"If he doesn't lie then how is he not perfect?"
"Until you learn to raise your hand before speaking I will not answer your questions," Miss Brigham said. Samantha put up her hand, but Miss Brigham looked away from her. "Now, for today I would like to quote from Proverbs. 'A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.' What do you think this means?"
Helena raised her hand. Miss Brigham pointed to her. "It means we shouldn't tell lies."
"Very good, Helena. I want all of us to keep this in mind not only today, but every day. The next time we think about telling a lie, we should remember the Lord's words and think about how our lies can hurt those around us. Now, children, let us take a moment to reflect and pray silently."
As the children prayed, Helena looked back at Samantha with a smug grin. Samantha stuck out her tongue, but did so the same moment Miss Brigham looked in her direction. "Samantha, what are you doing? You're making a mockery of prayer."
"No, I didn't mean anything. I thought I swallowed a bug," she said. Miss Brigham considered this a moment and then shook her head. She walked down the rows of girls to stand before Samantha. Miss Brigham looked Samantha in the eyes; Samantha met her gaze without flinching.
"Young lady, we have just finished discussing the importance of truth and moments later you lie to me. This is unacceptable behavior. Come with me." Samantha rose to her feet and followed Miss Brigham down the rows of children, keeping her head high while inside her stomach churned at the thought of what terrible punishment awaited her now.
Miss Brigham led her down the hill to the edge of the fields. "I am sorry to do this to you on your first day, Samantha, but you must learn to follow The Way. Reverend Crane does not tolerate sinners," she said.
"I did lie about the bug, but Helena stuck out her tongue first. And she scared me with the snake this morning."
"Shifting the blame to others is worse than lying," Miss Brigham said. "You must take responsibility for your own faults and not expect anyone else to pay for your sins."
"Didn't Christ die for our sins?"
"You are a very trying child. Perhaps some time in the shed for contemplation will straighten you out." Miss Brigham led Samantha to a square building made entirely of stone. Inside, Samantha found stacks of wood neatly bundled, leaving only a few inches of empty space for her to occupy. A primal fear gripped her, the darkness pressing all around her. "Now then young lady, I want you to sit in here and wait for me to return. Consider what you've done and ask God for forgiveness."