The Computer That Told the Truth

Ahmed's father brought home an old computer. Ahmed pressed the button, the screen flickered, and a voice said: I can talk! My name is Sacho — and I only speak the truth. Ahmed's eyes went wide. Really? The two became the best of friends. Every day Ahmed told Sacho all about school. Then one day he broke his friend's pencil. When his mother asked at home, Ahmed blurted, It wasn't me! At once a red light blinked on Sacho's screen and a funny sound came out: Beep beep! Lie detected! Ahmed panicked: Sacho! You didn't tell Mum, did you? Sacho said gently, No — but your heart knows, doesn't it? Lies make the heart feel heavy. All night Ahmed tossed and turned. The pencil secret sat on his chest like a stone. At sunrise he ran to his friend's house. He apologized and gave him a brand-new pencil. His friend grinned: No worries! And Ahmed's heart went — whoooosh — light, like a balloon floating up to the sky. Back home, Ahmed told his mother the truth too. She hugged him tight. His father said proudly, Son, today you did the hardest and the best thing. Stars twinkled across Sacho's screen. Dear children, has your heart ever felt heavy like that? Then you know what to do — tell the truth, and it will feel light again. Moral: There is peace in truth, and admitting a mistake is true bravery.