What To Do With The Truth
After break, Pim went to talk to Anya. Quietly. Just the two of them, by the bookshelf.
"Anya," he said. "I think you have something that isn't yours."
Anya went very pink.
"Just a pencil," she said.
"More than a pencil. The sharpener. The stickers. They were Lila's."
Anya did not say anything. Then she said, very quiet, "I didn't mean to. The first time. I just — saw the sharpener. I'd lost mine. I thought I'd give it back. Then I didn't. Then it was easier to take more things. I'm sorry."
Pim nodded.
"I think you should give them back. To Lila. By yourself. And tell her you're sorry."
"Will you tell the teacher?"
Pim thought about it.
"No," he said. "Not if you fix it. But you have to actually fix it. Not just say sorry. Give it all back. And then don't take anything again."
Anya nodded.
That afternoon, Anya gave Lila a small pile: the sharpener, three pencils, the stickers, and the new green-dotted pencil. She apologised. Lila was quiet for a long while. Then she said, "Okay. But please don't again."
Anya promised.
Pim wrote in his notebook:
*Case 9: SOLVED.*
*Cause: small things turning into bigger things, because the first time was easy.*
*Lesson: when you find the answer, think about what to do with it. Sometimes the truth needs handling gently.*
He closed the notebook. The lock on Lila's pencil case stayed where it was, but she didn't bother to use it