21. 6X8=48
“In primary school, I’d say grade 3 or 4, we had a head-to-head times tables tournament. The teacher would ask a random multiplication question to a pair of students at a time and the winner progressed.
I wasn’t exactly an expert at times tables, but I was an expert at 6×8. For whatever reason, 6×8 just wouldn’t stick in my head when I was younger, and I had to spend additional time to bring the answer to the forefront of my mind.
I was decently prepared for any other multiplication problem, so while waiting my turn, I was constantly repeating in my mind ‘6 times 8 equals 48, 6 times 8 equals 48, 6 times 8 equals 48’ over and over again.
Lo and behold, when it was finally my turn to be quizzed, the teacher casually selected 6×8–to which immediately. Instantly. Without a single moment of pause. Not an iota of time had lapsed from the teacher finishing her sentence – I yelled ‘48!’
The astonishment spread as I became a human computer in the eyes of my peers. Even the teacher was taken aback.
I went on to win the tournament, having already won in the minds of my would-be opponents. It was more than victory, it was complete annihilation.”
