"Teacher, why are you so late to class?"
I was indeed late. I had accidentally looked at an old class schedule, instead of the most recent, and I had somehow vacated my mind of the fact I'd been switched on Wednesdays, to one hour earlier for this particular cohort of kids.
"You're very late," another said.
"I know," I said. "Sorry."
"You should pay us a dollar because of coming late," a student suggested. This proved a popular idea.
"Really? I have to pay you for being late?" I asked, in mock surprise. "Each of you? Really?"
"Yesss," they rallied.
I paid them.