Dear Pat my name is Vicky. To honor your birthday I will be doing a Showering Acts of Joy Member to Member Review on Perfect Honesty.

I loved this piece of writing. As number one in a string of six you grabbed my attention. In very few words you captured the politics of a large family and the often disappointing jostle for parental approval.

I come to understand the child in this story and to empathize with her as she goes from pride at being given this “grown-up” assignment to her despair at not being able to complete it perfectly. You illustrate perfectly the war that is waged between a ten year old's morality – being perfectly honest- and wanting her parents approval. The saddest part was there wasn’t much recognition for her accomplishment, only a subtle criticism. This is ironic because the little liar might as well have just told the truth. You make her frustration at never being perfect enough to gain the praise she needs so real that I feel her pain.

You describe the little criminals guilt very well. Her desperate attempt to get rid of the evidence and her sweet guilty conscience had me rooting for her all the way. It was nice to see that this incident had such a big impact, a lot of children would have forgotten about it as soon as the lie had been told. You bring little pat to vivid life and you gave me an opportunity to get to know her.

The writing flows, it is wonderfully easy to read and from the first sentence it sweeps the reader up and carries her along. There is a wonderfully intimate feel to this story, like an old friend sharing a memory that can be laughed over so many years later.

I know that in a review I am supposed to give you tips on how to improve your writing. I am afraid that I really could not find fault. So sorry about that.

Thank you very much for posting this piece and giving me the opportunity to enjoy it. It was wonderfully entertaining.

Have a truly blessed birthday and please keep writing!!!!!!

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