Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Sir Keith laid a ruler across the book where he'd stopped writing and pulled over a pad of paper.

"You count to ten, like so." He drew nine lines on one corner of the pad, then a tenth one across. "Then start again. When you have ten groups of ten, circle it. And so on. That way you always know where you are. Take a ruler to mark your place on the shelf." He handed her a wooden stick.

"Thank you," Annuetta said, "but may I have two rulers?"

He handed her a second ruler and was still staring at her as she curtsied and ran out of the room.

"Okay," Annuetta said as she handed Sally a pad of paper and a pencil. She showed her friend how to mark the ones, then for tens and for hundreds.

"Here's a ruler to put in between the books as you count, so you don't lose your place. Just take your time."