One day Tommy went to school and his teacher asked him to do a math problem in front of the whole class.

Tommy felt that he could not do it. So he told the teacher to please ask someone else.

The teacher said that she wanted him to try. He felt so nervous. When he looked at the math problem, it was like looking at a big green monster. So Tommy began to shake from fear. What would this monster do to him? Then suddenly he heard the monster say, "Don't worry Tommy I only look scary. Take your time, concentrate, and I will help you find the right answer.

Once again the teacher asked, "Please do try to do this math problem Tommy. I am sure you can." Then suddenly Tommy did not see the green monster as an enemy. He remembered what the monster told him to do. So he started to see him as a friend. He tried to work out the problem first on paper. Then the teacher gave him an idea.

She told him to go to the board and use the magic chalk and see what happens.

Tommy took a deep breath and started to write on the chalk board and like magic, the numbers came out correct.

Tommy was very happy and so was his teacher.

She told him she was very proud that he tried. Now he is very good at math. He always remembers to take a deep breath and concentrate when he fears the math monster. The teacher wondered how did he do it? He told her it was the Math Monster that helped him. She laughed and said, " Math Monster?" "Yes" he said, "at first I was afraid of him but now I see it was only me that I was afraid of. I did not believe I could do it.

"I guess the Math Monster is not a Monster after all but he is a helper that reminds me that if I try I can do anything. So now we both work together and get the right answers in math.

"Very good Tommy, I am so glad you have a helper." Said the teacher.

So from that day forward, when Tommy got nervous about doing math, he would just call on his friend the math monster and they would work out the answer together.

The End