Mrs. Charm was so annoyed at Mr. Boy’s second-in-a-row email complaint from his sixth grade art teacher about his misbehavior in class that Mrs. C. put him to washing off the patio furniture in the back forty this morning. She was pleased that he did a credible job with only a minor amount of fussing.
When he went back to playing Wizard 101, I thought to mollify her by confessing that when I was in sixth grade I spent most of the year in the principal’s office. Well, actually, on the bench outside it. Which the secretaries called the “mourner’s bench.”
Well, said Mrs. C. who was one of those strange people who actually loved school, at least you learned your lesson. Oh, I did, I confessed, but not for quite a while. The mourner’s bench designation didn’t fit me as I wasn’t in the least repentant and, indeed, I spent a good deal of seventh grade also sitting there for things I am still loathe to confess in this public forum.
UPDATE: Fortunately Mr. B. does not attend sixth grade in Maryland. Indeed, I’ve been realizing for some time now that things I did in school in 1956-57, which were then merely grounds for suspension, could lead to arrest and jail nowadays. The country is far less free than it was and getting less so all the time.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
Well, Mr. Boy shows all signs of being a red-blooded young male. No worries on that account then.
Actually, he’s a pussy, uh, cat compared to the red-blooded ones I grew up with. Most of his generation that I’ve seen is pretty soft. I wonder if events will toughen them up? I’m not sure I’d care to be around to see it.
Ha! This is exactly what they said about their sons 4000 years ago, I am reasonably sure.
I grew up in the draft era when military service was required. Mr. B.’s cohort is free of that and free to be loony peaceniks if they choose, as some undoubtedly will. It’s a main reason I would predict their continued softness, even after the AC they’re so used to that it’s limited their interest in outdoor activities. Their preference for video games works fine until the power goes down and the batteries run out. I seem to recall a certain similar concern on your end, if not by you then by SWMBO.