A boy called Sef is asked by his friend Max, "Do you like my new haircut? Tell me the truth." Sef doesn't, really — it's a bit uneven and not Max's usual style. Max is clearly hoping to hear it looks great. Around them, a couple of other kids have already said it's "cool" to be nice, even though their faces said otherwise. Sef is caught. Max asked for the truth, but everyone knows people don't always mean that — sometimes "tell me the truth" means "please reassure me." If Sef says he doesn't love it, he might hurt Max. If he says it looks great, he's lying like everyone else. He has to figure out what honesty actually looks like when the truth might sting and a kind lie would be easier.