The boys who play basketball . . . until midnight!

The research assistant was just telling me about her wayward son who wanted to stay out last weekend playing basketball with his friends . . . until midnight! And how would he have got to the courts? By riding with some other boys . . . in a car!

He also got a mohawk yesterday, which she forced him to shave off. I did a little stick figure portrait for her: her son with a mohawk, giving a peace sign. Because I can’t draw even stick people, the peace sign comes out as two sticks in his hand.

Kathy: And what business do they have riding in cars? He’s only in eighth grade!

Me: What’s that in his hand? Is that a peace sign, or . . . are those cigarettes?!

Kathy: And wanting to come home at midnight! He's thirteen!

Me: No, wait, I think they’re just syringes of injectable drugs.