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In the summer of 2000 I worked nine weeks as a volunteer staff member at Circle Square Ranch (a Christian summer camp in Armstrong, British Columbia). During those nine weeks I got to know many of the other staff quite well and developed many new friendships. I do not believe I have ever before had to choose between friends before, but I had to make such a choice this summer.
Each Friday we have a special meal called the "Sheriff's Banquet," and we wear the "cleanest, nicest clothes we have". We hold the last Sheriff's Banquet of the summer as the most special. Since a friend of mine, Nathan, was suddenly and mysteriously missing his suitcase full of clothes during the last week, he wore his tuxedo which had not been in his suitcase. Also for Sheriff's Banquet, the staff sit two to a table, usually one male, and one female. I sat with Mark and Nathan sat at a nearby table.
We ate a delicious dinner crowned with a giant chocolate sundae for each table. After all those at my table had taken and eaten a portion of dessert, there was quite a bit of melted chocolate ice cream left in the serving bowl, and Mark came up with a plan. He told me he was going to get permission from the ranch director, Sheriff Dan, and then dump the mess on Nathan. I know Mark believed I would never tell Nathan, or he would not have shared his plan with me.
Here was my moral dilemma. I knew Nathan was wearing the only clean clothes in his possession and that those clothes were expensive and not machine-washable. I also knew Mark would be disappointed if Nathan found out, and might see the person who told Nathan as a betrayer of trust. I had to make a choice. Would I tell Nathan what Mark was planning, thereby allowing him to escape the prank, and at the same time betray Mark's trust? Or would I do nothing, allowing Mark's plan to advance unhindered and allowing Nathan to go through this extremely unpleasant experience? While Mark was at Sheriff Dan's table with the serving bowl asking permission, I had only moments to decide: Did I value Nathan's welfare and comfort more than I valued Mark's trust?
I do not remember thinking about it; I simply walked by Nathan's table while clearing mine and said so that only he could hear, "Mark wants to dump chocolate ice cream on you," then continued on to the kitchen to drop off the dishes from my table. I turned from the counter to see Nathan jump to his feet and yell across the dining hall at Mark, "Don't you even think about it!". Mark's plan was successfully foiled.
Afterward, Mark asked me if I had told Nathan, and I said, "Yes" without hesitation. Mark called me a "poor sport;" he was disappointed that his plan had failed and disappointed that I had deliberately caused it to fail. We all left the ranch the next day after the rodeo, so I am unsure of the long-term effects of my actions on my friendships with either Nathan or Mark.
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