Tales from the 5th Grade — The Pop Quiz Incident
The origin stories of ordinary, everyday superpowers — Chapter 2. The development of character, strength, and independence.
In early childhood days, we all played together completely oblivious to our differences. We saw each other as equals, as fellow kids, having fun playing in a world of make believe.
We gave little or no thought to how we might not be the same.
It was in the 5th grade that I first remember becoming conscious of differences. The children scattered on the playground were more noticeably assembling into groups of like identities.
We began to notice distinctions in each other. Some characteristics were admired or envied. Other differences were ridiculed or feared.
My identity centered around intelligence. I wasn’t the athlete, the beauty queen or the class clown. Not that I was clumsy, ugly or antisocial. I was average … except in the brains department. I was the smart one.
You might be thinking, “Lucky you. How is being labeled the smart one a bad thing?”
I had also inadvertently become a teacher’s pet. The achievement of this status was never intentional on my part. It just happened naturally as a consequence of…
