Apprentice-Slip

(When you are on an apprenticeship, your company pays all the college costs and pays you to attend. Most of us feel pretty grateful to be in such a position. Some do not.)

Classmate #1: “Can you pick up notes for [class].”

Me: “What, the one after lunch?”

Classmate #1: “Yeah. I’m going out for lunch with some friends. I won’t be back in time.”

Classmate #2: “Seriously?! You are always pulling this. You are being paid to be here.”

Classmate #1: *angry* “I don’t do it that often. Anyway, it is not like the class is important.”

Me: “Every lesson you have to ask for help, and you copy work off of everyone.”

Classmate #1: “Are you going to pick up my notes or what?”

Me: “No! Go to the class!”

Classmate #1: “Whatever.” *storms off*

(We were only half surprised to see Classmate #1 missing from the class, but were surprised to see him missing for the rest of the day. At the last lesson:)

Lecturer: “Where’s [Classmate #1]?”

Classmate #2: “Oh, I think he went home sick.”

Lecturer: “Oh, really?” *he takes out his phone and messages someone* “We will see about that!”

(The next day:)

Classmate #1: *sarcastically* “Thanks a lot, you lot!”

Me: “What?”

Classmate #1: “I got a telling off because I wasn’t in class.”

Me: “Hang on, we didn’t say anything!”

Classmate #1: “Well, I got a phone call this morning, from [Boss]!”

Lecturer: *from nowhere* “Yes, that was me. If you are planning on skipping classes, I suggest that you don’t spend all afternoon at the pub around the corner. Here, this is for you.” *hands a piece of paper* “I spoke to your boss, and he told me that you are to sign in and out of every lesson, and if you are as much as a minute late I will be taking this up with your company.”

(Suddenly Classmate #1 managed to attend all his classes after that.)