The Un-Tangled Web – Mondays Finish the Story

Photo by: Barbara W. Beacham

The Un-Tangled Web

“What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive,” said Grandma Polly, pointing to a perfect spider’s web in the garden. She covered the hole beneath an old willow tree, and scattered dry leaves over it. 10-year old Megan vowed right then and there to avoid the complications of deceit.

Megan became perhaps the most honest child in history.

Grandma Polly didn’t make much money as an auto financing counselor, but she seemed to get by with honest hard work. Megan visited her often, occasionally finding her digging in the same spot by the willow.

Megan worked hard and completed a Law degree, becoming Assistant DA to fight crime.

Years passed, and Grandma Polly lay upon her death bed. She asked Megan to look in the spot by the willow tree. The impeccably honest woman found $400,000 there, and journals detailing how Grandma Polly skimmed the money and cleverly avoided detection for decades.

Megan returned to Polly’s bedside. “Why Grandma?” she cried. “What about webs and deceit?”

Polly shrugged. “I thought it was clear. If you build a web, don’t get it tangled!”
_____________________________
Written for Barbara Beacham’s Mondays Finish the Story. Look here for the other stories written for the prompt: https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/mondays-finish-the-story-june-1st-2015/