Whether it was multiplication tables or writing words out loud, I've always had to have "nice brains." To me at the time this statement was inferring how stupid he thought I was. I thought it meant my head was full of air and I had to work harder to be smart. Every time my report card came out I prepared for the speech that followed. Teachers somehow, year after year, had the same quote on the back of my report card. Monica is a very bright girl, she has so much potential and she simply doesn't try hard enough. I always thought getting a B was good enough, but my mom acted like I was failing