Weeping Willow

Chapter 5 - Russ

"It is so simple: the choices we make in our everyday lives, the things we do (or not) for others, define the world we live in." — Bernard Jan

Learning how to decipher a lie is something I learned from my dad at a young age. I still remember a conversation we had years ago with such clarity. I had just come home from racing go-karts with my friends, a secret pastime that Mom had forbidden me to do until I was a teenager. As I slid into the kitchen chair for dinner after a day of pure adrenaline, Mom sized me up carefully.

"Were you on a go-kart today, Russ?" Her blue eyes pierced into mine.

I fidgeted uncomfortably and answered her question with my own. "No?"

Across the table, Dad tried to hide a smile.

Mom gave Dad a grim, knowing look as if my response was all the evidence she needed.

"You're grounded for a week, Russ." She announced and took her plate to the sink.

A foot kicked me gently under the dining room table.

"Next time, look her in the eyes." A small twinkle shone in Dad's eyes as he spoke.

I glanced at him, surprised but intrigued.

He kept his voice low and conspiratorial. "And stop moving around so much, son. It's one of the first things we learned at the police academy about interrogating suspects. You wanna catch someone in the middle of a lie? Look into their eyes. See if they look back at you or if they're avoiding eye contact for any reason. Watch their body language too. If someone is lying, something about their body is going to speak to you. Maybe they are twitching or touching themselves too much. Maybe they smile or laugh when they're not supposed to. Those can be tell-tale signs. In any case, listen to what their body tells you."

It was solid advice that I had carried with me ever since that day. I had learned to pay attention to body language, the little mannerisms that people unwittingly made when they were uncomfortable. Plus, I had known most of my classmates since elementary school. It was easier for me to spot subtle movements that gave them away because of that familiarity. Willow Reddy was a hard one though. Her face was very impassive at times, which made her hard to decipher.

When AP Psychology ended, I packed up my backpack and joined the sea of students in the hallway. A splattering of Ugg boots and North Face jackets filled the corridors of Sandusky High. I moved along with the flow of the crowd until I reached my locker. My next class was Trigonometry and I needed to grab my protractor and calculator. 

It was funny how my feelings towards Math had solidified through the years. I still struggled with the rigidity and exactness of it. Now, it was just topped with ridiculous formulas to memorize and rules to follow that you would probably never use in your adult life. I spotted the instruments and tucked them into my backpack. 

When I closed my locker, I found myself standing face to face with the most unexpected person. My heart began to pound without my permission. It was none other than Willow Reddy. 

Her jet black curls fell into her eyes as her loose ponytail slowly unraveled. She looked flustered but determined.

"I need your help," she started, surprising me even further. This was an unexpected development.

A steady hammering built in my chest as I raised my eyebrows. "With what?"

Willow bit her lip. I was surprised by how cute she looked when she did that. "I can't tell you here. It's really important though. Will you meet me after school at the park?"