The Big, Bad Lie

A Yahgahn Fable

One day, a young Duenicallo named Flower came home running and sounded scared. She hurriedly told her mother that a Pit Plant had attacked her. Her mother, sensing her distress, gave her lots of hugs and snuggles and comforted her, saying that she was very happy that she had survived. Flower, enjoying this extra attention, was a little disappointed when her mother had to stop, to do other things.

After much thought, Flower finally got what she thought was a great idea. She decided to herself that it would have to wait a few days, though.

About three days later, Flower came running home in the same scared manner, and told her mother hurriedly, with fear in her voice, that a predatory tree had grabbed her and almost got her. Little did Flower know, but this scared her mother very, very much. More than it had the other day. She lavished even more love and comforting on Flower, and for longer. But again, Flower was disappointed when it was over, and she felt kind of weird inside, since she had not been really attacked by a predatory tree. She had lied. She finally made herself feel better by saying to herself that it showed that her mother loved her much.

A week later, Flower played the trick again. This time, when she came in to tell her mother what happened, she said that a larger predatory animal had attacked her, and she even had scars to “prove” it. This time, her mother was so upset that she was crying very loudly and she said, “I am sorry, Flower, but I could not live any more if you got killed, and you have been attacked so much lately that you will have to stay indoors until the danger lessens. I must go and find this larger animal and have your father watch the door so you aren’t attacked while I’m gone.”

This made Flower feel so rotten and horrible that as her mother walked toward the door, she burst into tears and said, “I’m sorry, mother! Don’t go, there is no need to!” and she wept again.

Curious and concerned at her child’s upset, Flower’s mother asked, “What do you mean?”

“I… I’m sorry, but I… I LIED! I am so very, very sorry!” and she wept again.

“Then… then you were never in danger?”

“The first time was real, but I… I lied about the other two attacks. I’ve never even seen a predatory tree, or any predatory animal larger than father! I’m sorry!”

Flower’s mother was silent for a long while, while Flower wept. Then she finally spoke. “What you did was inexcusable. You lied, and your lies were huge, horrible, scary lies. You will remain inside for the next month, as punishment. But my dear, I am just glad that you are all right. I still love you, I just don’t like that you lied. Why did you lie, anyway?” Flower’s mother drew flower near to her.

“Because your extra attention felt good, and I was very glad to know how much you love and care for me. And I was disappointed when you had to do something else. I did not think about how my big bad lie would affect you. I’m sorry, mother.”

“Well, we all make mistakes. I just hope you have learned from your mistake. I hope you will not tell a lie again.”

“I’m sorry. I will never again tell a lie. I felt absolutely awful, seeing your distress.”

“Well, I still love you, and I’m glad to hear that you’ve learned from your mistake.”

“I love you too, mother.”

The moral of this story is that telling lies is a bad behavior to get into. Always be honest, to yourself and others. For even if the truth gets you in trouble, it’s a lot less trouble than the trouble caused by telling a lie. Just think what would have happened to Flower’s mother if Flower had not told the truth.

The End