Just as I sit to write this, I hear running feet at the side of the house. What the hell?! Of course I get up and run outside to find out what the hell is going on. There is a truck sitting at the curb between the houses with the engine running. As I approach I hear the running feet again, and a kid comes running by. I ask him what the deal is, he's high school freshman age, which means he's up to something with my wife's younger son (I'll call him 'B'). As I ask he runs by, thinking nothing of it.

Considering it's 10:30.... Jay Leno is on!!!!! I'll finish later..... :-)

Ok, it's cool, the news is still on. Anyway, considering what time it is, I'm just a little taken aback by the nerve of this kid running around my house at this hour, and thinking nothing of it!!!! He walks over to the truck, explaining that he just had to tell 'B' to bring something to school tomorrow. Of course I go over to the truck to see who's driving, and it's an older guy, presumedly his father. Relief, nothing shady is going on. I did tell the kid I would prefer he come to the front door next time.

So, the reason I started this, before the lurker and Jay, was the email I received from my son's teacher. Here's how they go....

"Mrs. G

I received (my son's) progress report and of course noted the comments. I would like to come speak to you about it this week if possible. Is there a good time to come by this week?
Sincerely,"

The comments suggested he wasn't working to potential and the probable cause of the degraded marks. She finally emailed me back tonight....

"I am after school every day 2:30-4:30 tutoring- even Friday except this Wed. 5/5. He needs to get on the ball. He has 8thgradeitis... the year isn't over yet! Bring him with you if you come.

We have had "the chat" now it is time for him to do the work. I am closing my grade book Friday as we have DAP tests all next week. I will also be nagging students whose grades are not up to snuff to redo, turn in missing assignments etc. Ask him if he has turned in the signed cover sheet from the AIMS packet I know that was a big deal at the time of progress reports."
"Mrs. G,

Thanks for getting back to me. I of course talked to him about it, and he tried numerous excuses for failing to follow up on it. (He hates the lectures, I don't know why he allows himself to put up with them) Frankly, at this point I think he deserves the lower grade. What really upsets me is that he fails to do the assignments and squanders his chances at make-up work. In my opinion the work should still be required without the chance to improve his grade.

I asked him for details concerning work that was needed for make-up and the only thing he could come up with was a spelling assignment that he needed from you. (I explained to him it was HIS responsibility to ask again, as you fulfilled your responsibility by giving him the assignment the first time.) He also produced the AIMS packet, which I've signed and given back to him. So he should give it to you tomorrow and ask again about make-up work. I have a feeling he thinks the extra work isn't important as he's already assured of getting a grade good enough to get him into the 9th grade. Would it be too harsh to suggest that he be required to do the make-up work or suffer an even lower grade? I keep telling myself that he's only 13, but I have a hard time reconciling that with the fact that he has very few responsibilities."

I know, I'm an asshole, bigtime. Come to think of it, I'm sure the guy driving the truck a few minutes ago thought I was an asshole too.

I finished The Brother's Karamazov. Pretty good story. I should have paid more attention at the beginning. It took me a while to figure out that the author uses two names for some of the characters. It would be much clearer if I went back and read the first few chapters again I'm sure. I probably won't take the time for that though, there are too many other things to read.