The Hidden Path (WINNER OF THE BEAUTY AWARD for Spiritual)

Civil Disobedience

As a boy in the Middle West, I used to amuse myself by holding a stick across a gateway that the sheep had to pass through. After the first few sheep had jumped over the stick, I took it away; but all the other sheep leaped through the gateway over an imaginary barrier. The only reason for their jumping was that those in front had jumped. The sheep is not the only animal with that tendency. Almost all of us are prone to do what others are doing, to believe what others are believing, to accept, without question, the testimony of prominent people.
- Dale Carnegie

Shivering, I frantically scooted back with my chair, coming to rest against the radiator on the wall. I was freezing. What a way to start the week!

Was there no way for me to stay warm in winter? Nope, obviously not.

I was already wearing nylon tights under thick, velvet trousers, an undershirt, a long sleeve shirt, a light jumper and a thick pullover on top. But I was still not entirely comfortable.

"Cold again?" Grinning, Diana twisted in her seat to face me, having noticed that my chair had suddenly disappeared from beside hers.

"Yes." I confirmed her assumption, pointedly snuggling my back against the radiator.

"Cold?" Sofi shook her head, an equally amused expression on her face.

"Yes, I am." I replied, feeling a bit sheepish. After all, No one else in the class appeared to be craving the additional warmth of the radiator.

"Manu, it's probably about 22 degrees in here. With all your layers, you should be sweating!" Diana declared, sounding a bit exasperated. Sofi nodded furiously in agreement.

"Well, I am definitely not." Obviously. "By the way, do you guys know what Beni did on Saturday?" I felt it was time for a change in topic.

"No, what did that boy do this time?" Diana frowned, tapping her pen lightly against the desktop. Yes, she was well informed about all our adventures. "Wait a minute, didn't you guys all spend the weekend together?" She remembered, her head swiveling between myself and Sofi, who nodded.

Very well informed.

"Well, yes, but not Saturday noon, because he was having lunch. . . with my sister," I smirked, already anticipating the effect my little revelation would have on my friends.

"Your sister?" Sofi and Diana chorused, both faces bearing equal expressions of confusion.

"Your. . . little. . . sister?" Diana was obviously having a hard time grasping the concept. Which was understandable, since she had already heard quite a few stories about her.

"Yes, my little sister. And before you ask: he had to."

"But he is your boyfriend!" Sofi exclaimed, throwing her hands up for dramatic effect.

"Yes."

"That doesn't make any se- oh!" I could clearly tell the moment Diana put the pieces together, as suddenly her face lit up and the expression on her face morphed into one of slightly mischievous entertainment.

I still don't get it!" Sofi complained." Why didn't you tell me during the weekend?"

"Because it was not such a big deal and Beni didn't want the boys to know. You know how they are. . . he would never have heard the end of it." I paused again, just to annoy Sofi a bit further. "After all, what eighteen year old boy voluntarily has lunch with the not-even-thirteen-year-old sister of his girlfriend? It sounds suspiciously like baby sitting. . ."

Diana smirked at me, while Sofi gave me a blank look.

"Even if he had been blackmailed into doing so. . ."