The Words That Fell Out

Sasha did not mean to say it.

The word jumped out of her mouth before she could catch it. "STUPID!" she shouted at her grandma. "Stupid old hat!"

The kitchen went very, very quiet.

Grandma had only asked Sasha to wait two more minutes for the cookies to cool. Two minutes is not long, unless you are five years old and you have been waiting your whole life.

The word hung in the air, hot and ugly. Sasha wished she had a tiny net to catch it and put it back in her mouth. But you can't catch words once they're out. They just float there.

Grandma's face did a thing. It went soft and a little pink. Not angry. Sad-shaped.