Dot Counts the Dice

Dot is a small, careful beetle, and while the other meadow-friends are all a-flutter about where to plant, Dot has an important job of his own: figuring out what number the dice actually made. Because you can’t grow a flower on the right patch if you don’t know which patch is right!

Dot never rushes. When the two dice tumble to a stop, he trundles up close and does his careful counting.

“First die,” he says, tapping each dot with a little leg. “One… two… three. That die is three.” Then he moves to the other. “Second die. One… two… three… four. That die is four.” And then — the part Dot loves best — he adds them together. “Three… and four more… makes seven! Onto the seven patch, little flower, off you go!”

His friend Twobble the snail once tried to hurry him. “Just guess, Dot! It’s probably seven, it’s always seven!”

But Dot shook his head. “It’s usually seven,” he said gently, “but not always. Sometimes it’s five. Sometimes it’s nine. And the only way to know is to count. Count the dots on this die. Count the dots on that die. Then add them up. One careful step at a time.” He smiled. “If I guess, I might grow my flower on the wrong patch. If I count, I always get it right.”

And he did. Roll after roll, while others guessed and grumbled, Dot counted each die, added the two together, and knew exactly which patch to grow. Three and two? Five. Six and six? Twelve. Four and four? Eight. Never a mistake, because he always counted first.

“It’s not the fastest way,” Dot admitted, tidying his little counting-leg. “But it’s the sure way. Count both dice, then add them up. That’s the number, every time.”

Count the dots on BOTH dice, then add them up — that’s the number, one careful step at a time. That’s Dot.