I Grade Harshly

Maria*: Mr. [Kevin]! Someone wrote in my folder!
Me: What does it say?
Maria: Uh…
Me: Or do I not want to know?
Maria: No. It says "bitch."
Me: That’s rude, I’m sorry.
Maria: I’m mad. Who did it?
Juan*: (who I suspected before he even spoke) Not me, bitch.
Me: Hmm. Who in this class would call you a b word?
Juan: Do you mean me? No… bitch.
Me: Well, that’s not a comment I would write while grading.
Juan: Yeah you would!
Me: (sarcastically) Oh yeah, that’s right. Maria, I graded your journals and I gave you a “bitch.”
Maria: What?
Me: It’s a B, right? Not too bad. I thought you’d like it.