That time of year

Bernard hated lying. Especially to those most important to him. Not that it stopped him from doing so. He had just managed to convince his family that there was a craft fair in the local park, and that he couldn’t make it as he was too tired. However he neglected to tell them that the craft fair was not actually on until the following day. Despite the guilt that now overcame him, Bernard knew that this had to be done.

He waited for his family to leave the house, so that he was all alone. He didn’t get much time alone these days, so he had to make the most of it. As soon as the door slammed shut, Bernard began rifling frantically through coats, and pockets. He had been planning this for weeks, yet when confronted with the reality of this situation, he realised that he had to be spontaneous in his actions. A diary lay open nearby. He knew he shouldn’t but he opened it up, searching for any possible clues. Bernard made a point of listening to each and every sound around him, just in case his family returned early.

Once he was satisfied that he had seen enough, Bernard sneaked out the house, looking around to see if his family could be seen returning home early from the non-existent craft fair. Bernard decided to take a different route into town, down some side roads where he was confident that he wouldn’t be seen by anyone he knew.

After half an hour of no success in the high street, he sighed. His lies had been for nothing. Time was now running out for him. He knew that his family would now have discovered that the craft fair was not on today so Bernard had to make up a fresh lie in order to gain more time to carry out his mission. He decided to call his family up and pretend that he needed to go out to get some tablets for his made up ‘tiredness’.

Once he hung up, Bernard searched deeper within the High Street, desperate to carry out what needed to be done. Finally, he found what he was looking for, and hurried home, whilst desperately trying to think of ways to conceal his new purchase from his family. As he nervously entered through the front door, he tried to evade questions regarding his whereabouts, whilst hiding his purchase under his coat. He didn’t want to further get himself caught up in anymore lies.  

Bernard hastily ran to his bedroom and left his purchase, a new jumper for his sister inside the wardrobe, ready to be given on Christmas day. Bernard sighed as his anxiety disappeared temporarily. He still had to buy gifts for the rest of his relatives and friends, so he had to think of many more lies over the next few days in order to keep them as a surprise.