Consequence

Note: This story is entirely fictional. It is not based on the author of this story, and it is not intended to be based on any other's experiences. If it seems so, then it is purely coincidental.


Have you ever lied just to make something seem appealing? This could be described as “propaganda”, but what if you created a lie seemingly for your own benefit? I've done it once.

It all started when I, Erika Vang, was in tenth grade. I’ve always had a great interest in writing and journalism. I actually divided my binder into two sections: one for school, and one for free writing. I can’t say I’m ashamed that my “writing” section was much more cluttered than my “school” section. When I found out that my school had a Newspaper Club, my reaction was something that occurred once in a blue moon.

The Newspaper Club is just what it sounds like: it’s a club that creates the school newspaper. The room that the club used looked just like a room professionals would use. It was filled with computers, printers, and drawing materials. There was a whiteboard to draw out plans for our jobs. All the necessities were there.

Each student in the club had an assigned role. My best friend, June, was the person typing the stories for the newspapers, a senior, Zack, was the leader of the club, a few others worked on piecing the newspaper together, and I was the reporter of the club. Everyone worked well, and we were successful in the first semester of school.

However, there was a time when we ran short of “newsworthy material”. I had a really difficult time finding at least one story for the papers, if at all. The school noticed how “poor” our newspapers’ entertainment were, compared to our successful stories. One day, we found a note by the principal stating: “One more failed newspaper, and the club is over.” I felt like the tension increased on me tenfold.

On the day after we found the note, Zack approached me while I was searching for “newsworthy material” throughout the school.

He said to me, “Hey, Erika. I have an idea on what you can report on.”

My excitement and curiosity rose at light speed.

I responded, “Really?! You found a story?! Tell me, please!”

Zack then said, “It’s about June.”

“Huh?” I replied, less excited.

“Do you think she received her perfect GPA legitimately?” he asked.

“Y-Yeah, of course. She’s my best friend, so I would know.”

Zack explained, “Erika, think about it: June spends all of her free time on music, the club, and helping out her family. She doesn’t seem to have time to study or do homework. In fact, I’ve seen her exchanging papers with another student just earlier. I suspect she may be cheating her way to success.”

I needed to question what Zack was claiming. He had to be lying.

I asked him, “D-Do you have any proof that she is cheating? I know June would never resort to cheating, even if she falls really far behind in class.”

“I don’t have any evidence,” Zack answered.

“Then your story must not be true!” I exclaimed.

“Even if it isn’t, that’s still a great story, huh? One that could save the club,” he commented cunningly.

Those words hit me like a truck. I was incredibly torn apart on what to do. Was I going to lie to keep the Newspaper Club going?

Zack attempted to comfort me by saying, “Look at it this way, Erika: you’re not lying; you’re just using a little ‘imagination’ to save what you love.”

The next thing I knew, I was scribbling on a piece of paper about the “story”. Luckily, June wasn’t present that day, so a substitute typed up the story. I felt a bit of guilt, yet a bit of relief.

Two days later, the story was published. The feedback I received was very positive. It had become unexpectedly popular. I felt a bit relieved, yet still doubtful.

“Is it okay to write up a ‘story’ like that?” I thought that day.

The day after the story was published, I was in the library during lunchtime to work on writing up another “story” for the papers. I had noticed

June sitting at a deserted table with her head down. I decided to go over and talk to her.

I greeted, “Hey, June. How are you doing?”

She sniffled, not facing me at all. “I’m doing horrible!”

“H-Huh? Why?” I asked.

June kept her head down. “I was kicked out of Leadership! All because of some stupid newspaper story! I would never cheat! Everyone knows that! Or at least, they used to...”

June lifted her head up to look at me. The sight of her face stunned me. Tears leaked from her eyes like from a faucet. She was a mess.

“Did you write that lie, Erika?” she asked.

“U-Uh, n-not exactly,” I shakily answered.

June responded in a fit of anger, “Thanks for ruining my life, best friend!”

She put her head back down and continued to sob.

My heart sank like the Titanic. I never would have thought my “imaginative” story would have an effect this significant. What was I going to do? Write more hurtful lies to keep the club going? Or something else…?

Later that day, I entered the club’s room in a depressed manner, and I was welcomed by a round of applause. I couldn’t accept it. I simply walked up to Zack, handed him a piece of paper with writing on it, and left the room. The Newspaper Club was going to end, and I wouldn’t be a part of it when it inevitably did. After all, nobody else could report as well as I did.

I want to become a great journalist, someday, and I now strongly believe that a great journalist should not have to resort to lying to write up a good news story. June did forgive me after I managed to fix her problems, but it doesn’t change the fact that her problems all started because of my terrible lie. A lie can have painful and tragic consequences, so I vowed to never lie again.