The ways of this world are curious.

————

Perfidy lied to Ploughboy. She told him he was handsome. She said he was the best tiller in all of Foggyshire. She said her heart beat faster whenever he was with her. Ploughboy flushed with joy at her words. He walked away enchanted by her sweet praise.

Tomorrow he would come again to ask for her hand.

Next day as he crested the hill to her home he saw Perfidy with Hightower in the garden. They were kissing. Ploughboy’s heart fell to his feet. How could this be? How could Perfidy say such loving words yesterday and be kissing Hightower today? “I said what you wanted to hear”. “You didn’t mean it”? “It made you happy”.

Hightower interjects, “I‘m afraid you’re confused Ploughboy, Perfidy is betrothed to me”.

Ploughboy was confused. He didn’t know about lying. If explained to him, he wouldn’t understand. Perfidy couldn’t understand the harm in telling people what they wanted to hear.

Hightower didn’t care either way. He was a man of attainment, “You do what you need to do, a sword here, a lie there - as needed”. He chose Perfidy for his wife as the perfect accessory to his ambition. He didn’t object to lies, so long as they were useful.

Ploughboy took his confusion to Father Benevolence. “The ways of this world are curious. Honest folks can’t understand dishonesty. Dishonest folks can’t understand anything else. Dishonest folks are entrapped by their lack of understanding. Honest folks are befuddled by their lack of understanding. No more so in Foggyshire than in any other shire” “I can’t help you with Perfidy or Hightower. You are a good simple man Ploughboy. That’s a blessing not given to many. Simple goodness is never wrong”.

Hightower fell into scheming with his henchman Avarice. They found ways to empty pockets that went unnoticed for a long time. When cries of theft were finally sounded, Perfidy said her husband Hightower and his friend Avarice were being falsely accused by enemies jealous of their great public works.

Sheriff Retribution thought otherwise.

Hightower fell to the sword of Retribution. Avarice escaped to scheme in some other shire. The widow Perfidy was sent to a Nunnery where she took vows and the name Penitence.

The Sisters smiled patiently at the white-lies she thought were compliments.

Ploughboy found true love with the sagacious maiden Prudence. Ploughboy was much comforted by her honesty and wise counsel. They married and lived happily ever after. Father Benevolence presided at their wedding.

The End.

Coda: The Friends of John Bunyan Society have caught me out. They have demanded

I immediately cease and desist my appropriation of the great man’s signature style.

Sadly, that means I must abandon my follow-up story featuring Prudence’s cousin,

Analogy, who is often misunderstood because she speaks only in parables and aphorisms.

By  K. L. Shipley

Website: https://www.eclecticessays.com