day 86 | ‘caught’

1973. Davis, CA

in junior high we would go across the street to the park to smoke in the bathroom.
one day the principal walked in on us; the two other guys i was with threw their cigarettes
into the urinal when they heard footsteps. i didn’t, and was the only one caught.

he walked us all back across the street. the other kids were sent to class – he would have a
talk with them later. i was taken to his office. he called my mom and told her what happened,
and that i was being suspended for three days.

i rode my bike home. when i got there i ran straight to my room and locked the door.
i didn’t want to talk to my mom – didn’t want her to even see me.
i hated disappointing my parents, and felt terrible about what i did.
i laid on my bed and cried.
my parents knew i was upset so they didn’t punish me.

the next morning my brothers went to school, my dad went to work, and i stayed home.
it felt strange being home on a school day and not being sick.

the school policy was that you couldn’t make up any work missed due to being suspended –
which makes no sense to me – so, without any schoolwork to do, i spent the three days
doing pretty much what i wanted.
i don’t remember what i did all day. hung out in our fort. played with my dog chelsea.