“No fair that he gets some for nix.”
Eleanor met the crisis calmly. “They’re my peanuts, so I can give him two if I like. But wait a minute. See what I do now. I give Rafael two, you two, you two, and you, and you, and you, and you. How many is that? The one that guesses right gets as many as all you boys have together. Quick now.”
Efforts to eat the peanuts and count them at the same time resulted in absolute pandemonium.
“Let’s have paper,” Eleanor suggested. “That’s easier than doing it all in your head.”
Before the evening was over the passing out of peanuts two by two had accomplished the learning of the “two-times” table, as far as two times ten.
“Who promises to come next time?” asked Eleanor, while they waited awkwardly for her to gather up her wraps.
“Me.”
“Me.”
“Me.”
“You bet I do.”