Many years ago when I was an apprentice, one of the other apprentices was continually having time off and when he did arrive he was invariably late. He was missing for about four days one time and arrived with a note from his mother which said, "**** hasn't been in work for the past few days because he is frightened of the foreman!"
When my son was teaching in a school in Acocks Green, he showed me a note from the mother of one of his pupils. It read, "**** will not be able to do P.E. today as he was shot on the way home last night". Not to worry though, it was only an air gun. I have the note here somewhere.