At nine years old, Huxton Curtis has already figured out something that takes most people a lifetime to learn: brains often beat speed. Whether he’s stealing bases, solving calendar math problems, or explaining why he loves life in Macomb, Huxton approaches everything with easy humor and quiet confidence.

“I have a good base IQ,” he said, grinning as he described his approach to baseball. “If you’ve got good base running skills, it doesn’t matter if you’re fast or not — you just have to be smart.”

Huxton plays 10U travel baseball in addition to his local team, rotating between second base, pitcher, and right field. He’s also helping his dad organize a travel basketball team and fits in football for good measure. “I’ve turned a double play before — in a scrimmage,” he said proudly. “And I steal bases all the time.”

That mix of confidence and realism shows up everywhere in his life — even in the classroom at Edison Elementary, where he’s a fourth grader in Mrs. Ruebush’s class. “She’s strict with grades,” he said, “but she’s really nice when you do good on stuff.” He paused, smiling. “Not so nice when you don’t do good on stuff.”

He says his favorite subjects are math and social studies, but his enthusiasm for “calendar math” steals the show. “We go back to a big calendar and figure out all the factors of the day’s date,” he explained. “If it’s the 14th, we list out all the numbers that make 14 — like 2 and 7.” He leans forward, proud of the process. “It’s fun because it’s like a puzzle.”

When asked about prime numbers, Huxton laughed and admitted, “I know a couple, but I’m not too good at that kind of stuff.” Then, after a beat, he added, “Seven’s one. That’s true.”

Huxton’s sense of humor runs deep. During his interview, he riffed on the school’s squad system — groups named after things that fly: Concords, Mustangs, Blackbirds, and Falcons. “I’m a Concord,” he said. “We have third, fourth, and fifth graders in our squad. You spin a wheel to find out which one you get.” He loves the system’s mix of competition and teamwork. “It’s fun because you meet people from other grades. Sometimes you’re next to a Mustang or a Falcon — we all work together.”

When asked if he knew that the real Concord was a supersonic jet, Huxton laughed. “I thought it was a grape,” he said. “I guess grapes can fly if you throw them.”

That quick wit is matched by a clear sense of what makes Macomb special. “There aren’t too many people here,” he said. “But there’s just enough to have a lot of friends — and some people who aren’t your friends. You don’t know everyone, but you know enough. And there’s not much traffic most of the time.”

It’s a perfectly balanced answer — honest, simple, and true to life in a small Midwestern town.

At home, Huxton shares space with a Chihuahua and a multi-colored cat he describes as “white, black, and some orange.” Asked to name the breed, he shrugged and said, “I can’t even name one cat species.”

His good-natured self-awareness makes him both funny and deeply likable. He knows his strengths, owns his weaknesses, and never overplays either. When asked whether he felt ready for fifth grade, he gave a one-word answer: “No.” Then, after a laugh, added, “But I’ll get there.”

That mix of humility and determination sums up Huxton perfectly — a bright, observant fourth grader who’s learning that success comes less from rushing ahead than from reading the field, timing the moment, and trusting his instincts.

After all, as he said himself, “I’m not fast. But I get there.”