A very strict school principal dwelt in a house adjacent to the school he was working for. He had a practice of relaxing for a couple of hours on his couch at home post-lunch. Right next to the gate, within his fenced house was a mango tree adjoining the fence that was full of ripe mangoes. Two unruly boys of the school, Tim and Harry, set their eyes upon the mangoes. Being aware of their principal’s usual practice of taking a nap at his residence, post-lunch, Tim and Harry decided that to be their best moment to steal away the mangoes. They promptly sneaked out of the classroom, climbed over the fence, and plucked as many mangoes as they could and filled their pockets with each one’s share. Silently they sneaked back to their classrooms, hoping their act went unnoticed.

But unknown to them, the CCTV cameras at the Principal’s house recorded all their actions. That very night as he was playing the CCTV footage for the day, as his usual routine was, he was shocked to see two boys in their school uniform stealing mangoes. With all his wit and contacts, he managed to collect the names of the two boys well before the next day dawned.

Meanwhile, Tim and Harry enjoyed their loot on their way back home to their heart’s content. At the school assembly on the next day, the Principal made a special announcement saying, “Children, I happened to notice a few mangoes missing from my mango tree a couple of days ago. By 3pm today, if the accused could walk down to my office and confess his wrong doing, I will forgive him. Or else he/ they will have to face the consequences.

Tim and Harry thought he was bluffing and took it lightly. The PA speakers at the classrooms rustled with the same announcement during the break and lunch hours. Still they refused to be reconciled. At 3pm, the principal made an announcement through the PA system asking all the children to gather at the school auditorium for a special movie show. All the students were excited and eager to watch the movie.

Just before the lights went off, the Principal came over to the dais with a long cane in his hand and told the kids that this was the last warning to be reconciled for the stolen mangoes. If anyone would acknowledge their mistake, they would be let go unpunished. Yet nobody stood up.

With a sad countenance, he walked off the stage. The lights went off, the countdown began and there on the big screen the video was played. Alas, it was the CCTV footage of Tim and Harry stealing mangoes from the Principal’s garden. Tim and Harry couldn’t hide their crime any longer. Their faces were awash with shame. Everything was now out in the open with undeniable proof. With all the chances they had lost, the boys were taken to be punished. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28: 13