THREE DAYS OF FREEDOM

It was an exhilarating experience of rebellious proportion. We had spread our wings and were on cloud nine with this new found independence. The emotional shackles of parental control had been broken. We were free spirited and free thinking and owned not only the moment but, the day as well. That's right, my friend Paul and I had just skipped school.

Like thieves in the night we had planned our assault. We would be heroes among our peers and classmates. Who else would dare take on their parents and the educational system? We were drunk with power. No one could tell us how to think or what to do. It would be, without a doubt, one of our greatest feats.

Pulling this caper off at my home would be nearly impossible. My mother and father had too many controls in place. Nope, instead this ruse would be orchestrated at Paul's. I would tell my mom I was catching the bus at my friend's house and my adventurous trek would begin with no turning back.

I couldn't make eye contact as I kissed my mother goodbye. Her intuitive questioning would certainly have forced me to admit every detail of my plan. So, off I went.

Paul and I would disguise our voices and be each other's parents when we called the school nurse. "You go first", I said. "No you", he replied. Paul was more clandestine than I and he made the initial call. He aced it! Oh no, now it was my turn. It was as if the telephone had eyes and the nurse could see me and the lie I was so brazenly telling. Ah, but alas, it worked. We had just succeeded in our first coup.

Just like most felons, one crime isn't enough. So without hesitation we ran the scam again the next day and then came the third day of reckoning. While Paul was pretending to be my father on the telephone with the school nurse, she suddenly placed him on hold. Several minutes passed. It was no big deal. What could possibly go wrong?

Something happened and Paul's face paled. The interrogator was forcing him to give one word answers. He hung up meekly and told me to get home immediately because my mother would be calling me there. The school was getting in touch with Paul's mom this very moment. Apparently, while on hold, the nurse phoned my mother at work. She was livid!

I ran home like a person being chased by bloodhounds and there I would await my fate. Oh what a horrible day this had become. I felt dirty knowing I had let my parents down. They would think less of me now, so I thought. If only I could take it back I would, but it was too late. The damage had been done.

During our meeting the following day the principle informed my mother he was going to suspend me for 1 week. She fixed her gaze on the school administrator and replied, "Well let's just reward Dennis for his bad behavior. He didn't want to go to school and now you're giving him exactly what he wanted." "What would you suggest?" the principle asked. "Two hours of school detention a night, five days a week for four weeks", came my mother's quick retort. They shook hands and the deal was done.

Consequently, my 20 hours of freedom resulted in 40 hours of school time. This was not the kind of math I wanted to learn.

My lesson was taught and received well and I never had another illegal absence again. No, I wasn't a rebel and my spirit wasn't quite as free as I thought. My parents lost some of my childhood innocence during this time and I didn't want to disappoint them again, but after all, I was becoming a teenager and the games were just beginning.

Learn more about this author, Dennis Page.
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