a-the+honest+to+goodness+truth

=__**The Honest to Goodness Truth**__=

=**__Summary:__**=
 * When young Libby is caught in a lie, she feels better admitting the truth, even though she's punished double. It is the first time she has lied to Mama, and as far as she is concerned, it would be the last. "From now on, only the truth," she decides. **


 * But in her commendable attempts to tell "only the truth," she is tactless and cold; as the girls at church admire Ruthie Mae's dress, for example, Libby points out that there's a hole in Ruthie Mae's sock. Before the end of the day she's told the truth about many of her friends: she tattles to the teacher that Willie didn't do his homework, reminds the class how Daisy had forgotten her lines at the Christmas play, and lets everyone know that Thomas doesn't have lunch money and must borrow from Miz Jackson. **


 * Poor Libby can’t understand why her friends are all upset with her. Then Mama explains “Sometimes the truth is told at the wrong time or in the wrong way, and for the wrong reasons. And that can be hurtful. But the honest-to-goodness truth is never wrong.” **


 * As Libby feeds and waters her horse, she struggles with the meaning of Mama’s words. Just then Virginia Washington sashays out of the fields and remarks, “That horse is older than black pepper… I doubt you could get a dollar for that old flea-ridden swayback.” Stung by Virginia’s words, Libby finally realizes the wisdom of Mama’s words. The remainder of the book sees Libby making it up to her friends through both words and actions. **



=**__To Do:__**=