So every four weeks or so, maths teacher would give us a test at upper primary level. This way pre-computer times. One of the questions was always “how long is this line” with a pen-drawn line underneath. Except, the pen he used always left a blot at the end of the line and sometimes there was a little flick from where he lifted his pen up.

Simple I thought, the line is 10.2cm - 10-3cm! Easy! But, it was always marked wrong. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. Correct answer: 10cm. It wasn’t like to be rounded to the nearest cm or anything, just “how long is this line”. The ink blot counted. It counted!

I’m still bitter.