While playing in the shop, Kynthos accidentally knocked over a clay jar. It broke into pieces on the hard floor.
Scared, Kynthos didn't tell Grandfather. Instead, he quickly swept the broken pieces under a heavy bench, hoping to glue them back together before anyone noticed.
For the next two days, Kynthos felt nervous. He avoided looking at Grandfather and stayed out of the shop. He tried hard to keep his secret hidden.
On the third day, Grandfather called Kynthos into the shop. The broken pieces were sitting neatly on the table.
Kynthos started saying sorry right away. "I'm so sorry! It was an accident, I didn't mean to break it!" he said.
Grandfather looked at him calmly.
"The broken jar is just a mistake, Kynthos. Accidents happen,"
Grandfather said.
"But hiding it... that builds a wall between us. The hiding is always worse than what you broke."
"The foundation of any relationship is trust,"
Grandfather explained, as Steve listened quietly nearby.
"A mistake told right away is just one problem. But a secret breaks down trust. Secrets stop us from being open and honest with the people we love."
As they glued the jar back together, Kynthos felt a heavy weight lift off his chest. He realized that being honest, even when he made a mistake, felt much better than being scared and hiding.
