I received a call this afternoon from the St. Paul Public Schools. It was an automated call from my son’s high school. They called to inform me that many students were planning on skipping school tomorrow to go down town and protest the Republican National Convention. When I realized what the call was about I put it on speaker phone so my son could hear the message.

Him: “Ooh, do I get to skip school tomorrow?”

Me: “Are you planning on protesting the convention?”

Him: “Can I?”

Me: “No”

Him: “Why not?”

Me: “Because I don’t want you down there with all those nuts who are destroying shops and other private property.”

Him: “What are they protesting?”

Me: “That’s the other reason you can’t miss school.”