Within

James watched as the young boy plopped his tiny, round body on the soft, green grass. A smile crept onto his face as the fair skinned, blonde haired, blue-eyed five year old began to bounce up and down on his bottom like any other kid high on sugar would. Maybe he shouldn’t have bought him ice cream today. His brown “paperboy” hat, plaid shirt, and brown trousers made him all the more adorable and James couldn’t help but to let out a small chuckle. This kid was growing on him.

The little boy turned his head to James with a large grin on his face as he patted the area of grass beside him. Even his cerulean blue eyes were smiling, laughing almost. James sat down beside him, his own blue eyes smiling as well. He hoped that he could always smile like this.

“James,” said the young boy, “Why do people lie?”

Taken aback, James eyes began to look at the little boy with wonder. Why was such a wise question coming out of a five year old’s mouth? The little boy’s face read no emotion as his eyes stared blankly to the couple in front of them.

“Why do you ask such a question?”
“Because, everybody lies to me. Always. I am little, but I still know. I know what they say. I know what they mean. I don’t like it. Why do they lie to me? Why do mom and dad lie to me?” He asked in a tone full of a child’s innate curiosity and innocent rage.

James was stuck. He too began to stare at the couple in front of them. The woman had light, chestnut brown hair and blue eyes with skin so fair, the slightest ray of sun would turn it red. Her large sun-hat shadowed her face and she wore a long yellow dress with a white cotton shirt. A laugh escaped from her pink mouth and James couldn’t help, but to think how beautiful she looked. The man wore a white short-sleeved button up shirt with khaki shorts. He had blonde hair with blue eyes that were hidden behind a pair of sporty sunglasses. They looked good together.

“I don’t know why people lie.” James answered with genuine honesty.
The little boy kept his gaze on the couple.
“I think people lie because they are scared. They are scared of the real answer. The...”

James looked at the boy who couldn’t seem to find the right word as his eyebrows began to gather towards the center. But he knew what it was, and he was right.

“Truth.” James said, finishing it for him. “We are scared of the truth.”

The little boy returned his attention back to James with a smile and a nod. “But I am not. I am not scared. I don’t want the lie. I want the...” he paused for a second to recall the word, “...truth.”

James looked at the little boy whose eyes were wide with innocence that wanted so badly to be believed.

“Can you tell me the truth?” he asked.

James looked back over to the couple. The woman was now waving her arms in the air as she screamed “Nolan!” in a voice that sounded so sweet to his ears. Returning his gaze, he stared into Nolan’s cerulean blue eyes that looked at him with hope. They reminded him of his own blue eyes when he was a child.

“Yes.” he replied, but how could he? Especially when that was a lie within itself.