In today’s #RandyTales, our hero talks about honesty and recalls the story of the boy who cried “snake”…
There are a lot of things about me that are difficult for some to accept. Not necessarily deal breakers, but definitely things you don’t find in your average friend request. My life is generally a chaotic mess. I am not only someone to lead you into temptation, I will show you the shortcuts. I am not known for things like “self-restraint” and “impulse control”. Hell, I’m barely housebroken.
But I don’t lie.
Which always sounds like a lie when I say it and always feel like I should explain myself further. I do not speak falsehoods to other people. Now, do I know how to bend the truth without breaking it? Absolutely – I am wordsmith of dubious reputation after all. Do I conceal details that may not favor the narrative I am speaking? Sometimes, but if asked about details I will expand (usually oversharing) but still operating in the initial intent.
I don’t lie. I don’t like lying. I think it is a waste of energy and will ultimately burn the speaker rather than anyone else. “But what if you hurt someone’s feelings?” I have been ask, to which I usually reply, “you’re new here, aren’t you?” There is enough lying in this world, especially amongst supposed “friends”. Everyone in my life knows if you ask me a question or my opinion, you will get an honest answer every time – whether you want to hear it or not.
This was not the case when I was a youngling learning the ways of snark. As a child, I would lie about literally everything. Every word that came out of my mouth was most likely me lying about something. And no matter how many times I had “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” read to me – or had my ass beaten for lying – still didn’t stop me.
One day I was in my home in rural Oklahoma – I was about 8 or 9 – walking back to my bedroom by the front door. As I walked past the entryway, I saw a large stick on the ground by the door. I paused to look at it and the stick moved! It was a snake that had gotten into the house. And if you don’t know – I am terrified of lizards & snakes. I cried for someone to come to the door, afraid that if I took my eyes off the snake it would get away and kill someone – probably me. I didn’t know it was a rat snake – a large yet perfectly non-poisonous snake. The fear gripped me as I screamed until I was horse for someone to listen to me.
Finally, my mom came into the hallway to see what I was lying about this time. I had gotten a broom to keep it cornered, occasionally swatting at it and watching it strike out. Mom saw the snake, saw her oldest son sobbing uncontrollably, and summoned my father who disposed of the snake. And I promised my mother afterwards I would never lie again.
Almost 40 years later, I like to think I have kept that word for the most part. There is too much lying in this world already. I tell my children they will never get in as much trouble for telling the truth than lying. And I always mean that. Have integrity when you speak and no one will doubt you… at least not your intentions.
My actions are sketchy as shit…