My teachers were the first set of people that taught me how to lie. Nigerians on this platform can testify to it that the first thing we are asked to write about whenever resume a new session in school back when we were young was ‘’ Write a letter to your friend who lives abroad, telling him…’’ or ‘’Write a letter to you Dad who lives in the UK…’’. My Dad live in The UK? That’s a lie, I saw him going to work a few hours back. But as students, we need to write and the best liar wins. lol
There are various reasons why people lie, we can say some are justifiable, while some aren’t. Sometimes we lie to save someone or to motivate others, but I’m not going in that direction today. This will be based on Lies for selfish reasons. Need I tell you that there is something called a “White lie” now. They say it is a lie that isn’t too much. A forgivable lie. Something one says for a better cause. Before we proceed, please take out time to visit the Promptly Jonica Community and check out articles related to the topic… I’ve read a few and I can see they’ve done justice to the topic, hence my reason for choosing just a segment.
Lies birth more lies
Let me share some stories of different lies I’ve told just to cover up for another lie. I kept on lying to save myself and before I knew what was happening, I couldn’t keep up with the lies. Sometimes I took minutes thinking of the previous lie I told so that the new lie won’t contradict it.
A Competition in year 1
It was the first-semester break in school and the National Association of Quantity Surveyors (Lagos Chapter) organized an essay competition for students. Our course adviser asked us to join but me and my two closest friends were not interested. He made it compulsory and promised not to sign our course forms without the essay in hand.
We decided to go to his office and give him a story. One thing about lying is that, when you do it repeatedly, it comes naturally and you surprise yourself sometimes with the way the lies comes on impulse. We went in and submitted our form as expected he asked for our Essay
“Sir, I’m almost done. It only needs some finishing touches” I lied
“Sir, I left mine in the hostel. I still don’t know how I forgot” David uttered his lie
“Mr Samuel, mine was written on a rough paper so I left it in the hostel” That was Dami dropping his own lines.
The man laughed and asked us how long will it take to get to our hostel if we decide to trek. We answered 10minutes maximum. He then gave us money to board a Cab to the hostel and get our essay within 20minutes. He gave us the grace of 10mintes since to and fro taking the cab shouldn’t take 10minutes.
“Sir, our door is locked” we all chorused
We looked at each other shocked that we spoke the same thing at the same time without planning it before. He started laughing and said he knows we are lying but we stuck to our gun and added more lies to push our lies through.
“Sir I left it at home, not school,” Dami said
We all turned to him and gave him the “Respect” look. We couldn’t hold it again, we started laughing. Our lies got us into trouble that day and we were asked to write the 3000 words essay right there in his office which was uncomfortable and tough since he was watching us.
Conclusion
I can go on and on with different stories of how I have to lie more to cover the previous lie told and I must say it’s not a good experience at all. Once you give the first lie, it’s very hard to go back. The best chance at redemption is immediately when you say the lie. Retrace your step immediately, and speak the truth. Sometimes it hurts, but in the long run, you’d be glad you did.
Lying makes you lose your credibility. Personally, once you lie to me once or I get to know about a lie you told, I will forgive you but to trust you again is a problem. I will doubt and read meanings into things you say. It takes a lot to regain my trust back.
By the way, Is adding more spice to a narrative lying? I need to know or is it a white lie?
Thanks for reading! 🤗💚🤗
This is my entry for the Prompt "Lies" organised by @CoquiCoin for the "Promptly Jonica community " in the absence of Ma'am jonica. Feel free to join guys, and please adhere to the rules, submit your entry to the Community.
I learnt not to lie the hard way, my father would beat me so hard, and after the beatings he would always tell me I am not bearing you for what you have done but for lying . 😅 . It took a while to actually believe and understand what he was saying because I kept lying 🤥😅.After gaining understanding I stopped lying officially 😶