In And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, Marco isn't exactly telling the truth when he recounts what he sees on his walk. Instead, he tells a tall tale, fabricating the wondrous things he sees because real life just isn't, well, all that exciting on Mulberry Street. Why talk about a simple horse and wagon when you can turn it into an elephant and full brass band instead?
This isn't the only sort of deception, though. When Marco gets home and says that all he saw was a horse and cart, though this may technically be true, it hides the truth of his experience. As his imagination soared, Marco witnessed all sorts of fantastical sights and sounds—he just doesn't think his dad will understand, so he keeps it to himself.
Questions and Answers
3-4 Questions Your Super-Young Adult Might Ask:
Q: So wait—does Marco tell his dad the truth at the end?
A: Kind of. He tells his dad the thing he actually saw, but he doesn't tell him what he's been imagining.
Q: It is ever okay to lie?
A: It's always wrong to lie to your Dad. (Right, Dad?)
Q: Why is Marco embarrassed when he tells his dad what he saw?
A: Marco realizes his dad won't understand his imagination, so he feels a little embarrassed. He shouldn't, though—it's totally his dad's loss.