Ta-boo

"But you told me your uncle bought you the Z10 as a gift on your 21st birthday", Amanda cross-examined her friend Tele. "No o, I said it was my uncle's colleagues uncle that dashed me the Z10. He said he didn't like the phone anymore, so he asked if I wanted and I said no then he forced me to take it", denying the allegation blatantly.

Amanda insisted she was told a different story 2weeks ago when the Z10 arrived. In a bid to vindicate herself, she invited me into the discussion to bear her witness. I had another story to tell which was totally unrelated to the previous accounts shared by Amanda and Tele. I could swear on my life that Tele told me she bought the Z10 with her savings as a treat for her 21st birthday.

Amanda and I had one story too many that fateful day; three unrelated accounts on just one issue? Tele was fond of telling tales in variations: her 'yes' was often a 'no' to people and a 'maybe' in her own mind. She told so many divergent stories that she sometimes mixed up the made-up versions with the real one; leaving herself in a dilemma as to how the true story actually went.

 Though beautiful; Tele was a pathological liar, She often lied through her teeth. The confidence with which she told her elaborate lies constantly baffled me beyond reason. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, well-composed and enlightened, it was a shock that she could lie with such panache.

 One way or the other, we always caught her in the act, though her lies were always well researched and could sometimes contain certain elements of truth. We weren't unhappy with her because she lied to us consistently, but because she sought to impress us with her crooked stories. Fact was; we loved her the way she was notwithstanding.

 I know we all have at least one friend who is a known liar in some regard or maybe we are that friend who lies pathologically dusk to dawn; we need to know that lies are:

 •Unnecessary
 •Addictive
 •Morally wrong
 •Irritating

 What then happens to white lies? Tune next week.