How Do I Know What's Right?
Morality & Values
Episode 3 • Age 8
How Do I Know What's Right?
A conversation about morality, honesty, and listening to your heart
Panel 1
Kitchen table, evening. Daughter (8) looks troubled, pushing her dinner around.
Daughter:Dad, how do I know what's right?
Dad:That's... wow. That's a big one, kiddo.
Daughter:Emma told me she cheated on the spelling test. She made me promise not to tell. But Mrs. Chen asked if anyone knew anything...
Dad:And you feel stuck in the middle?
Daughter:*nods* I don't want to be a tattletale. But I also don't want to lie.
Dad:You know what? When I was your age, I had to figure this out too. Let me tell you about the Great Cookie Incident of 1995...
Panel 2
FLASHBACK: Young Dad (8) standing in kitchen, chocolate on his face.
Young Dad:*thinking* Okay, so I ate the cookies Mom was saving for the bake sale. All of them.
Young Dad:*thinking* She's gonna ask who did it. I could blame it on the dog...
Mom (off-screen):MICHAEL! Can you come here please?
Young Dad:*panicking* The dog doesn't even like chocolate! Think, Michael, think!
Panel 3
FLASHBACK: Mom standing with empty cookie tin, arms crossed.
Mom:Michael, do you know what happened to the cookies?
Young Dad:Um... maybe... possibly... the dog?
Mom:We don't have a dog.
Young Dad:...a very sneaky dog?
Mom:*raises eyebrow*
Young Dad:Okay fine! It was me! I ate them! All of them! I'm a cookie monster!
Panel 4
FLASHBACK: Mom sitting down with Young Dad.
Mom:You know what I'm most proud of? That you told the truth.
Young Dad:But I lied first! About the imaginary dog!
Mom:Yes, but then you chose honesty. That's what matters. The right choice isn't always the first choice, but it's never too late to make it.
Young Dad:I still have to help with the bake sale, don't I?
Mom:Oh honey, you're baking THREE batches.
Panel 5
BACK TO PRESENT: Kitchen table.
Daughter:*giggling* You blamed a dog we didn't have?
Dad:I was eight! And panicking! My brain wasn't working!
Daughter:But that's different. You did something wrong. Emma did something wrong, not me.
Dad:True. But here's the thing - sometimes doing the right thing means making hard choices about other people's actions too.
Panel 6
Dad pulls out his phone, scrolling.
Dad:Let me tell you about your Grandpa Joe. He was a manager at a factory.
Daughter:The one who always smelled like coffee and told bad jokes?
Dad:That's the one. Well, one day he caught his best friend stealing from the company.
Daughter:What did he do?
Panel 7
FLASHBACK: Grandpa Joe in an office with his friend.
Grandpa Joe:Tom, I saw you taking supplies. The expensive equipment.
Tom:Joe, please. My kid needs surgery. Insurance won't cover it all. I'm desperate.
Grandpa Joe:I know. And I'm sorry. But this isn't the way.
Tom:So you're going to report me? Twenty years of friendship?
Grandpa Joe:No. I'm going to help you find another way. But you have to return what you took and come clean.
Panel 8
FLASHBACK: Grandpa Joe and Tom talking to the boss.
Grandpa Joe:Tom has something to tell you. And I'm here to vouch for his character and ask for mercy.
Tom:I took equipment. I was wrong. I'll pay it back, however long it takes.
Boss:Joe, you could have just reported this quietly.
Grandpa Joe:I could have. But that wouldn't have been right either. Tom made a mistake, but he's a good man in a bad situation.
Panel 9
BACK TO PRESENT: Kitchen table.
Dad:Tom kept his job. He paid everything back. And he and Grandpa stayed friends until...
Dad:*pauses, voice softer* ...until the end.
Daughter:So Grandpa did the right thing even though it was hard?
Dad:Yeah. He said the right thing isn't always the easy thing. But it's the thing that lets you sleep at night.
Panel 10
Daughter thinking hard.
Daughter:But what if Emma gets in trouble? What if she hates me?
Dad:She might. For a while. But you know what? Real friends respect honesty, even when it's uncomfortable.
Daughter:What if I'm wrong? What if I make the wrong choice?
Dad:*gently* Then you learn from it. But doing nothing when you know something's wrong? That's also a choice.
Panel 11
Dad reaches across the table, taking her hand.
Dad:Here's what I know: you have a good heart. When you're not sure what's right, listen to that little voice inside that's making you uncomfortable right now.
Daughter:The voice that says I should talk to Emma first?
Dad:Exactly. Give her a chance to do the right thing herself. That's compassion AND honesty.
Daughter:And if she doesn't?
Dad:Then you'll know you tried. And you'll make the next right choice.
Panel 12
Daughter stands up, looking determined.
Daughter:Okay. I'm going to call Emma. Right now.
Dad:That's my girl. *stands up* Hey, want to know something?
Daughter:What?
Dad:I'm really proud of you for even asking this question. A lot of people don't.
Daughter:*hugs him* Thanks, Dad. For the talk. And for the cookie story.
Dad:*hugs back, holding on just a moment longer* Anytime, sweetheart. *whispers* Every conversation matters.
Episode Theme
Sometimes the hardest choices are the ones that test our character. Doing the right thing isn't about being perfect—it's about being honest, compassionate, and brave enough to listen to your conscience, even when it's uncomfortable.