Grandparents Day

Lisa wanted to be just like her grandmother when she grew up. Grandma was special because her fingers worked like magic. Within minutes, she could use her silver knitting needles to knit anything Lisa asked. In the winters, Lisa would wear the sweaters, socks and scarves knitted by Grandma to protect herself from the cold. She loved to see Grandma’s hands move like lightning as she created beautiful pieces of clothing from simple thread. Lisa always wondered if touching the knitting needles would give her hands magical powers too. Grandma had been using the same needles since she was a young girl. They had been a gift from her father. She always placed them on the top shelf, where no one could reach them.

Grandparents Day

One morning, Lisa woke up late for school. She forgot that it was Grandparents Day. Her teacher had asked every student to bring one item from home that described their grandmother or grandfather.

Lisa stood on a chair and grabbed Grandma’s knitting needles. She knew her best friend would not mind if she took them to school. She was excited to show everyone in class the secret behind Grandma’s magic. When Lisa got home from school, she was excited to tell Grandma all about her day. The students loved her story about her grandmother’s knitting. She opened her bag to take out.

Grandma’s needles. To her horror, they were not there. She misplaced her grandmother’s most important possession! Lisa was too scared to imagine how disappointed Grandma would be.

Grandparents Day

Did somebody in class steal them? Did she forget them somewhere? Lisa could not help crying. Lisa hesitantly walked into Grandma’s room. “Lisa, I’m so glad you’re home. I can’t find my silver knitting needles anywhere. I was planning to make you a special dress today! Do you know where they are?” Grandma asked with concern. Without thinking, Lisa said, “I saw Max taking them outside to play”.

 Lisa could not believe she had just wrongly accused her six-year-old brother. She had to choose between a painful truth and an easy lie, and she had chosen to lie! She saw Grandma go to Max and scold him for his behavior.

The little boy was confused. No matter what he said, Grandma would not listen. She was sure it was his fault, since Lisa said so. Lisa felt extremely guilty for putting her younger brother into trouble. She knew telling a lie was wrong and she should confess, but she could not do so.

Grandparents Day

Early the next morning, the bell rang before it was time for Lisa to catch the bus. When Grandma opened the door, she was surprised to see the bus driver standing there, holding nothing else but her silver knitting needles.

The driver said Lisa had forgotten them on her seat yesterday, and he had come to return them. Grandma finally understood what had really happened.

Holding the needles in her hand, Grandma went up to Lisa. When Lisa realized that her lie had been caught, her head dropped down in shame.

 Lisa admitted that she had taken the needles to school without Grandma’s permission. When she saw they were no longer in her bag, she did whatever she could to save herself from Grandma’s anger. She was very sorry for wrongly blaming Max in the matter and had learned a lesson.

Grandma was a kind and forgiving woman. She hugged Lisa and said, “Lisa, what matters is that at least you have learned a lesson. It is always better to tell the truth, no matter how difficult it is. Needles can always be replaced, but I have only one grand daughter, who matters more to me than anything in the world”. From that day onwards, Lisa realized the importance of truthfulness, and the two best friends became closer than ever.