Afraid of him although he solved their problem with Nine and ended his reign. The tragedy had out outweighed the good news, as it often does. Seven was sad. He was just doing what he felt was right, what he believed in. But now he lives alone, because all the other digits are afraid. Well, almost all.

I.I. Why Six was Afraid of Seven

Six had been away on a trip to a closed numbers convention and just returned. He had wondered why Nine had not attended since he was the only other digit with a closed off circle to represent the Single Digits. But before he could even get his luggage from the airport, the word about Nine’s death was all over the news.

BEWARE

SEVEN EATS NINE
MAJOR THREAT
DO NOT ATTEPMT TO INTERACT

Confused, Six called his lower digit friends and they confirmed the news story. Nine was dead, and Seven had eaten him. For years the story was passed on and elaborations were made. Almost every digit that Six had even heard of knew the story. All the way up to the elders, the 7-Digits. All of Six’s friends told him he better be extra careful because at some angles he looked like Nine. And Seven might snap again and find the next best thing that looked like Nine. That best thing being Six. Six ended up being the best thing for Seven, but in a different sort of way. Despite all the hype and warnings that Six received, he truly was not scared of Seven the way you and I are lead to believe. He did not live in fear that Seven would show up one day ready for the second course of digit dinner. No, Six was afraid that Seven would never have his life back. He was afraid that this would never blow over and that Seven would be alone forever. Six could not let that happen. He needed a plan. A good plan. Because like it or not, Seven was still unstable and was still a threat. A threat capable of feasting on digits again. Six needed a way to be sure that this would not happen. He needed to find a reason for Seven not to eat. A reason Seven would not want to eat him. A reason that was without margin for error, because Six knew if he didn’t make a difference, no one would. So he came up with a plan guaranteed to work, it would just take time. But time Six had, especially the time compared to Seven being isolated for the rest of his existence. Six started out by writing letters to Seven. First weekly, then daily. It was three months before Seven returned a single letter, and even then he was skeptical. Seven was curious to why someone would want anything to do with him. He felt like he was being tricked into some kind of set up. He would not let his guard down. Not for anyone. Not for a very long time at least. Five years passed with Six writing letters back and forth with Seven until finally it hit him. Seven had started to break down inside. He came to the realization that someone else cared for him, and cared significantly. Seven began opening up to Six. Sharing all of the hurt that he held onto for his whole life. Six was there, spending time with Seven. And people began to take notice. Talk spread that Six and Seven were becoming even closer than ever. So close that they did everything together. The other digits were confused. So Six held an interdigit realm conference to explain everything to all of the digits in every realm. He said:

“ I appreciate all of you digits gathering here today and my wish is that what I am about to say will spread twice as fast as when The Tragedy of Nine took place sometime ago. What I am about to say is important to me and to all of you. Seven and I have always been close, naturally. But when I heard the news of him ingesting Nine I was appalled. I was unaware that Seven was capable of such a heinous action. But it was true, and for years I ran from it. Ignored it, said it wasn’t my problem. But not until the last five years was I afraid of Seven. But not the fear that kept me awake at night or the fear that you all felt as you thought Seven would eat you all as well. No, it was a different fear. A fear that Seven would never again be the same. The fear that the life he knew was over, and his legacy would be forever tarnished. What Seven did was wrong, but he has learned from the past to improve his future. And he needs all of us, all of you, to help him. I took the first step by showing what it takes. Seven needs friendship, from all of us. And if we all give him sincere friendship, there should be no worry about being eaten. After all, Nine was a bully so Seven Ate Nine. But friends have nothing to worry about because as everyone knows, friends do not eat friends.”