25. When I looked at the grade on my math paper, I was shocked: a big "65" in bright red ink. As a good student in my teachers' eyes, I had never received such a terrible grade before.
I was so afraid that when I got home that afternoon I lied to my dad. I told him I got 85 and the report wouldn't come until the end of the month. Dad smiled. Because he never thought that his daughter would lie to him.
A month later, Dad asked me again about the report at the dinner table. He looked right into my eyes and asked for an answer. Having no choice, I told him that I had in fact just 65 in my math exam. I told a lie because I didn't want to let him down.
For a moment, he just looked at me. After a quiet moment, in the end, Dad said, in a hurt voice, "You have already let me down, with your lie. I am not sad at your math score. That is no big deal — no one can be perfect all the time. However, I am very sorry for you. If you can't be honest with your dad, who can you be honest with? It's much easier to get a better grade than rebuild others' trust in you."
Dad's words touched my heart. I took out the report, gave it to him and said sorry to him. My father smiled and touched my head gently, "I'm glad you understand that." At that time, I knew that my honesty is not only important to myself, but to those around me that truly care about my happiness.
One of the English sayings says: "Be honest rather than clever." After that between Dad and me, I began to understand those words.