Calling The Cops
It seemed a day like any other at this public elementary school. But when a 9-year-old boy shouted this word, things would get an unexpected turn.
Panicked personnel called the cops, and the school was flooded with officers in a matter of minutes. Everyone was terrified, thinking of the worst-case scenario. What exactly was going on?
Nick Johnson
Nick Johnson was a typical 9-year-old boy. He enjoyed going to school and had a happy family life at home. He was a single child, and his parents wanted what was best for him.
No one expected him to get into so much trouble for such a seemingly small thing. He was suddenly at the center of attention just by shouting a word in the cafeteria.
A Popular Kid
Nick was very popular at his school. Everyone loved him and wanted to be their friend. The reason was that he was a good kid who would easily get along with everyone.
No matter what a kid went through, Nick knew how to cheer them up. Many people would say that he was just a typical 9-year-old boy. But after saying one word, some quickly turned on him.
Normal School Day
It seemed just like any other school day. Nothing was out of the ordinary. But then there was a huge commotion in the cafeteria.
The supervising teacher pointed at Nick and discussed his situation. Nick had no idea what they had in plan for him. What was about to happen would probably scar him for life.
A Teacher's Decision
A young teacher had heard a conversation Nick was having with his buddies while sitting at a cafeteria table and eating. She couldn't believe what the boy had said.
The young woman knew she had to make a decision about what to do. She quickly went to her superior, and after discussing the issue further, they came to an unsettling conclusion.
The Principal's Call
The teacher who overheard the conversation and her supervisor believed that the issue was as clear as day but decided to get another opinion before doing anything.
They both went to the principal and explained what had just happened, hoping for a final decision from her. And they got it. The problem seemed more severe than they anticipated. At that point, there was no turning back. The principal wanted to call the police.
Police Comes
It only took minutes for the police to storm the school. A few cops came in, and they were ready to settle the matter once and for all. The principal was waiting, eager to solve the situation.
Police cars stopped in front of the school, making everyone wonder what was happening. Were they in some sort of danger?
Panic At The School
When children saw the police coming inside their school, they were all terrified. They thought something awful had happened.
Nick had no idea that the police were called because of him. He was about to experience the shock of his life when the officers called for him. All because he shouted the word 'brownie' in the cafeteria. Or was it more to it?
Interrogation
The police asked for Nick Johnson, and the boy went with them into a secluded room. They had told him they needed to ask him some questions.
The boy was scared and had no idea why he was being questioned by the cops, but he had no choice. He had to comply with their demands. Otherwise, he might get into trouble. Or so he thought.
The Cops Came For Him
It was clear at that point. The boy realized that the cops had come for him. He still had no idea why, but he would soon find out.
The officers asked him a question the boy did not expect in a million years. He could barely remember the whole thing, but the police wanted to know exactly what had happened in the cafeteria. What did he say exactly?
For The Word' Brownie'
Apparently, the police were called because Nick had shouted the word 'brownie' while talking with his friends in the cafeteria.
This launched a chain of events that would end with the boy being held in questioning by the police. The reason was that the teachers believed he was using the word as a racial slur addressed at some other children nearby.
The Mother Comes
Nick's mother was called by the school to come in. It was about her son, so she left her office and rushed to the school, unsure about what was going on.
When she arrived, the mother was immediately approached by cops telling her that Nick was in trouble. Then they proceeded to interrogate her as well while explaining the situation better. She wasn't expecting anything like this when she left for work that day.
Not Sure Why He Was Questioned
The mother wasn't sure why her boy was questioned by the police over such a minor thing. She wanted some good explanation from the school on why they called the police.
When the woman shared the story on the internet, it quickly went viral, and many people agreed with her. It was just one word, and they weren't even sure about all the circumstances. But their first reaction was to call the police.
Misunderstanding
It turned out that Nick used the word 'brownie' when talking about their favorite desserts with the other kids at the table.
Nick hadn't used that word to refer to the minority children who were sitting close by. It was all just a big misunderstanding. But the school staff thought it was necessary to get the police involved.
A Mother's Choice
The fact that the school involved the police in such a small dispute made Nick's mother question their choices.
The ordeal was a nightmare for the boy, making the woman reconsider enrolling Nick into the same school the next autumn. She believed that their reaction was extreme for such a situation. In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.