Author

Colin Huskey was absent due to illness more than any other student at Tyler High School. Four of his teachers had e-mailed his parents, a vice principal had telephoned twice, and, in a final and desperate bluff, the principal had summoned the family for a face-to-face meeting. Colin was scolded. He was begged. He was cajoled, importuned, and remonstrated with–to no avail. He always did at least enough work to pass, usually at the level of a C or D. He never disrupted classes, did not fight with other students, and remained, for the most part, as quiet as possible.