The Truth Shall Make You Cry

Last night I experienced an interesting "event" with Hannah. It wasn't meant to be a big deal, but for various reasons, it became the source of many tears. Hard tears. The kind of tears that typically accompany terror or absolute grief. And while they did make me feel some sympathy for her, I also had to hold back a smile...

The background:
Hannah brought home some chocolate hearts from daycare. I told her she could have one for dessert. She opened the wrapper anyway "just so she could see it". I reminded her she was not to eat it until after dinner. I was very clear.

The middle:
While I was cooking dinner, I looked over to see Hannah licking her chocolate heart. Upon seeing me seeing her, she put it down and said something to the effect of: "I know. I'm not eating it. I just had to taste a little piece of it."

I continued cooking. Eventually, it was time to set the table. I asked Hannah to help, and in doing so, happened to glance at the table and noticed the chocolate heart was gone. I said, "What happened to your chocolate?"

Hannah replied, "I ate - I don't know. Where did it go?" But her eyes were already filling with tears.

"Did you eat it?" I asked.

"No!" More tears welling up.

"Are you being honest with me?" I pressed. "If I looked in your tummy, would I see the chocolate heart?" (And this is where things really got messy.)

The tears spilled over. Her little mouth was quivering as she fought for control. "I don't want you to look in my tummy. Leave me alone!"

The end:
Eventually, with some more probing from my end, Hannah resolved that it must have been one of the cats who ate her chocolate. She stuck to her story. Deny, deny, deny. But those tears! And when I suggested I look in one of the cat's tummies, she cried even harder.

I was trying to be light-hearted about the whole thing, but at the same time, I wanted her to be truthful. And I still don't fully understand what all the crying was about. Was it because she knew she was guilty and she felt that awful about it? Was it because she was terrified of me "looking into her tummy"? Was it because not only had she done something wrong, but then she was caught lying about it that her conscience was just overwhelmed?

I'll never really know. But it's not often I see her that distraught. The disturbing part is, she never did cave. She maintained her innocence throughout, even while her face gave her away.

P.S. A day later, she continues to insist one of the cats must have done it.