"Jackson Greene," Ms. Hawthorn asked, walking up to his desk. "Where on Earth is your homework?"

"Well," he explained, sliding forward on his chair. "my mom told me I didn't need it."

"Oh, really?" she mused. "Well I guess I'll just call her and ask her why."

Jackson panicked and leaped out of his chair, blocking her path to the phone. He couldn't let her call his mom. 

"Wait! She's on a business trip and won't want any calls!"

"Jackson, your mother works at McDonald's," Ms, Hawthorn told him, clearly exasperated.

"They..." he hesitated. He couldn't tell her she had been promoted. His mom had talked with Ms. Hawthorn about not getting the promotion she wanted.

Then it hit him.

"They wanted employees to, to... represent... their workers," he stammered.

"Of course, that happens all the time," she said with a smile.

Jackson faked a grin and responded, "Exactly."

Then her smile faded. "Get your homework.

"Yes, ma'am!"