Red flags

Yesterday I was dealing with a frequent flyer in with his usual stomachache. At the end of recess, I sent him back to class, only to have him return a few minutes later. Before I could even ask why, he said, "I threw up in the bathroom and then I flushed it right away."  With his too-quick explanation, he earned himself a trip right back to class. 

Tip for kids: if you want out of class, don't raise any obvious red flags. Explaining why I can't see the vomit for myself before I even ask for it is a major one. (Having a stomachache every day during math is another one.)