The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The first paragraph in Huckleberry Finn basically tells us that everybody lies. Although that is a somewhat depressing idea, I've been exploring the concept with 11th grade students and you would be amazed at some of their ideas. We've discussed what constitutes a lie, if there is such a thing as a "white" lie and if anyone is ever totally truthful.

Of course then I begin thinking about the weight on my driver's license and question if I have a moral obligation to change it. I also think about those awkward questions like, "Who do you like best?" or "How do you like my new outfit?" But I also wonder if I put anyone in a position where they have to lie to avoid hurting my feelings. I especially think about this around Christmas time when I am making gifts for people I work with, family members and girlfriends.

Truthfully, however, I can't imagine them not liking what I make. I like the items I'm creating and giving them or I wouldn't have made them in the first place. In the midst of all this creating and giving there is always one person I can count on to tell me the truth (or not say anything which is in itself telling) and that is Jocelyn. But I try to not give her too much of a hard time because there is a long list of knitted items she does like and I'm not going to hold it against her even if she didn't like the spiral scarf I was working on!

For now, however, I will continue discussing Huckleberry Finn with my students while knitting Christmas washcloths. They make great gifts, the students are enthralled and mesmerized by the movement and I don't have to look at my needles while I knit them.