[ WP ] The man from all your high school math problems exists somewhere .

`` What's he doing with so many oranges?'' 
 
 `` Oranges? At least oranges are healthy. Why does he need—uh—twenty-two pieces of pie?'' 
 
 `` And what about that... drawing on the ground? What's he making, a crop circle?'' 
 
 `` No, it's a... triangle? Why is he drawing a triangle on the ground?'' 
 
 `` Oh, look at that, he's got a train. I've always wanted to ride a train, they look like so much fun. Look, there's another train— Wait, why are they running into each other? What the d—!'' 
 
 `` No—!'' 
 
 `` Oh, my goodness, no—'' 
 
 By the time the man has finished working with the trains, his visitors are quivering piles on the ground, their arms wrapped around each other. The younger one is crying openly, and the older one's eyes are tightly closed. 
 
 `` Are you all right?'' the man asks cautiously, coming up beside them. 
 
 `` Uh—'' 
 
 `` How are you still alive?'' the younger one says, wiping his eyes and getting to his feet. He stares at the man in shock. `` You just— You were trying to— The trains—!'' he exclaims in frustration. 
 
 `` I should probably explain. I'm Lysander,'' the man says, shaking their hands in turn. They both look so confused, and he can tell they want to ask him more questions, but he continues before they say anything. `` I'm Lysander,'' he repeats. `` I'm the one who's in all the math problems.'' 
 
 `` Uh...,'' the older one says again. 
 
 `` You know, like that one universe where the only person who lives there is that guy who says'hi' from really far away?'' Lysander prompts them. 
 
 Their faces brighten with understanding. `` Oh,'' they both say, more or less at the same time. 
 
 `` But I'm the only person who lives in this universe too,'' Lysander continues. `` So I do n't know if you want to go back or not.'' 
 
 At this, both the dog and the baby glance at the transporter. `` It's fine,'' the dog says. `` I'm sure you have some interesting stories. I'm always interested in interesting stories.'' 
 
 `` Plus, I could use some of that pie,'' the baby says happily. 
 
 `` Okay,'' Lysander says, `` great idea. Let's go have some pie!'' 
 
 
 

