"The Truth About Lies"

"Isn't it a beautiful day, Splinter?" Remarked Shaver as he and Splinter were strolling slowly up to Mr. Mike's toy shop.

"Gr-r-uff." Sleepily moaned Splinter.

Since summer arrived Splinter sleeps most of the day. The warm sunshine seems to make him lazy. This drives Shaver wild. Every time he wants him to do something Splinter starts moaning as if to say, O-oh...I just want to take a nap...okay?

"Come on, sleepy head." Said Shaver. "It's not that much farther."

The boys told Mr. Mike they would help some of the other children in the neighborhood clean up the old sand lot on the north side of Mr. Mike's toy shop.

Mr. Mike told them they could use the sand lot all summer to play baseball. This was his way of thanking the boys for their help.

"Just think," said Shaver, "if we do a really good job we can use the sand lot anytime we want to...neat, huh?"

Splinter just couldn't seem to get into the swing of things today. He looked at Shaver as if to say, huh, were you talking to me?

"Oh never mind, silly. Look, there's all our friends already there. Hurry up, Splinter, you can sleep later." Grumbled Shaver.

Waiting for them at the sand lot were all the boys they played with. Pedro, Bobby and the new kid from a couple streets over. The boys just met him the day before, his name is James.

Mr. Mike gathered all the children and explained to them what he wanted done.

"Okay children, bring all the rubbish up to the back of my shop and put it in the trash cans. You bigger boys can help me lift the old cinder blocks and stack them by the back porch. The smaller children can gather the scraps of wood and throw it into that crate by the rubbish. That we will save for fuel this winter. Well now, does everyone understand his job?" He asked.

Everyone nodded he understood except for Splinter. He was already asleep under the old oak tree behind the toy shop.

"Okay then, everyone to work." Grinned Mr. Mike.

Shaver, Bobby, Pedro and James were the bigger boys helping Mr. Mike with the cinder blocks. They were excited about helping but the blocks were awfully heavy.

Mr. Mike watched for a moment then decided to put the boys on teams to carry the blocks. Two boys carrying a block made it much easier.

"Shaver, you and Pedro work over there. Bobby, you and James will work over here behind the shop." Ordered Mr. Mike.

As Bobby and James began to work they started talking about everything boys this age talk about. They talked of playing ball on their new field when they were finished with their work. They talked about school and the teachers they liked best. They talked about little sisters...ugh...that follow them everywhere they go.

After only a short time James told Bobby he had to rest for a bit. He said his head had a terrible pain and he wouldn't be able to do any more work.

"Gee, I'm sorry about your headache, James." Bobby told him. "You go sit on the steps and I'll do this alone. I'm pretty strong you know."

"Thanks, Bobby." He said. "I'll just rest for a bit."

James had no intention of helping Bobby. He just didn't want to work in the hot sun so he told a lie and said his head hurt.

After several hours the boys were told to go home for some lunch and a cold drink. They were to meet back at Mr. Mike's at one 'o' clock.

James lived on a different street so he went one way as the boys went another.

"See you later, James." Shaver and Pedro yelled.

"Huh...oh yeah, later guys." He answered.

Bobby was very quiet on the walk home. When Shaver and Pedro asked him what was wrong he started talking about how James told him his head hurt.

"I could be wrong but I don't think so." Bobby told the boys. "I think he told me that because he didn't want to do the work. I noticed him once when he didn't think I saw him. He was trying to get Splinter to wake up and play with him." He told them.

"Ha, good luck to him trying to get Splinter to wake up." Snorted Shaver.

"Oh my." Shaver said, just then realizing what Bobby had said.

"You mean he told you a lie?" Shaver whispered. "Mother told us we should never, ever tell a lie. She said if you tell one lie you have to tell another lie to cover up the first one. Before you know it you're in real trouble."

"Oh well...come on, I'll race you guys to the corner." Shaver suddenly screamed. "Hurry! Splinter woke up. He will try to win the race. He loves to win."

Splinter was flying down the street chasing the boys. His ears were flopping, flipping and flapping in the wind. He looked like a puppet on a string...what a sight he was.

After the boys ate lunch they returned to Mr. Mike's like they promised. It took a couple more hours before they finished but finally they were done.

They stood admiring their work a bit, it looked good. They played a couple of word games...that's always fun. Then they started planning their first baseball game. They started talking about James, wondering why he never returned to the sand lot to help.

"Come on guys, let's go to James' and find out what happened." Said Shaver. "Last one there is a rotten egg!" He yelled.

The boys ran as fast as they could. They ran up the street, around the corner to James' street. Pedro even hurdled a picket fence trying to win the race.

"Hey, is that cheating?" Bobby asked.

"No," Shaver answered, "I just wish I'd thought of it myself."

When they finally got to James' house who do you think was there first huffing, puffing and grinning like a possum eating briars? You guessed it it!

"Splinter! Did you cheat?" The boys asked.

Splinter just sat there with a silly grin on his face.

"Humph!" Said Shaver. "I don't get it...how does he do that?"

The boys ran up the steps to knock on the door but James came from around the side of the house. He was shocked to see the lads there.

"Hey James, what have you been doing?" Asked Shaver. "We needed your help cleaning up the sand lot. We were worried when you didn't come back."

"I...I...er...I had to stay home and take care of my mother. She got sick something awful and needed me to help her. She's still very sick." James said nearly stuttering.

