Typically, we teach our children to call 911 if they ever find themselves in an emergency. However, one little boy took this lesson in an unexpected direction!

The young boy was struggling with his homework and decided to ask for help. Since 911 was the only number he knew, he picked up the phone and dialed it. After all, isn’t 911 for people who need assistance? In a way, he wasn’t entirely wrong!

When the 911 operator picked up, they began with the usual emergency protocol. After a somewhat confusing exchange, the operator quickly realized that the child wasn’t in danger but was simply having trouble with his math homework.

The entire conversation is both adorable and funny. It has since been shared widely, and for good reason—it’s truly entertaining. Below is a transcription of the call, and you can even watch the YouTube video at the end of this article.

Operator: 911, what’s your emergency?

Boy: I need help.

Operator: What’s the problem?

Boy: My math.

Operator: Your mouth?

Boy: No, my math! I can’t do it. Can you help me?

Operator: Alright. What city do you live in?

Boy: I can’t do the math.

Operator: I get that, but where are you?

Boy: I don’t want to tell you where I live. I just need help with my math.

Operator: I can’t help you from here, but I can send someone to help.

Boy: Okay.

Operator: What kind of math problems are you having?

Boy: It’s the takeaways.

Operator: Ah, subtraction problems. I see.

Boy: Yup.

Operator: Alright, what’s the first problem?

Boy: What is 8 minus 16?

Operator: Well, what do you think it is?

Boy: I don’t know, maybe 1?

Operator: Nope, that’s not quite right. How old are you?

Boy: I’m four.

Operator: Four!

Boy: Yes.

Operator: What’s the next problem?

Boy: This one is 5 minus 5.

Operator: And what do you think the answer is?

Boy: Five.

Female Voice in Background: Johnny, what are you doing?

Boy: I’m getting help from the policeman with my math.

Woman: Did I tell you to call 911?

Operator: Looks like your mom’s here.

Boy: You said if I needed help, I should call someone!

Woman: I didn’t mean the police!

This lighthearted call serves as a reminder of just how innocent and literal children can be. The boy, thinking he was following instructions, reached out to the only number he knew could provide assistance. It’s amusing to imagine the operator’s surprise when they realized the “emergency” was just a child’s confusion over subtraction problems!

In the end, everything turned out just fine. While 911 operators handle serious situations every day, this call was a wholesome reminder of the lighter, more humorous moments that come with the job.

The full audio of the call has been making people laugh all around the internet, and for a good reason. It’s a perfect blend of innocence, confusion, and kindness, showing that even in the most serious of professions, there are always moments that bring a smile.