Every three weeks or so undergrads across Leeds suddenly remember their parents exist before retreating to their bedrooms for 15 minutes of familial chitchat.
Although most conversations contain a mix of half-truths and tales of exaggerated studiousness, local liar Jenny O’Driscoll somehow managed to say only one candid thing when speaking to her mother:
‘Hi mum, it’s Jen’.
The Whip was able to catch up with the serial fibber, who was in the midst of a four hour scamming session on Leeds Uni Tickets.
‘Believe it or not I wasn’t always this way. Before I came to uni, I would hardly ever lie to my parents, I was pretty honest as a kid.
‘But then I started telling the odd white lie. I’d say I’d washed my sheets or promise the McDonald’s Saver Menu wasn’t the basis for my entire diet. Then I found myself saying that I’d taken a book out over the course of the last term, which felt like one deception too far.
‘You can understand why I just couldn’t bring myself to tell her I’ve smoked a kilo of Amber Leaf since we last spoke.
‘The lies started snowballing and then bam, next thing you know she thinks I invented chicken madras and have converted to Scientology. In all honesty, I actually started to enjoy it by the end – that woman is just so gullible.
‘I’m thinking of moving onto bigger and better sins soon. Gluttony and pride both sound a laugh. Maybe I’ll eat an entire Roman-style banquet or declare myself a real life influencer. Frankly, nothing’s off the cards.’