The principal nodded approvingly, “Sometimes, doing the right thing means making sacrifices. Today, you made a big one. We’re very proud of you.”

Mrs. Collins walked over to the boy, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. “If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what would have happened. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

The class erupted into applause, the sound of clapping filling the room. The boy looked around at his classmates, who were now beaming at him with newfound respect.

As the commotion settled, the teacher cleared her throat, “Well, I think we can all agree that maybe being late for class isn’t always the worst thing, especially when you’re saving lives.”

The tension in the room transformed into a shared understanding and admiration. That day, the boy learned that sometimes, being a few minutes late can mean being in the right place at the right time to make a difference.