The Pale-Faced Lie

by David Crow

Dad always had more compassion for animals than he did for humans. I was almost jealous of that poor coyote. Why couldn’t he show the same kindness toward his four children and their mom?

For the first time, I saw my behavior from someone else’s point of view.

“A formal education will earn you a salary. Self-education will make you a fortune.

“Be careful whenever everything is given to you,” Mr. Ashcroft said. “Because then you’ll be totally beholden to your masters.”

Things always seemed to get worse when the government took on too big a role. I wanted to work to change that.

“You can’t change your childhood, but you can let it go,” he said.

Then it came to me. The only way to be free was to forgive them—and forgive myself.