I was six years old, my sister, Sally Kay, was a submissive three-year-old girl. For some reasons, I thought we needed to earn some money. I decided we should "hire out" as maids. We visited the neighbors, offering to clean houses for them for a quater cents. Reasonable as our offer was, there were no takers. But one neighbor telephoned my mother to let her know what Mary Alice and Sally Kay were doing.
Mother had just hung up the phone when we came first into the back door into the kitchen of our apartement. "Girls," mother asked, "why were you two going around the neighborhood telling people you would clean their houses?" Mother wasn't angry with us. In fact, we learned afterwards she was amused that we had came up with such an idea.
But, for some reason, we both denied having done any such thing. Shocked and terribly hurt that her dear little girls could be such "boldfaced liars" . Mother then told us that Mrs. Jones had just called and told her we had been to her house and said we would clean it for a quater cents .
Faced with the truth, we admitted what we had done. Mother said we have fibed, we have not told the truth. She was sure that we knew better. She tried to explain why a fib hurt, but she didn't feel that we really understood.
Years later, she told us that the lesson she came up with for trying to teach us to be truthful would probably have been found upon by child psychologists. The idea came to her in a flash, and a tender-hearted mother told us it was the most difficult lesson she ever taught us. It was a lesson we never forgot. After admonishing us, mother cheerfully begain preparing for lunch. As we monching on sandwhiches, she asked:" Would you two like to go to see the movies this afternoon?"
"Wow, would we ever?" We wondered what movie would be playing. Mother said:"The Matinee".
"Oh, fatastic！ We would be going to see The Matinee, would we lucky?" We got bathed and all dressed up. It was like getting ready for a birthday party. We hurried outside the apartment, not wanting to miss the bus that would take us downtown. On the landing, Mom stunned us by saying, "Girls, we are not going to the movies today." We didn't hear her right.
"What?" we objected. "What do you mean? Aren't we going to The Matinee? Mommy, you said that we are going to the Matinee. " Mother stooped and gathered us in her arms. I couldn't understand why there were tears in her eyes. We still had the time to get the bus, but hugging us, she gently explained this is a fib felt like. "It is
We assured her that we understood. We would never forget. And since we had learned a lesson, why not go to the movie to see The Matinee. There were still time. Not today. Mother told us. We would go another time. That is how over fifty years ago, my sister and I learned to be truthful. We have never forgotten how much a fib can be hurt.
相关单词：decided
decided解释：adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
decided例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
相关单词：learned
learned解释：adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词
learned例句：
He went into a rage when he learned
In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。
相关单词：liars
liars解释：说谎者( liar的名词复数 )
liars例句：
The greatest liars talk most of themselves. 最爱自吹自擂的人是最大的说谎者。
Honest boys despise lies and liars. 诚实的孩子鄙视谎言和说谎者。
相关单词：truthful
truthful解释：adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的
truthful例句：
You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。
相关单词：admonishing
admonishing解释：v.劝告( admonish的现在分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责
admonishing例句：
It is waste of time, admonishing you. 劝告你简直是浪费工夫。 来自辞典例句
To date, the Doctrine of Cheng Fu still exerts its admonishing effect. 时至今日，承负说仍具有警示作用。 来自互联网
相关单词：cheerfully
cheerfully解释：adv.高兴地，愉快地
cheerfully例句：
The train rolled cheerfully into the station.火车欢呼着驶进车站。
He takes our advice quite cheerfully.他欣然接受我们的劝告。
相关单词：landing
landing解释：n.登陆；着陆；楼梯平台
landing例句：
Owing to engine trouble,the plane had to make a forced landing.由于发动机出了毛病，飞机不得不进行迫降。
When are we landing?我们什么时候着陆？
相关单词：stunned
stunned解释：adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词
stunned例句：
The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。
相关单词：stooped
stooped解释：adj.弯腰的，曲背的v.弯腰( stoop的过去式和过去分词 )；屈身；俯首；屈尊
stooped例句：
She stooped down to pick up the child. 她俯身抱起孩子。
All his fellows stooped to look under the carriage. 他的伙伴们也都弯下腰看车下。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
相关单词：assured
assured解释：a.确实的，深信的
assured例句：
He spoke in a calm, assured voice. 他冷静自信地说。
The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
