Write the story of a number in less than 42 words.

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dot-dot-dash

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I'll get this one out of the way:

The Ballad of 42

It was much easier before that unwelcome and relentless spotlight.
I was just a number. Not an answer to anything. Just one of the gang.
Now I’m everywhere.
Thanks, Doug. Not.
 

spottedgeckgo

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Just off the top of my head, how's this. Counts?

It was the big day, the day everyone hopes to see. I did it, and suddenly I wish I hadn't.
I failed to make my wish, to not see another three digit birthday.
 
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WildcatJim2112

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Six wavered on unsteady feet, blood dripping from his ravaged knuckles.

Five blew out a breath. "I thought you were afraid of him, Six. Why'd you kill him?"

Six spit on the unlucky lump on the ground. "Because Seven ate Nine."
 

ajaye

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“He used to be normal, many moons ago. Course he was always precious, being a prime.”

“Don’t get me started on primes,” 18 rolled his vertically set eyes.

“They say it’s a persecution complex, nothing much they can do.”

“Poor 13.”
 

Tazlima

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I opened the box and six tiny faces looked up at me. "Why so many?"

He shrugged.

"But we can only afford to feed four!”

“The seller won’t take them back.”

I sighed. “Then you have a choice to make, don’t you?”
 

dot-dot-dash

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I opened the box and six tiny faces looked up at me. "Why so many?"

He shrugged.

"But we can only afford to feed four!”

“The seller won’t take them back.”

I sighed. “Then you have a choice to make, don’t you?”

Great bit of synapse-tickling. Really like this.
 

DanielSTJ

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One

His eyes were cloudy and deep. “How much is the coffin?”

The owner looked the man up and down. Her eyes drifted to the mirrors of his soul.

“For you,” she said. “One dollar.”

“But…” he whispered.

“I wouldn’t take anything more.”
 

Gunpowder Nash

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0

Zero, nada, null, nothing, zilch.
It is what it is
and
It's naught what it's naught.
 
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sandree

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Three sighed and squeezed his rolls of fat. He really needed to cut back on the Krispy Kremes. No one except Seven really understood. The Trinity; the Triad; the beginning, the middle and the end. Some days it was just too much...
 

Dreamsage

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Six wavered on unsteady feet, blood dripping from his ravaged knuckles.

Five blew out a breath. "I thought you were afraid of him, Six. Why'd you kill him?"

Six spit on the unlucky lump on the ground. "Because Seven ate Nine."

That's intense, I love it! There are some great replies here.
I'll give it a try:

King Pi, tied on the line, screamed in agony as the Gods started dividing him by infinity. It only took a moment.
Then the king was no more. His whole existence had ended up in yet another zero being born.
 

Gunpowder Nash

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That's intense, I love it! There are some great replies here.
I'll give it a try:

King Pi, tied on the line, screamed in agony as the Gods started dividing him by infinity. It only took a moment.
Then the king was no more. His whole existence had ended up in yet another zero being born.
So, he was reduced to zero, but he wasn't negative about it! I liked it.
 

Bacchus

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-1[SUP]½[/SUP] kicked the door down.
'Get out!' screamed 1[SUP]½[/SUP]. 'You're not a real number.'
'Oh yeah?' replied -1[SUP]½[/SUP]. 'So square me – you'll see real!'
 

Conrad Adamson

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Across the throne room the twos were scattered and sundered. "How could this be? This is the realm of six!"
Three relaxed his sword and grinned. “Now you know I can conquer and divide.”
 

yesandno

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There was one where yesterday there had been two. Before that there had been three. And before that four. It was no longer a mystery who was the murderer. Too late. Unless zero is the culprit.
 
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