Sshhh

No one had the guts to tell the children that their life could be a misery.
No, “it’s pizza and cake and fun all the way and you’ll enjoy every mouthful I tell you.”
Got to protect the kids. Why do they need to know? Truth is overrated. Can you imagine if we all went about our lives spouting it?
“Oh Mary, what are you wearing today, you look absolutely dreadful”, or “We don't like your new fiancee, son.”
I guess we just continue the charade learnt from young, unable to rock the boat when the boat could be already sinking.

Relationships need to be nurtured and built, therefore the best policy is dishonesty.
“I won’t have bad dreams tonight will I Mum?”
“Well yes actually. You’ll dream of monsters and ghouls just like in that film you didn’t want to watch.”
Not worth the sleepless night.
“No of course you won’t. Sweet dreams!”

Happy ending stories, we all want a story with a happy ending.
“There was this boy who grew up to be a father, then a grandfather, and then he died.”
It’s hard to dress up death in a ball gown and glass slippers isn’t it.
“What happens after we die, Mummy?”
“Ah, I’ve been waiting for that question. We go to heaven of course, and there we live a joyous existence without any pain or worry. We also get to see people we know that have died before and have a good chat with them about anything we want.”
Or alternatively.
“Well, do you remember anything about before you were born?
“No?”
“Well that’s what happens when you die – absolutely nothing.”

The safety net of heaven. Why didn’t I think of that? But if you’re naughty and cruel you’ll go to hell. Ah, I can see what you’re doing here you crafty so and so…

Ask no questions, tell no…

“You have got you’re life ahead of you, you unfortunate toad.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if you have a bad start, get into drugs, lose your child and wife and then your house, it can get tough.”
“But that won’t happen to me, will it?”
“Nah. But North Korea could just start WW3 with a nuclear strike on the USA.”
“What?”

Would more of the truth help? We just want a peaceful life with as much happiness, health and fulfilment as possible. And natural painkillers come in half-truths, a bit like alcohol and cocaine. For some reality we’d rather sweeten away the bitterness, sprinkle it all with fairy dust, just in time for Father Christmas’ arrival. And that’s a whole other story.

Truth is if it wasn’t for today’s rain blocking my sun, this piece of writing might just have been a poem about wild flowers swaying in the meadows.

Ah, maybe next week...