"Gosh James, we're really sorry. If there is anything we can do just let us know." Said Shaver worried about James' mother.

"Come, amigos!" Pedro hollered about that time. "Last one to Shaver's is a smelly thing!"

Try as he might, Pedro was still having some problems with the lingo the other boys used but he was sure trying.

The boys were off and running again. It wasn't much of a race this time, everyone was already worn out including tired old Splinter. "What's this now." Grinned Mrs. Hardy. "Are you boys tuckered out from a hard day at work...where's your new friend, James?" She asked the lads. "James' mother is very sick and he had to stay home and care for her." Shaver told his mother.

"Oh my goodness!" Mrs. Hardy worried. "I'd better run over there and see if there is anything I can do for her."

Mrs. Hardy hurriedly gathered a few things that might be of use to her depending on what kind of illness James' mother had.

She arranged some herbs that were good for fever and gathered some peppermint from her garden for a sick stomach. Then she made a mustard plaster in case Mrs. Wilson was down in her back.

She walked over to the street James lived on. Out of breath from walking so fast, she rushed up the steps and knocked on the door.

"Why , Mrs. Wilson, what are you doing out of bed as sick as you are?" She asked. "You get right back into bed and I'll care for you until your husband comes home from work." She practically demanded.

"Mrs. Hardy, I...I...well, I don't understand. There seems to be some mistake. I'm not ill, in fact, I feel better than I've felt in years." She stated.

"Oh," Mrs. Hardy said relieved, "I guess there has been a mistake. James told my children you were awfully sick. I just thought I'd better check on you and see if you needed any help."

"How very kind you are to want to help, Mrs. Hardy...but as you can see I'm fine." Mrs. Wilson told her. "But, please, come in and visit awhile. You are the only neighbor I've had a chance to meet."

Mrs. Wilson told Mrs. Hardy she had problems in the past with James telling lies. Any time he didn't want to do something he would tell a lie to get out of it. She said she was worried and didn't know what to do to break him of such an awful habit.

Mrs. Hardy drank a cup of tea with her new neighbor then started back home. She didn't know whether or not to mention Jame's problem to her children. It could actually be made worse if the kids started teasing James. No...she was sure her children would never do anything to hurt another child's feelings. She knew her children were special...in more ways than one.

"How is Mrs. Wilson feeling, Mother?" Shaver asked Mrs. Hardy.

"Well...what I mean to say is...well, you children come inside, I want to have a talk with you." She told Shaver and Splinter.

Mrs. Hardy told the lads of James' problem. She explained how telling lies could lead to bad things happening. She then proceeded to telling them the fable of the boy who cried, "Wolf!"

"So please children, always tell the truth no matter what the circumstances are. Only bad things come from telling lies. Even if you think you're trying to protect someone, eventually, the truth will be found out and it will only make matters worse. Do you understand, children?" Their mother asked.

"Oh yes, Mother." Stated Shaver. "We promise never to tell a lie, don't we, Splinter?"

"Ruff!" Splinter yelped.

The boys went on about their business of foot racing, jumping, skipping even hop-scotching down the walk to Pedro's house to shoot a few hoops.

This was a game Splinter didn't really understand at all but he liked to nap in the tall grass growing along side of Pedro's house so he was happy to be going along.

"Hey Pedro, how about a game of horse? We haven't played that in awhile...it should be fun." Remarked Shaver.

"Si, amigo," answered Pedro, "we will shoot the horse."

"I'm not too good at basketball but I'll try." Said Bobby. "Baseball is more my game." He grinned.

Shaver was still laughing at what Pedro said. Pedro's English was coming right along but shooting a horse...this just sounded funny to him.

"Now watch guys, my first shot is with just one hand...yes! I made it. Now it's your turn, Pedro." He gleamed.

Pedro stood his ground, took a deep breath and let the ball fly.

"Hooray!" Pedro yelled. "Did you see that, my friend?"

"You're getting a lot better at this game, Pedro." Shaver grinned like a little wooden elf.

"Now Bobby, it's your turn." Shaver said. "It's okay if you don't make it. Remember it's just a game to have fun with."

The boys were having a good time playing the game but were getting a little tired so they decided to rest for awhile and pick up the game later.

"Amigo," Pedro said. "look at your silly dog, the way he sleeps in the grass."

Shaver glanced over at Splinter briefly then suddenly took another look as if he didn't believe what he saw the first time.

Splinter was lying on a small knoll with his head was in the downhill position. His front legs were tucked in neatly under his chest and his rump was stuck up in the air. As if that wasn't enough, his long skinny tail twitched with the breeze. You should have seen him.

"Hey look guys, there's James." Said Shaver. "James," he yelled, "want to play some ball?"

James was quite a distance off but threw up his arm waving to signal yes...he did want to play. He took off running toward the young boys.

"Amigo," Pedro said quietly, "I like James very much but..."

"What is it? What's the problem, Pedro?" Asked Shaver.

"Well..." he said, "he tells me things...how do I put it. He tells me things I know is not right. Do you understand, my friend?"

"Yes," Shaver answered, "he tells you lies is what you mean. Mother told us to be polite to James but don't believe everything he tells us and as his friends, try to encourage him to tell the truth when he tells us something we know isn't so."

"James told me his father was a scientist working on a secret mission for my new country." Said Pedro. "I know James' father works at the lumber yard with my father, my father told me so. I feel badly for James so I don't tell him I know this is not so."

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