Dear Diary,

When my sisters were in high school, the administration changed its policy on tardiness. All classroom doors were to be closed by the time the bell stopped ringing and no one was to be admitted until the role was taken. Then the doors would be opened and anyone waiting in the hall would be marked tardy. A third mark of tardy would earn the recipient a trip to the principal’s office to obtain a pass in order to be re-admitted to class.

Sometimes trying to make it into the classroom on time in the winter could be rather hazardous to a person’s health. Snow would get tracked inside and make the tile floors slippery when it melted. Many a student got the opportunity to brush up on indoor skating and sliding skills as they rushed to class. One student even scored a perfect six, though not for grace or beauty.

He started to run to his English class when the bell started ringing. As the teacher went to the door, the pounding sound of running feet was heard and a voice cried out, “Don’t close the door!” Next, came a loud thump then everyone in class saw a body slide past the door. The poor kid would have headed to the outside door at the far end of the hall (which hopefully was closed; otherwise, he would have ended up in a snow bank), when his arm shot out and hooked the door jamb.

“Did I make it?”

The teacher seemed shocked as she just stood there looking down at him. Just think, a teacher’s dream come true--a student lying at her feet, intently waiting for her next words.

“Oh, come on,” everyone else in the class cried. “He made it. His arm was in the door.” Well after all, the policy just stated that a student had to be in the class when the bell stopped ringing. It didn’t stipulate how much of the body had to be inside of the room.

The teacher finally agreed. Good thing, because judging by the pitiful look on his face, he probably would have just lain there in defeat if she had said no.