I think somebody has made a mistake here. Yep, they have.

So I got an email from my secondary school alumnus asking for volunteers to "mentor" some of the "Normal Stream" students during the Nov/ Dec school holidays. I called up the person in charge of the "Mentoring" programme to find out what exactly the "mentor" is required to do.

Apparantly we are supposed to be giving these young 15-year olds advice about life in general, because according to the person in charge ("PIC") of the programme, these girls are going astray.

How are they going astray, I asked the PIC.

Well, said the PIC, taking a deep breath, I don't know if I should be telling you all this because it will shock you.

Try me, said I, steeling myself for the unspeakable.

Ok. Here goes. Do you know that some of these 15-year olds are already dating? And they're not going out with boys their own age, THEY ARE DATING MEN WHO ARE IN THEIR TWENTIES AND THIRTIES.

Oh, I said, for all the wrong reasons. That's it?

No, do you know that some of them are also shoplifting?

Oh, I said. Erm... any more?

Well, they are also experimenting with SEX. Some of them are starting TO HAVE SEX.

I think at this point, I just waited. If this was a comic strip, there would be a thought bubble above my head that read "So how are they going astray???"

.... "Do they take drugs", I asked, hopefully.