Walking into our kitchen one Wednesday afternoon around 3:30, after a rather uneventful day at school, my mom, who was at the sink peeling potatoes, turned to face me and uttered the words that no kid ever wants to hear.

"I just spoke to both your teacher and the principal, so don't plan on going to school for the next couple of days."

Before I could open my mouth - well it was probably already hanging open - to try and articulate one of several hundred questions that quickly flashed across my mind, she said,