Burned out with his career as the principal of a small town high school, Curt Maxwell takes it out on those around him. He micromanages Northwest High as a martinet--dislike by faculty, staff--but especially the students.One evening while Maxwell is working late, a mysterious man in white enters his office. He warns the administrator that because of his arrogance and cruelty he is in danger of unearthly punishment. Unless he repents. Defiantly, Maxwell says, "I'm a decent, law abiding man who has always played by the rules.""Your judgment will be the rules. You appeal to the Law. By that Law you will be judged. Like every student here...Severity is your only hope." So saying, the visitor reveals himself as a fiery winged creature from outside our earthly realm. Curt Maxwell collapses to the floor in a faint. After coming to in the morning he is horrified to find what the punishment is. He is forced to attend Northwest High as a fifteen-year-old freshman. His only hope for earning back his old life? By keeping certain codes of decency and the rules from the fat handbook he wrote himself. Posing as Curt's social worker, the messenger continues to pay visits. Each time he brings lists of rules kept and broken. With red checks beside those broken. And even a single check mark is too many. During his ordeal Curt is forced to ask for help from the school secretary, Grace Ellis. Always a dependable worker, she comes through for him now. Moved by pity, Grace offers him transportation and moral support. But finding a solution baffles her. Forced to experience the pain caused by his own policies and see others effected causes Curt to reevaluate his life. Bringing on an existential identity crisis--mistaken for teen angst by those around him. Continuing to struggle at keeping the rules, Curt dreads the visits by the Messenger. After a few months have passed depression sets in. Curt despairs of getting his own life back and starts to have a break down. Finally help is offered from the last place he expected. And in a form Curt doesn't like.