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The Thief and His Mother

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled between rolling hills, there lived a young boy named Tommy. Tommy was a curious and adventurous child, but sometimes he got into trouble. One day, when Tommy was very young, he found a coin on the ground near the market. Instead of looking for the owner, he slipped it into his pocket and ran home.

When he showed the coin to his mother, she smiled and said, “Tommy, that was wrong, but since no one saw you, it’s okay. Just don’t do it again.”

But Tommy didn’t learn his lesson. Encouraged by his mother’s words, he began to take small things from the market—an apple here, a piece of candy there. Each time, he would show his mother what he had taken, and each time she would say, “Be careful, but it’s okay if no one catches you.”

As Tommy grew older, his stealing became more frequent. He started taking bigger and more valuable things, like jewelry and money. His mother never scolded him; instead, she always found a way to justify his actions.

One day, Tommy was caught stealing a valuable necklace from the village jeweler. The villagers were angry, and they brought Tommy to the village chief to decide his punishment.

The village chief looked at Tommy and then at his mother. He shook his head sadly and said, “Tommy, stealing is wrong, but you were never taught that by the person who should have guided you. The fault lies with both of you.”

The chief then asked Tommy’s mother, “Why didn’t you teach your son that stealing is wrong? If you had corrected him when he was younger, he wouldn’t be in this trouble now.”

Tommy’s mother, realizing her mistake, began to cry. She understood that by not teaching Tommy the difference between right and wrong, she had led him down a dangerous path.

The village chief decided that Tommy should return everything he had stolen and work to repay those he had wronged. He also instructed Tommy’s mother to help him learn how to be honest and to teach him the value of doing the right thing.

Over time, Tommy changed his ways. He worked hard, earned back the trust of the villagers, and became known as a kind and honest person. His mother, too, learned the importance of teaching her son right from wrong, and together they built a new life based on honesty and respect.

The End.