Nailing It (Pt. 2)

I have worked in and around construction since I was sixteen, (see résumé ) now that I’m nineteen and a half I know everything there is to know. ‘Holmes on Homes’ has nothing on me. (joking)
No. The fact is I’m fifty-four years old and I‘ve come a long way from the four-eyed, little geek who had to wear remnants of his old school uniform to his first day at school in Canada. The same gray shorts I wore on the plane, complete with knee high gray socks, practical black oxfords and a nice white shirt. At least my mum didn’t make me wear the old school tie that really would have been embarrassing.
I hated it and they hated me. I was bullied but I always stood my ground, (sometimes more the fool me) the kids made fun of the way I was dressed and of course the way I spoke.
Being the brilliant child that I was I was put ahead of my age group, to Grade 8. I was constantly in trouble, fighting, arguing, shouting and swearing. I made more enemies than friends. In no time at all I decided to skip school and stay home. I was gone for three days. No one seemed to miss me and no one was the wiser at home. At least not until one of our neighbours mentioned to my dad that he had seen me on and off all day. After being collared and having my backside heated. I was forced to sit through a good talking to, with all the appropriate threats of course. Then it was off to bed with no supper.
When I got up the next morning I was sent off to school with the knowledge the Principal was expecting me in his office. After the Principal gave me another good talking to, I was told I was being put back a grade and I would be watched closely. As a further punishment I was awarded forty-five office detentions, this was a record for ‘most office detentions given at one time.’ Forty-five, thirty minute punishment periods. They were going to confiscate twenty-two and a half hours of my life. Which in retrospect was pretty much a straight exchange for the time I had played hooky. As it turned out, the joke was on them.