Prompt: Send (cloud emoji) for a childhood memory!

Shelly is eight/nine and in the third grade

"Okay, children. I've just graded your math tests. Some of you did very well, while others…" Mr. Garrison glared pointedly at Shelly as he handed her paper back.

"A D minus? This is so unfair!"

"Yeah, well maybe you should spend more time studying instead of terrorizing your classmates, you little heathen! Isn't that right, Mr. Hat?"

"That's right, Mr. Garrison! This kid's a studio apartment and thirty cats waiting to happen if she doesn't shape up!"

Shelly felt the rage building up inside her. "You only gave me a bad grade because you hate me!"

"You said it, I didn't." Mr. Garrison shrugged.

Shelly could only see red. Before she knew what she was doing, she stood up and hurled her chair at her teacher.

Mr. Garrison stood there in stunned silence while his classroom exploded into chaos. The students buzzed excitedly. Larry Feegan burst into tears.

The frazzled teacher finally regained his composure and marched Shelly to the principal office, bellowing himself hoarse all the way.

A day later, Shelly sulked in her room. The week long suspension she received for her actions was already proving to be less fun than she had hoped, especially since it was accompanied by a two week grounding.

She heard a knock at her door.

"GO AWAY!"

The door opened to reveal her grandfather. "That's not any way to talk to your elders, missy!"

To say that Shelly was surprised was an understatement. For as long as she could remember, her grandfather had never entered her room.

"Grandpa? What are you doing here?"

The old man wheeled into the bedroom. "I heard about what you did to that poofter teacher of yours."

Shelly groaned. She had already received lectures from her parents, Mr. Garrison, Principal Victoria, and Mr. Mackey. Now her grandfather was going to lay into her too.

"Look, I SAID I was sorry! I was just having a bad day!"

"You made your old grandpa proud, Shelly!"

"But I -wait, what?"

"At least one of my grandkids has balls, even if it is the girl grandkid! I've just about given up on little Billy!"

Shelly couldn't help but smile at this.

Marvin fumbled for his wallet and handed his granddaughter a ten dollar bill. "Keep up the good work, you little hellion!"

"Wow! Thanks, Grandpa!"

"Hows about I take you to Shakey's tomorrow? Just you and me! No pansies allowed!"

Shelly's face lit up. Her grandfather never spent any one on one time with her. "Okay!"

"Alright! It's a date! Be ready at noon sharp! And don't tell your parents!" At that, Marvin wheeled out of her room.

Shelly flopped back onto her bed, still smiling. She might have had two torturous weeks of grounding ahead of her, but for the first time since her brother was born, she finally felt appreciated. It was nice to be the center of somebody's universe again, even if for a day.