The Work of Deception

The other day my elementary students got a good talking to by one of the teachers for the way they were acting in the gymnasium where they were waiting for me to come and pick them up. They filed out to the bus looking subdued, like mine workers on their way to the center of the earth. Then the teacher came on the bus and gave them a parting warning shot, letting them know that if she received word that things didn’t go well on the ride home, there would be repercussions!! One of the first graders timidly asked what repercussions meant. “YOU’LL BE IN BIG TROUBLE,” was the answer. “Oh…”

After the teacher left the bus, I heard a frustrated voice about one-third of the way back on the bus say, “She’s just a big, fat lady.” I turned around, not sure who had said it, but having a pretty good idea of the general vicinity, and firmly asked who said that. Several fingers pointed to Jill (not her real name). But Jill, who was sitting by herself with an open book in her hand said, “I didn’t say it!! Bella did.” Bella looked stunned and denied saying it and turned the accusation back on Jill. Jill adamantly pleaded innocents saying, “I was just sitting here reading my book,” and she had the open book to prove it. Something you should know about Bella, she gets disciplined about forty times every day during her fifty minutes on the bus, mainly for standing up absentmindedly. But this situation created several problems for Jill. One, I know the sound of Bella’s energized voice, and it didn’t sound like her at all. Two, if people had an opportunity to get Bella in trouble, most of them would take it in a heartbeat. Bella has the ability to create waves among her fellow bus riders on the calmest of days. Three, there were just too many justice-seeking fingers pointing at Jill. And four, there is no way Bella could look innocent in a moment of guilt even if she was promised everyday for a whole year would be her birthday. I quelled the storm by saying that sort of thing will not be said on my bus, and got my seven wheels on the street.

Fifteen minutes later, when it came time for Jill to get off the bus, I stopped her. “I know it was you who made that comment.” Again she started to deny it, but I firmly just said, “Jill, I know you said it,” and her look of resistance faded. Then I said, “That was not a nice thing to say, but what concerns me more is how quickly you lied and blamed Bella. I know you were scared that you would get in trouble, but you don’t want to get into the habit of lying, even if it looks like a good way to get out of a mess.”

I’m still amazed at how easily and shrewdly Jill lied. I’ve watched her for almost one and half school years, and this behavior caught me off guard. But I probably shouldn’t be surprised. We learn early to be a deceptive lot in order to avoid pain. I know, that sort of behavior has created more than it’s fair share of problems in my life. God have mercy on Jill…and me, too.

Pencils = 45