a.k.a. perseverance

Aiko lay in her bed, with tears running down her nose and across her lip. She remembered proudly telling her mother that she was finally getting the students to respond. Yoshiko poked her head in through the curtain and said, "Aiko?" Aiko turned over and pulled the blanket over her head.
( a challenge... )

a.k.a. better than television?

Fumie was cleaning Aiko's shoes in the garden, humming "there's no place like home." A voice behind her said, "It sure is hot today. Could I get a glass of water?"
( A challenge! )