Here we begin an occasional series we're calling "Apology Line". To fans of Ira Glass, this will sound familiar, as the idea is taken from a segment of the November 5, 2004 This American Life show. Ira Glass' story was played for a class at one of the local community schools, ie the "bad kids", and as an exercise, they were assigned to write as if they were leaving a message on the apology line. We were taken aback by the raw reality of their compositions, sometimes a veritable vomit of confessions, sometimes an observant rehash of one episode, sometimes bringing a gasp, sometimes a burst of laughter. Four of the most remarkable essays were chosen to include in this piece. We edited only for grammar, and then found some of our other kids to voice the essays, as we wanted them to remain anonymous. This story brings you, in their stark and simple words, four new "callers" to the apology line.

Here we begin an occasional series we're calling "Apology Line". To fans of Ira Glass, this will sound familiar, as the idea is taken from a segment of the November 5, 2004 This American Life show. Ira Glass' story was played for a class at one of the local community schools, ie the "bad kids", and as an exercise, they were assigned to write as if they were leaving a message on the apology line. We were taken aback by the raw reality of their compositions, sometimes a veritable vomit of confessions, sometimes an observant rehash of one episode, sometimes bringing a gasp, sometimes a burst of laughter. Four of the most remarkable essays were chosen to include in this piece. We edited only for grammar, and then found some of our other kids to voice the essays, as we wanted them to remain anonymous. This story brings you, in their stark and simple words, four new "callers" to the apology line.