Tell the Truth, Ruth! A Cautionary Tale

This is the story of Ruth...

...who told lies and never told the truth.

When Ruth was a baby, she pointed to her sister when her mom asked who threw their peas on the carpet. And everyone said..."Tell the truth, Ruth!"

When Ruth was a toddler, she said, "Mary!" when her dad asked who put toothpaste all over the rug. And everyone said..."Tell the truth, Ruth!"

When Ruth started school, she told the teacher, "It was John," when Mrs. Moore asked who put french fries in the fish tank. And everyone said..."Tell the truth, Ruth!"

Whatever Ruth thought, Ruth said...
...I saw a whale walking down main street!
...Look! A flying saucer! Aliens are coming!
...The sky is falling! The sky is falling! A piece just hit me in the head!

And everyone said, "Tell the truth, Ruth!"

"The truth will save you."

One day, Ruth's class takes a trip to the farm. On the bus Ruth says she sees the Lochness monster driving the car in the far right lane.

At the farm, she points to Danny when she knocks over the chicken feed.

Then, she tells Farmer John that she knows how to operate the hay baler. And everyone says..."Tell the truth, Ruth!"

"The truth will save you."

Ruth even tries to convince Farmer Bill that she is a professional bronco breaker. Everyone screams, "Aghhh!"

"T-tell the t-truth, R-Ruth!"

"It will s-save you!"

But Ruth runs away to the fallow field where Farmer Joe is setting up for the County Fair. There she spots the pig sty and the pig wrestling tent.

"Ah!" thinks Ruth. "I am the greatest pig wrestler on Earth!"

So she climbs the fence into the pig sty...
...where there's NO ONE to say...
"Tell the truth, Ruth! It will save you!"

When it's time to go home, Ruth is nowhere to be seen. Then Leslie gasps and points.

And everyone says..."Tell the truth, Ruth!"

(Imagine a little girl's arm and leg sticking out from under a huge pig who's covered in mud, looking satisfied and munching on a corn cob. Also, picture the Pig Wrestling Winners' List on the wall of the tent, the first place winner's name crossed out and Ruth's name written in its place in childish script.)

But it is too late.