There's Still Time

The last first day of high school for Jojo arrived today. Somehow or another, the Finlander has managed to be out of town for 16 years running, two kids' entire school careers, on the first day of school. He should compete in the avoiding-the-first-day-of-school olympics. He always calls, however, to give some good, last-minute advice to the kids, typically three minutes before they should be leaving.

"Don't get in any fights."

"If you do get in a fight, kick their ass."

"Don't go to the principal's office."

"Hide the body."

"Wear deodorant."

Jojo has done well. She has avoided fights, the principal's office. Tom only had to go there once, for clobbering a guy who de-pantsed him on the track field. He didn't have time to hide the body, his or the de-pants-er's. Since there were extenuating circumstances, he got off without even a warning. I believe he remembered to wear deodorant.

We haven't given up on Jojo, though. She still has a year to clobber somebody. She's taking four classes at Penn and three from IU High School. I suppose if she doesn't get sent to the principal's office at Penn I can let her smack Tom for just cause at home while she's working on her IU stuff. I'll call her into my mock-principal's office and then let her off easy. I mean, even I got to go to the principal's office once.