Honesty

Well, Let me tell you how honesty was driven home to me. When I was around 7 or 8 I would guess, I walked down to the 7-11 with a nickle to get some candy. I was having a difficult time deciding what candy I wanted and I guess that the clerk figured he could get some other work done while I was making up my mind.
The candy rack was parallel to the cold case where the eggs, milk and soft drinks were kept. Hind site now reminds me that I wasn't the sharpest crayon in the box. The case doors were glass and while he was back stocking the shelves I proceeded to lift my dress and put a candy bar in my panties. (obviously in full view of the clerk). I then chose another candybar and went to the counter to pay. The clerk came back and punched in the cost for the candy bar on the counter and then asked me if i wanted anything else. I told him no. He again asked if I was sure that there wasn't something else. I looked at him and he looked at me. I shook my head and then he said that he thought that I should pay for the other candy bar under my dress. By this time I was shaking and almost in tears. I lifted my dress and put the other candy bar on the counter and explained that I did not have enough money for both. He then took out a piece of paper and a pencil and asked me to give him my address and telephone no. Because I had never tried this before it never occured to me that I could have simply lied and been scot free. Anyway, I gave him the information. He said that he would be contacting my parents either that night or the next day. I paid for the one candy bar and slowly walked home.... I thought that that candy would taste good... but it sure didn't. I was so worried about what would happen when mom and dad found out that I had tried to steal something.
Well, that night the man from the store did not come, the next day I waited and waited... but still he didn't come. Talk about being misserable....Then, Two, Three, Four days passed. I was starting to feel relieved and I was thinking that he wasn't going to come and that I wasn't going to get into trouble after all.
I was outside playing when, down the driveway, came a stationwagon that I did not recognize. I don't think that that image will ever leave my mind. It was light green. It pulled around the tree and parked and the man from the 7-11 got out. My heart sunk and I started to shake. He knocked on the door and soon I heard "Susan", (my-your in trouble name). I came, and I will never forget the look in Dad's eyes. I don't remember if other disciplinary measures were taken. I dont' even remember if anything was said. But I will never forget the look in Dad's eyes. I knew that not only had I dissapointed him by trying to shoplift. I had hurt his pride. Dad took great pride in his children and the values that he stood for. And, to make matters worse, I had withheld the information for days in hopes of not getting caught. Neither behavior was acceptable - I knew it and he knew that I knew it.