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“Sam.”
Dad’s voice jolts me from uneasy slumbers. I know by the tone in his voice that something’s wrong. I drag my hair back from my face.
“Yes, Dad.”
“Can you get up and come downstairs? We need to discuss something.”
How could he have found out so quickly? I only got home at 2am and parked the car carefully in the garage, just as it should be. Had he gone out for an early morning drive?
“Samantha.”
“Coming, Dad.”
I pull on wrinkled track pants and a sweat shirt. It’s only 10 in the morning and far too early to be up. The mirror reveals smudgy racoon eyes and a giant zit so I stop in the bathroom to do a few repairs.
“Samantha!”
“On my way, Dad.”
I don’t know what I’m going to tell him. From a tiny tot, he always taught me that truth reigned supreme. I remember him sitting at the kitchen table and reading from the Bible - that verse about the truth shall set you free. I must admit that it made sense to me and I’ve always tried to be honest. I slipped up when I smashed Mom’s best vase and stole $5 from Dad’s wallet. I denied doing it but parents have a way of knowing these things. That was years ago, however, and these days, they know they can trust me.
“Samantha-Jane Ellis!”
The truth shall set you free. The words stick in my mind
“Come and sit, Samantha.” Dad and Mom are side by side on the couch, their faces pinched with distress.
“It’s not Matt is it?” My thoughts rush to my elder brother.
“No, no. Come and sit down.”
My thoughts go back to the car. It was dumb to loan it to Marie. I know that, but she only wanted to fetch some more drinks for the party. The fact that she dented the front fender makes it a million times worse.
The truth shall set you free.
“Is there anything you’d like to tell us about the car, Samantha?”
So I’m right. It is the car. My mind races as I try and decide what to do. I betrayed their trust by loaning it to a friend, but do I need to drag her into it? Sure she dinged it, but she was drunk and her parents will kill her if they find out. She doesn’t even know what she hit.
The truth shall set you free.
“I had a slight accident.” I reply, my conscience churning within.
Dad nods his head slowly. I can’t understand why they are so serious about this. It’s just a little run-about and already has scars from teenage driving.
“Tell me what happened.”
I try and think what could have made the indentation. A fence post, a letterbox, a tree? “I think I caught a trash-can as I turned a corner.” I say.
The truth shall set you free.
Dad breathes out, a long heavy sigh that carries a world of emotion. My concern grows and I feel bad for lying to him.
“Are you sure that’s what happened, Sam? You always tell me the truth don’t you?”
Do I dare tell him that I’ve just told a blatant lie? My courage fails and I nod my head. “That’s exactly what happened, Dad.”
Mom chokes back a sob as Dad stands to his feet.
The truth shall set you free.
The words hammer through my mind but I push them aside. I’m helping my friend aren’t I? I’m in trouble either way. If I defend her by taking the blame for what she did, isn’t that partial restitution?
Dad crosses the room and looks me in the eye. “I’m sorry, Sam.” He pulls open the door to the kitchen and two policemen step into the living room. “My daughter has confirmed she was driving.” he tells them. “But she thought she hit a trash-can.”
A knowing look passes between the two officers.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to come down to the station with us, Miss.”
“What for? What have I done?”
“We have your car on an ATM’s surveillance tape. The trash-can you hit is a teenage girl. She’s fighting for her life in ICU.”
My heart freezes as a whisper brushes my soul.
The truth shall set you free.
*****
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 NIV
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