Children Short Story: My First 'D'

By: May Triranto Maharini

I got my math exam result today. My friends were happy, but I was not. It was because they got better grades than I did. I only got a D.  Bobby who sat next to me yelled, “Yaay I got a better grade than you..!” I was really sad and felt ashamed.

The bell rang, it was time to go home. I saw my friends smiling as they walked out of the classroom. I couldn’t smile. I felt that I was the most stupid student in the classroom. I just looked down as I walked leaving the school front yard.

I saw Mom’s car waiting for me in front of the school’s gate. I usually ran to get in the car. But today, my body felt heavier than before. So I walked slowly. I got in the car and sat next to Mom. Mom smiled and hugged me as usual, but I was not brave enough to look her in the eye.

On our way home, I didn’t speak at all. I was afraid to talk to Mom about my exam result.

“It’s weird.. I haven’t heard your voice since you entered the car..” Mom said. “Is there something that you want to tell me?”

I shook my head constantly. I really didn’t want her to know. What if she is angry and scold me after she knew it? What if she doesn’tlove me anymore? I was so worried.

When we arrived home, I went to my bedroom to change. After I changed, I took out the exam paper from inside my bag. I stared at it again. Then I took my previous exam paper from my drawer. I compared it with them. It was my first bad grade. At that moment, I felt my tears dropping on my cheek. I was so sad and confused. Mom always knew I always got good grades in exams and she was about to know that I was not that smart anymore.

Suddenly, I heard Mom knocking on my bedroom door. “Eric! Have you changed already?” she called me from behind the door. I immediately wiped my tears and stored all my exam paper back into the drawer. Right at that time, she opened the door.

“What are you doing, Eric?” she asked. Luckily I was done storing my exam paper in the drawer.

“Nothing, Mom,” I said.

“All right,” she said, still looked a bit suspicious, “Let’s have lunch..!” Then she left the room. Oh.. I wished Mom would never asked me about my exam result.

It was lunch time. There was my most favorite food on the dining table: fried chicken. I always loved it. I knew Mom cooked it for me. But today, I lost my appetite. I tried not to make Mom suspicious, so I started to eat the fried chicken and pretended that I enjoyed it.

“Mom,” I said, “do you love me?” I asked. I couldn’t pretend that I enjoyed it anymore.

“Of course,” Mom answered with a smile on her face.

“Do you love me because I always got good grades in my exams?” I asked her again.

 “Why did you ask me such question..?” now she seemed suspicious. I was quiet for a while. I wanted to cry.

“Because I am not smart!” I left her and ran to my bedroom.

I jumped onto my bed and cried. Mom approached me. She  sat next to me on the bed.

“Eric, are you crying?” she asked me softly.

“I am not crying,” I said. I wiped my tears. I was in a prone position, so I didn’t look at her face.

“Yes you are,” she said. “Are you crying because you are sad?” she asked. I just nodded my head slowly.

“Don’t you want to tell me what made you cry?” she said to me gently.

I got up and sat beside her and looked at her.

“Promise me you will not scold me... or stop loving me..!” I said.

 “I promise,” she said.

“I am not smart, Mom. I got a ‘D’ in my math exam.” I finally told her. My tears dropped again.

“Ah Eric.. I thought something really bad happened at school.. you made me worried.” she responded.

 “Are you not upset I am not smart anymore?” I asked. She only smiled.

“Could you show me your math exam result and your previous exam results now darling?” she asked me gently.

I nodded and got up to take my exam paper on my study desk. Then I gave them all to her. She spread the paper on the bed.

“Look.. it’s only one... most of them are ‘A’s and ‘B’s. Do you know what I mean, Eric?” she asked me. I was thinking for a second.

“You mean.. I was stupid only once... but I was smart many times?” I responded. She laughed.

“What I mean is.. it’s just a failure. In life, there will be successes and failures, Eric. But when you fail, you need to keep trying your best and don’t give up..” she said. I tried to understand what she said.

“I just need to keep trying my best and don’t give up...?” I asked again. She smiled and nodded.

“So, you still love me?”

“I always love you.” she said. I hugged her and she hugged me back tightly. I felt so relieved.

Now I don’t feel sad anymore, because Mom said I just need to keep trying my best.