A failure by LCC standards, Canadian short-story author Stuart McLean ’65 showed off his grade 11 marks at the student assembly only a few short days ago. In the Memorial Gym, a few gasps could be heard as his 20%s, 30%s, and 40%s from his old report cards were shared with the audience.

Beyond the grades, a more shocking truth could be found; this man was a successful author, teacher, and radio host. After discussing his uneventful childhood and exciting present, Stuart McLean began to read from his most recent book. The crowd listened on the edge of their seats, anticipating the delightful hilarity that is the signature of each of his stories.

Afterwards, a few brave souls asked the question of whether or not his stories were based on reality. He replied with a smile, explaining that although each character was in fact a creation of his own thought, the underlining message and importance of childhood innocence has always been a universal truth. Ending on a good note, he reminded us that although his stories are fiction, they each have basis in reality. For Stuart McLean, his character “Sam” is slightly reminiscent of his LCC past: a boy who is not quite sure if he has a place in the world. –Meg Peters ’09 (Pre-U ’10)