Thank You Teacher

I placed myself firmly in a cell when I was small, but I kept oozing out, sticking my tongue out at myself. I knew I was supposed to think I was not as good as the boys, For the teacher taught us that daily. In her reactions to us. Other girls quickly stopped shouting out answers. Her punishments were swift and mean. I outshouted the boys no matter what. Incensed that she allowed the boys to shout But not the girls because “we were ladies”. When Danny shouted, he was praised for having the right answer. When I had the right answer, she ignored me and let Danny shout out. She scolded me, tried to shame me, tried to make me into a lady. I placed her in a cell in my dreams, at night, and I ignored her shouts. Angry that I could blurt the answer out seconds ahead of Danny But for what reason? To be scolded? Scorned? Lambasted? Because I was a girl. This is the only thing this third grade teacher taught me that I remember sixty years later. So thank you.