Several symbols of dishonesty accompany the lies told by Heidi and Mr. Hill. Each of these symbols supports the theme of “Dishonesty in Difficult Situations.”

Heidi dresses in Bernie’s clothing and adds a touch of makeup by habit each time she goes to the Sudsy Duds to play the slot machine, but when she lies to Bernie about going to the library to cover her trip to the bus station, her costume takes on new symbolic meaning of dishonesty. Heidi must change into the clothes at the station and do up her own hair, without Bernie’s help or knowledge. The slot machine at the bus station is also a symbol of dishonesty; whereas the Sudsy Duds slot money that Heidi gets with her uncanny luck is used for items for the three of them, the money Heidi acquire at the bus station slot machine is used to purchase a bus ticket for her alone—a purchase Bernie knows nothing about.

The strawberry rhubarb pie that Heidi eats on the bus as she begins telling lies to Alice is a symbol of dishonesty as well. Heidi is actually guilty of three vices in this scene, and the pie is a strong symbol for all three: dishonesty (Heidi lies about having a grandmother), gluttony (Heidi eats the whole pie), and jealousy (Heidi is jealous of Alice’s close family connections).