Even stern teachers can inspire us! It sounds like you have been a true scholar, @idlemind. Otherwise, you wouldn't have cared so much when your teacher threatened to not let you back in the classroom. And you knew her weak spot — literature! Thank you for sharing your delightful creative nonfiction story in The Ink Well and for reading the work of other community members. And congrats on your published works!
Thank you for your kind words. Miss Anila even encouraged me to join our school paper organization. She was the first person to notice my potential.