The Day the Dean Got the Last Laugh

 

It was one of those college nights—long, loud, and lit with fun. Four friends, carefree and a little too confident, had stayed out late partying. Their test scheduled for the next morning? Barely a passing thought.

The next day, heads pounding and eyes bleary, the reality of their situation set in. None of them had touched a book. Panic mixed with guilt—but instead of facing the consequences, they cooked up a plan.

They rolled up to the Dean’s office smeared with grease and dirt, clothes rumpled, faces lined with feigned exhaustion.

One of them stepped forward, the storyteller of the group.

“Sir, we’re so sorry… we had gone to a family wedding out of town and while returning late at night, we had a flat tire. We had no spare, and we had to push the car back. It took hours.”

The Dean, a wise old man with more experience than they gave him credit for, nodded slowly. He didn’t say much. Just listened, let them finish, and then—surprisingly—agreed.

“Alright,” he said calmly. “I understand. I’ll let you retake the test in three days.”

The boys were thrilled. They couldn’t believe their luck.

They spent the next three days studying like never before—filling in all the blanks they had skipped before. They were ready now.

Test day arrived. Confident and freshly showered, they marched into the exam hall.

But the Dean had one last lesson left to teach.

Each student was seated in a separate room. They didn’t think much of it—after all, it was just precaution. They were ready.

Then the test papers arrived.

Two questions.

1.     Your Name: ___________ (1 point)

2.     Which tire burst? (99 points)

Options:

(a) Front Left

(b) Front Right

(c) Back Left

(d) Back Right

In that moment, all four sat frozen. Wide-eyed. Heart racing.

Because in their eagerness to trick the system, they’d forgotten the most important part—to match their stories.

Lesson:

Life gives us many chances, but it also teaches us lessons—sometimes with a gentle hand, and sometimes with a clever test.

Responsibility doesn’t just mean showing up. It means owning your choices.

And honesty? It always shows up on the final.

______

Out Of The Box July 09, 2025