The lie

Although she was not rich, Clara had everything she needed. She lived in a comfortable house, she had a loving family and her dad always bought her things.

But Clara had a big problem: the lie.

She lied constantly, to anyone in anytime. She lied so much that she couldn’t stop anymore. Lying had become  a  habit  in  her  life and when it was least expected, she was there making things up again.       

In fact, she felt a real pleasure in this and her eyes brimmed with satisfaction whenever she made up a story.

One day, Clara was at school when a neighbor came up to her to ask if she knew where her parents were.

She started wondering:

— Of course I know! My parents went to visit my uncle John who is very sick. You see? He’s got this stomach problem and...

— And where does your uncle live?

— He lives near here. I don’t know the address, but it is close to the supermarket.

The man thanked and left, worried.

When Clara left school, after her classes, she went home picking up flowers and browsing the shop windows at the gift store.

Arriving near home, she noticed an unusual roar. There was smoke all over the place and the neighbors tried to put out the fire.

As she saw her parents sweaty and tired, who were taking the things outside home. Clara asked surprised:

— What’s going on, dad?

Turning back to her, he answered bluntly:

— Well, my daughter, your mother forgot the iron turned on and the house caught fire. Our neighbors could tell by the smoke that something wrong was going on, so they asked you.

Clara, red as a beet, was ashamed.

— So, we went to visit Uncle John who is sick?

Clara tried to apologize, stuttering:

— Dad, I’m sorry. I never thought it could do any harm!

— “Any harm”? Daughter, do you realize what you did with this lie? We lost almost everything! Had you told the truth, it means, that we had gone to the ranch, near the city, part of the problem could have been solved. Although they tried to help, our friends couldn’t get the door open, because it was locked. Had they found us before, nothing would have happened.

— I feel so bad!

— I hope you can take a lesson from it, Clara. Thank God, we only lost material stuff. Our family is fine — he completed, relieved.

Clara promised with watery eyes:

— I’ll control myself, dad. I won’t tell lies anymore. From now on I just want to tell the truth. 

                                               Aunt Célia

Translation: 
Felipe Darella - felipe.darella@gmail.com