Once upon a time, in a serene country setting, there lived a spirited little boy. Life in the countryside was delightful, except for one thing that the boy absolutely despised – the outhouse. With its scorching heat in the summer, bone-chilling cold in the winter, and an enduring stench, it was a place that the boy dreaded.

With the babbling creek just within sight, the outhouse seemed to mock the boy day after day. He daydreamed about freeing himself from this torment by pushing it into the creek. And so, one fate-changing day, after a refreshing spring rain, the creek surged, silently inviting the little boy to take action.

With determination surging through his heart, the boy grabbed a sturdy stick, eager to seize the opportunity. He braced himself and pushed with all his might, refusing to let his small size deter him. Slowly but surely, the outhouse wavered and finally succumbed, toppling into the creek like a defeated giant. It floated away, carried by the swift current of the water.

As darkness settled that evening and the family gathered for supper, the boy’s father made an unexpected announcement – they would be heading to the woodshed afterward. Fear gripped the boy’s heart, knowing all too well what awaited him there. However, curiosity overcame his anxiety, and he bravely asked his father why they needed to go to the woodshed.

In a stern yet compassionate tone, his father responded, “Son, today someone pushed the outhouse into the creek. Was it you?” The boy hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding, before summoning the courage to admit his actions. With a nod, he confirmed that it was indeed him.

Then, a glimmer of hope flickered in the boy’s eyes as he recalled a story he had learned in school. “Dad,” he began, “today we learned about George Washington chopping down a cherry tree, and how he didn’t get into trouble because he told the truth.”

His father, not one to be easily swayed, smiled warmly and replied, “Ah, my son, you see, George Washington’s father was not in that cherry tree.”