Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk

So I’ve got this kid, and he has modifications for a physical hindrance he deals with. He has a limp, which allows him to leave early from each class to get to his next class. That’s fine, but he’s been showing up ten minutes after the start of class.

Let’s see; he can leave five minutes before the dismissal bell; students have eight minutes between classes, and he’s showing up ten minutes after that. That’s twenty-three minutes of travel time. Plus, when he comes in, he always reminds me about his leg—even if I don’t bring up his tardiness. As far as teenagers go, I find that suspect. In my experience, a teen who claims innocence when he hasn’t been accused of anything is guilty of something.

Now I’m not a doctor, so I certainly can’t diagnose anything. But yesterday I caught the kid in the hall during my planning period high stepping into the “end zone” (past the water fountain) on what looked like a makeshift (a toilet paper roll football) game of two-hand touch with a bunch of other class-cutters.

By the look on his face, I’m expecting him to show up on time today.