A story about Choice.

Choice was popular in the playground. Everybody liked Choice. Choice allowed everybody to do as they wanted – both good and bad things. Choice was not evil. She was not good either. She was like everybody else in that way. That’s why everybody liked Choice.

Her twin brother was called Consequence. He was not as popular. He showed people that they were not always right. He sometimes made people feel uncomfortable. He only did this so that they could learn from their mistakes and become better people. He actually hoped to introduce them to his Father one day. But they didn’t see it that way. They didn’t care about that. Most people agreed the school would be a much more comfortable place if they could have Choice but not her pesky twin brother there. Of course, this was impossible. They were inseparable – formed together and lifelong soul mates, as most twins are.

Pride in particular hated Consequence. She dressed herself in the finest clothes and wore only the most expensive of cosmetics. She spent a long time preening herself and made sure she always spoke eloquently. She looked the image of perfection to everybody. Pride was very cruel to everyone who dared to ‘judge’ her. She liked Choice, however. Everybody liked Choice.

The only person who seemed to see past Pride’s arrogance was Discernment. He was a cousin of Choice and Consequence. He always questioned Choice as to whether what she was doing was wise. Sometimes Choice liked Discernment. He saved her from a lot of trouble and she noticed that he was good company to keep. He advised her to seek counsel from Father; he always knew what was best. She also noticed that Father approved of Discernment and that he was good friends of her brother too.

But at times, she drew instead upon the company of Pride. When she hung out with Pride too much she drifted away from Discernment. She seemed to alienate herself from Father too. But she knew he was waiting when she came to her senses. He always was.

Pride always wanted to sink her claws into Choice. Although popular, Choice was easily led. She did not have the same strength of character as her brother or cousin. Pride found that she was able to lead Choice away from Consequence and Discernment for a little while. She also found that since they were family, they could not be separated for long.

This would not do!

Pride needed to think of a way to get popular Choice away from her twin brother and cousin for good! She also needed Choice to be away from her Father as he seemed to have such authority to anyone who met him. She needed to be the only idol in Choice’s life!

So Pride invented a lie.

Knowing how much everybody hated being judged, she nick-named Discernment, ‘Judgment’. Because she was popular, everybody followed her lead. Before long Discernment was known as ‘Judgment’ everywhere he went.

Pride also lied about Consequence. She made people believe that he was bad. That he was out there to deliberately distance everybody from Choice. And that he wanted to punish them all for being her friends.

Unfortunately, Choice believed this lie too.

Before long, Discernment and Consequence left the school and stayed with Father. The school was left in the hands of Pride and Choice and came to disarray. But because Choice was being manipulated by Pride, she was secretly miserable.

Choice wanted to be at home with her Father and Consequence. She wanted Discernment in her life again. But Pride would not allow her to admit this. She wanted Choice all to herself without Discernment and Consequence getting in the way again!

However, Pride had not met Love.

Love was the Mother of Choice and Consequence. She was the Aunt of Discernment.

When Love got involved in the school affairs, Pride realised that she was losing her hold on Choice.

Every night after school, Love would talk to Choice. She would hold her and hug her. She showed her folly and pointed at the wisdom of Discernment. Love let Choice know that she was part of the family. Love persuaded Choice not to let Pride get in the way of that. After reconciling her to her brother and cousin, Love also reconciled Choice to her Father.

The next day, Love spoke to Pride. She told her that although wrong, she was also wanted and cared for. That if she wanted her, Love would be there. She too could be a member of her family.

But unfortunately Pride did not want to be a part of this family. Pride wanted to form her own family. She wanted to be her own authority and didn’t fancy a Father. She didn’t fancy living with Discernment or Consequence either. Pride thought she knew what was best. She wanted to be her own head; her own idol.

Pride did lose her grip on Choice, however and she was restored to her family. Being twins, Choice knew that she could never really be separated from Consequence. But she also knew Pride tried. And would try again.

Because Choice was popular, she managed to restore Discernment and Consequence to their places in school. Everybody realised that although they’d rather do without them, they were very close to Choice. So they had to accept them. Until Pride would give them another reason not to of course.

Some of Choice’s school friends made an effort to also be friends with Consequence and Discernment. They too met Love and Father and became a part of the family.

Others enjoyed the company of Pride more.

And Pride always looked for a way to unhinge Choice from her family. But she knew, although of course she would never admit to it, that this was impossible.