My Algebra Teacher Put Me Down in Front of the Whole Class All Year – One Day I Got Fed Up and Made Her Regret Every Word

I set the bowl where he could reach it and ran a hand over his hair. Sammy sat up and took a piece. Then his eyes filled, fast and sudden, the way boys’ eyes do when they’ve been holding something back for hours.

“They were all laughing at me today, Mom.”

His eyes filled, fast and sudden.

“What happened, baby?”

“I got an F in math.” He threw another piece into his mouth. “Now everyone thinks I’m stupid. I hate math. I hate it more than broccoli. And Aunt Ruby from Texas.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it, and he almost smiled, which was progress.

“I understand that feeling more than you think, Sammy.”

He looked at me sideways. “You do? But Mom, you’re like… good at everything.”

“Sammy,” I said, leaning back against his headboard. “When I was your age, my algebra teacher made my life miserable.”

“Everyone thinks I’m stupid.”

That got him. He set down the bowl and sat cross-legged, facing me.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, she mocked me. In front of the whole class. All year.”

He stared at me. “Tell me.”