Little Johnny sat nervously in the principal’s office, his heart racing with fear and uncertainty. He had been kicked out of school for an incident that had occurred earlier that day, and he wasn’t sure what to expect.
The principal, a kind-hearted man with a firm but gentle demeanor, looked at Johnny with a mixture of concern and disappointment. “Johnny, can you tell me what happened today?” he asked, his voice soft but firm.
Johnny shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I got in trouble in math class,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He explained that the teacher had asked him a question, and he hadn’t known the answer.
The principal listened attentively, his expression sympathetic. “And what was the question?” he asked. Johnny hesitated before answering, “She asked me, ‘If I gave you twenty dollars, and you paid five dollars to Kate, five dollars to Sally, and five dollars to Linda, what would you have?'”
Johnny’s response had been, “I’d have nothing left.” The principal smiled, his eyes twinkling with wisdom. “Johnny, let me tell you something important. Even if you don’t have any money left, you still have something valuable – your integrity, your character, and your ability to learn from your mistakes.”
Johnny looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. He hadn’t expected such wisdom from the principal. The principal continued, “Getting kicked out of school is not the end of the world. It’s a chance for you to reflect on your actions, take responsibility for your choices, and strive to do better in the future.”
Johnny listened intently, feeling a glimmer of hope begin to blossom within him. He realized that he had made a mistake, but that didn’t define who he was as a person. With a newfound determination, Johnny vowed to learn from his experience and make amends for his actions.
