Hello, everyone. My name is Maria Jones, or Mrs. Jones to my students. I am a math teacher at Capital High School. Throughout my seventeen years of teaching at Capital High, I have come across many odd, troubling, and just plain peculiar students. One of my current students fits into all three categories. His name is Leo Valdez. He constantly moves his hands or feet during class, demands to leave during a lecture, and is a stand-up comedian in the most incongruous of times.

Today Valdez walked in late, per usual. "Valdez, why are you tardy?" I asked him, angry that he again interrupted my lesson. I was expecting some ridiculous reply, but this time was different.

"Sorry, Mrs. Jones," Leo replied quietly. "I had some family issues that I needed to take care of before school."

I was taken aback from the lack of volume he was talking in, and said, "Well, don't let that happen again, Valdez. Now go to your seat and open your book to page one hundred, seventy-seven." He nodded and made his way to his desk in the third row.

I continued my lesson until Valdez was tapping his pencil again the wooden desk. "Mr. Valdez, please stop that immediately!" I yelled. He stopped looking down and apologized. Leo then started to construct a small helicopter out of some rubber bands and pencils.

After ninety grueling minutes of teaching trigonometry to a bunch of clueless adolescents, the bell rang, and everyone stood up and began to walk out of the classroom. Leo was the last one to get up, and as he began to walk towards the door, I said, "Mr. Valdez, would you please stay here a moment?"

"Yes Mrs. Jones," He replied.

"Thank you. Now I would like to ask why you are often late?"

"Like I said, family problems."

I did not buy this one bit. He was probably just lying to get out of detention. I bet he slept in because he was up partying too late with his friends. "What kind of 'family problems'?" I ask.

He then replied within a second of my question. "My siblings and I were making decorations for our dad who was visiting. We rarely see him and the younger ones have never met him. We lost track of time, and I sadly didn't have a timer, so my girlfriend and I had to high tail it out in order to make it to school."

I was surprised at Leo's reply, but still had more to ask and clarify with him. "Well, that was very touching, Valdez. Now I have one last question for you. Why do you have trouble reading and paying attention?"

"I have really bad ADHD and dyslexia. I really have to get to English. Goodbye, Mrs. Jones." And like that, Leo Valdez left the classroom.

~Time skip is named Bob and says hello to the stars~

A few years later, I was driving through New York City and noticed a small repair shop, Valdez Machines: Repair and Create. I smiled and thought back to when he was my student. I guess all the constructing and his constant hand movement did come out useful in the end.

Ok that was probably my shortest one-shot yet - 591 words. In case you were confused by the "family problem" explanation, it basically meant that the gods, including Hephaestus, were visiting CHB. Leo and the Hephaestus Cabin had to decorate the camp, and Leo forgot about school until the last minute. Thanks for reading :)

~Annabeth