The Stardust Lounge (15 page)

There is no doubt that one of the absences recorded in Ms. S
‘s class was the result of an in-house suspension which Stephen received for very poor judgment regarding riding on the hood of someone's car in the high school parking lot.

Though Steve asked Ms. S
to confirm dates with him, she refused. According to the ARHS handbook, in-house suspension absences do not count.

Steve's Special Ed teacher attempted to intervene
and advocate for Steve with Ms. S
. Nevertheless, she insisted on yet another letter regarding his absences.

Thus, at the end of the school year, we wrote a second letter regarding a waiver for her class, and at this time referred her to Steve's therapist's official letter that had been submitted some time earlier (see enclosed documents)——

Dear Amy,

Thank you for looking after things while I'm away! Now unfortunately, if these medications aren't regularly and consistently given, Buster will have an epileptic seizure and go in and out of fits for about twenty-four hours. So PLEASE make sure he gets all of his medications!

Before 8 A.M.: first thing when Buster gets up he needs 2 phenobarbital (white pills). You can hide them in a Pupperoni or a hot dog. Then he needs to eat Then walk. Best thing to do is to get up and do this, then go back to bed if you want!

Sometime midmorning, between 10 and 11: Buster gets a diazepam (1 blue-green pill).

At about 5:30 or 6 P.M. just before his dinner, he gets another 2 phenobarbital. In his dinner he gets 1.6 mg of potassium bromide.

About 9:30 (before sleep) he gets 1 more phenobarbital.

All dogs receive a can of wet food 2 times a day. Each also gets a good handful of dry food with the wet. They eat about 7:30 A.M. and again at about 5:30 or 6:00 P.M.

Please keep plenty of fresh water available since Buster drinks large amounts of water. Also, don't forget to offer him Gatorade at mealtime.

Dogs should be walked about three times a day. One of those walks should be a good romp with a ball or a stick. Last walk can be about 8:30 or 9:00. Buster likes to sleep on my bed but needs help up.

Buster is fine off the leash, but G.Q. runs at cars and Rufus will wander off. They can be off the leash in the backyard, but watch them. They're devils!

In the event that Buster should for some reason go into seizure, just love and pet him through it, then when he comes to, give him a diazepam (extra, yes) and call Dr. Katz.

The cats like to come in and out the kitchen window. They always have dry food and 2 times a day split a can of wet food.

My number at the conference is
. Feel free to call anytime if you have a question or a problem…

Dear Registry,

This letter confirms that I have lost my license. Since my license has been suspended for sixty days, I turn in this document in its place. Thank you for your attention and patience.

Sincerely,

Stephen P. Digges

Dear Franchise Tax Board:

Enclosed is the Head of Household Audit, which you requested regarding taxes on a poetry prize awarded me by the Claremont Colleges there in California. Also as requested, I have enclosed a copy of my divorce decree and the transfer of property given to me as Grantee. Enclosed also is the first page of my taxes for 1996 with the name of my tax person at H & R Block, the person who has prepared my taxes for the last three years, each year listing me correctly as head of household.

The only people who have lived with me in the last three years are my son Stephen Digges and, from 1994 to 96, my foster son, Trevor Clunes. I did not claim Trevor as a dependent during these years because the state did pay child support for some of the time he was with us.

Sincerely…

To: Trevor and Stephen:

1. Feed all animals and medicate dogs. (It is SO important that Buster get his meds between 7 and 8 in the morning! Hard as it is to get up, just do it, and then go back to bed!)

2. Water gardens (in front of house, in corner of yard, AND geraniums out back).

3. Walk dogs for a good 40 minutes, either by taking them to the stables, OR walking them down the street and back (Rufus MUST be on a leash on street).

1. Change cat litter boxes.

2. Water plants in new room (take out back and water with watering can or hose).

3. Check upstairs dehumidifiers and empty.

4. Put sprinklers on for front lawn grass and new grass over in corner.

The more often you change the litter boxes, the easier it is to clean them up.

Take in mail, keep it all together.

Try to keep little things
—
cat balls, bottle caps, etc.
—
off floor since Buster might eat them.

Keep counters in kitchen free of dirty dishes and sticky stuff to keep away ants.

Hang out upstairs at night as much as possible and give Buster, especially, lots of affection. Feel free to change my sheets and sleep upstairs in my room!

Maria will be here on Tues. or Wed. so try to straighten up for her… .

Dear Mr. P
.

I am writing regarding my son Stephen Digges. We are requesting that you allow him a waiver of his absences, which have exceeded the allotted twenty for the year. The courses in which he has exceeded twenty absences are listed on the waiver sheet.

Stephen has had a difficult but exciting and rewarding year. To begin, I was unaware, until his Accounting teacher Mr. H
mentioned the possibility to me in conference this past fall, that Stephen, as a student with attention deficit disorder, could be part of ARHS's IEP. I had consulted with Ms. M
last spring about Stephen's clinical and psychological evaluations through his therapist, but I was not told at that time that in the public schools such a program existed.

I would add that since January I have also employed a tutor who works with Stephen four hours a week.

I hope that you will carefully consider Stephen's progress, his maturity, and his recent upswing toward achievement. It would be a terrible shame for him to lose credit because of his absences. He is a spirited and gifted child who has taken a little longer than most to find his way… .

Dear Mr. C
,