Despite paying the short-term cost for his decision, Bentley said he felt missing the U21 tournament would pay long-term dividends for his career, and he hoped to show that with his performances throughout the season.
But the number of primary school pupils in England missing school without permission in the autumn term of 2009 and spring term of 2010 has risen slightly.
He just briefly ran through some of the themes, from a growing trade relationship to the joint search for Americans missing in Vietnam and the long-term effects of America's use of the defoliant Agent Orange in the war.