“9-1-1, what is your emergency?” The dispatcher clicked his headset.

“I need help.” Came the small boy’s voice from the other end.

“What’s wrong?” The man’s deep voice was a stark contrast to the boy’s high pitched one.

“My math!” The boy exclaimed.

“Your math?” The man smiled and looked at the photo on his desk of his own young son. He chuckled. “What kind of math?”

“Take aways.”

“Take aways, huh? What’s your problem?”

“18 take away 3.”

“Boy, that is a hard one.” The dispatcher chuckled, his co-workers gathering around him, awing about the little boy. “What’s the next problem?”

“6 take away 6.”

“Okay, what do you think the answer is?”

“6?” The little boy asked tentatively.

“Ok, do you have -” The dispatcher was cut off by a woman on the boy’s side of the line.

“Mikey! What are you doing on the phone?”

“The police officer is helping me with homework.” The boy replied calmly.

“What!?” The mother gasped.

“You said to call the police if I needed help.” He answered innocently.

“Not with math!”