*  "Jerry was at his grandmother's yesterday, and she did not bring him to school because Jerry couldn't remember where the school was."

*  "Ronnie would not finish his work last night.  He said his brain was too tired of spelling."

*  "Eric hurt his knee in a karate tournament over the weekend.  He won his age group, but was in too much pain to do his math assignment."

*  "Amy did not do her homework last night because we went out to a party and did not get home until late.  If she is tired, please let her sleep during recess time."

*  "Henry stayed home because he had a stomach ache from eating too much frosting."

*  "It was my fault Mike did not do his math homework last night.  His pencil broke and we do not have a pencil sharpener at home."

*  "Scott didn't practice last night because he lost his tooth in the mouthpiece of his trumpet."

*  "Diane was late on Wednesday.  She fell asleep on the bus and was taken back to the bus yard."

*  "Cody was absent yesterday because we were out bowling until 2 AM."

*  "Tommy wasn't in school yesterday because he thought it was Saturday."