The white lie

The white lie
By Jessica Williams

Mrs Lewis goes out in the evening, alone. Her family ask her where she’s going, so she tells them a white lie.
She tells them that she is attending a meeting concerning her work. Mrs Susan Lewis is a social worker.
Mrs Lewis repeats this lie later on in the week. Mr Lewis becomes suspicious, as she has a lot of make-up on. He says that he would be interested in seeing something written about the meetings.
Mrs Lewis brings back something written. Mr Martin Lewis seems content with that.
The kids are on their half-term break. Samantha Lewis, the eldest, brings down a sociology book that she’s borrowed from the school library, to the kitchen before lunchtime. The other kids are playing in the back garden. They are seen from the kitchen window. Samantha opens the book and tells her mother that these are the pages she photocopied to show Mr Lewis. Samantha then blackmails her mother. She demands £5 for not snitching. Susan says “Oh, tell him. I’m not bothered. I’m having an affair with a teacher.”
The matter in question is brought up at Sunday lunch by Susan. Martin is lost for words. He tells the kids, Samantha, Benjamin and Nicola, to go to their rooms, as he wishes to have a private discussion with their mother. Later on, Benjamin needs the bathroom. He hears glass smash. He eavesdrops outside the kitchen door. There is a shouting match going on and Susan is sobbing. Benjamin waits for the scene to calm down. He enters the kitchen to see a smashed Marmite jar on the floor. The sherry decanter from the drinks cabinet is on the table and Martin is drunk. Susan has stopped sobbing and Martin is now laughing. The three of them sit around till about 9.30pm. They then go to bed.
The shouting match resumes the following day, at dinner. The kids are sent to their rooms again. Susan tells Martin she wants a divorce.

The End