Grades

"Ms. Bell, I need a favor," Laquisha saya poking her head into my room during 9th period. I am chomping down on an apple.

"What is it?" I ask setting the dripping Granny Smith aside.

"Can you get me all my missing work? I want to pass your class. I open my web browser and click on Laquisha's grade. 53%. She has 27 absences, that is three each week for the first grading period.

"Nope," I say abruptly. She stares at me blankly. "There's not enough time for you to bring your grade up."

" You can make me a packet during 9th period and I'll do it over the weekend," she offers. I groan thinking about how much work that would be for me.

"Laquisha, you are going to fail my class this grading period. It is impossible for you to make up all that work in one weekend. It is too late," I say perusing her grade report again. She missed both unit tests, 4 homeworks, and countless days of class work.

"I hate you, Ms. Bell!" she huffs and marches out the door.

Phew! One week until grades go in.