I stand corrected. He wasn't up reading last night. He was at a concert. This concert - [link] He's been talking about it all week, and even yesterday.
I also think (given the age group of the people you work with) that they may not understand the full implications of missing work. I think if you sit the person down and let them know what an inconvenience it is and that you appreciate their assistance, need it, and they also need to be there if at all possible when they promise to be, he might get it.
No, he knew. He knew that we have a crew of four, and that two went home very sick yesterday and would likely not be in again today, and he knew he was going to that concert. He knew we had an ambitious workload today, and he knows he is the strongest physically and the most technically capable. And he knew he was fucking us over by calling in. Like I said, one of his sick coworkers came in just because she didn't want it to be just me and one other.
Frankly, he's a spoiled brat and he doesn't give a shit. This is the one who sucks up to your face and talks shit behind your back, and by 'your' I mean 'my.'
Yup, pretty angry about it all.