Story about fear: When hiding your mistake gets you more problems

Once upon a time, Sammy and his sister Marie visited their grandparents’ farm for the summer. The farm was full of wonderful things to explore like the wide fields, a sparkling pond, and a dense forest that stretched far beyond the house. Sammy, always eager for adventure, found an old slingshot lying near the barn and decided to practice with it in the woods. He spent hours aiming at trees and rocks, but no matter how hard he tried, he could never quite hit his target. Feeling frustrated, he decided to head back to the house for lunch. On his way, he spotted Grandma’s pet duck waddling near the woodpile. Without thinking, purely out of impulse, he pulled back the slingshot and let a small stone fly. To his horror, the stone hit the duck square on the head. The duck staggered for a moment before collapsing. Sammy froze. His heart pounded as he realized what he had done. He hadn’t meant to hurt the duck, he had only been playing! Panic set in, and not knowing what else to do, he quickly scooped up the duck and hid it under a pile of wood. He turned back towards the house, trying to act as if nothing had happened.

As he walked up the porch steps, he noticed Marie standing by the window. She had seen everything but said nothing. Sammy hoped she would keep quiet, but deep down, he felt uneasy. After lunch, Grandma turned to Marie with a warm smile and asked, “Marie, will you help me wash the dishes?” Before Marie could respond, she glanced at Sammy and smirked. “Actually, Grandma, Sammy told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today.” Sammy was about to protest when Marie leaned in and whispered, “Remember the duck?” His stomach sank. He realized she was holding the secret over his head. Afraid that she might tell their grandparents, he reluctantly picked up a dish and started washing. Later that afternoon, Grandpa announced that he was going fishing and asked if the children wanted to join him. Excited, Sammy and Marie both jumped up, eager to go. But Grandma interrupted, saying, “I’m sorry, but I need Marie to help me prepare supper.” Before Sammy could celebrate, Marie smiled sweetly and said, “That’s all right, Grandma. Sammy told me he really wanted to help you instead.” Then she leaned toward Sammy and whispered again, “Remember the duck?” Sammy sighed in defeat. While Marie went fishing with Grandpa, he stayed behind, peeling potatoes and stirring soup.

This went on for days. Every time there was an unpleasant chore, Marie would find a way to make Sammy do it. Each time, she would remind him of the duck. Sammy felt trapped, guilty, and exhausted. He wanted to tell Grandma the truth, but fear kept him silent. Finally, Sammy couldn’t take it anymore. He ran to Grandma, his face flushed with shame, and blurted out, “Grandma, I have to tell you something. I killed your duck! I didn’t mean to, but I hit it with my slingshot, and then I hid it. I’m so sorry!” Grandma knelt down, pulled Sammy into a warm hug, and smiled gently. “Sweetheart, I know,” she said softly. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you the very moment it happened. I was just wondering how long you would let Marie take advantage of you.” Sammy’s eyes widened in surprise. He had been carrying the weight of guilt and fear for so long, but Grandma had already forgiven him. He had let Marie control him when all he had to do was confess the truth. That day, Sammy learned an important lesson. That is honesty and forgiveness are far more powerful than fear and guilt. With a newfound sense of freedom, he ran outside, ready to enjoy the rest of his summer without the burden of the duck hanging over him.