Michael was speechless. He’d won the annual high school gold medal for essay writing. The trouble was, he’d copied the award-winning essay out of an obscure book he’d found in his father’s bookshelf. He went to the stage to receive the medal.
Should he say something? Make the announcement to all the gathered parents? Admit his forgery? In the end, he didn’t say a word.
After the awards ceremony his teacher took him aside:
“I know you copied the essay. It’s our little secret. I won’t tell anyone if you won’t. Would you like to come to my place for coffee?”