Scholarly Ultimatum

By ARthur

Grace cast a look of both fear and anger at her daughter Alexa from the desk in Alexa's room. Only two weeks earlier, Grace was shocked to find nearly all D's on Alexa's report card. If she didn't improve her grades, Alexa might be expelled from the costly private high school, where she was a freshman. So Grace issued an ultimatum.

"Apparently, you are spending too much time on things that don't matter," Grace told her daughter. "As of now, you are grounded until you bring up your grades to at least C's in all subjects. And if you don't, the grounding will continue all summer." Alexa was less than elated. "But that means I can't see Adam," she whined. "Grades first, boys later," Grace sternly replied.

Alexa stomped off, but she later returned with a peace offering, a 20-ounce cup of Grace's favorite gourmet coffee. She happily drank it, but minutes later suffered severe pains in her chest. Her eyes blurred and her head became dizzy. And when all was right again, she wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted her. Grace was no longer taller than Alexa. The two were the same height, and Grace's clothes were now baggy.

"How does it feel to be a 14-years-old again?" Alexa smirked. "I can't be younger. My employer won't have a kid doing my job. You have to grow me back to my old age of 40!" Grace pleaded. "Okay! But first you have to do something for me," Alexa said, as she handed Grace all her schoolbooks. "Replace me at school, and study hard. And if you bring my grades up to at least C's ­ No! B's ­ I'll give you the antidote. And if not, get used to being a teen fulltime!"

So Grace now spends long hours at the desk in her daughter's bedroom, studying hard, while her daughter spends all her time with Adam. She is especially spurred by one snide remark made by Alexa: "I wonder what you'd look like in kindergarten? Well, if you earn me only C's."


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