AWOL

Okay, imagine your friend is supposed to be at school, but they don't show up. They are not in class and the teacher cannot find them. This is called "being AWOL". It's like they 'disappear' from where they are supposed to be. AWOL stands for 'Absent Without Leave'. This means that they are not where they are supposed to be, and they did not ask permission to leave. Just like how you need to ask permission to leave class early or go to the bathroom, people in certain jobs (like the military, for example) also have to ask permission to leave their place of work or duties. If they don't ask for permission and can't be found, they are called AWOL because they left without letting anyone know or asking for permission.