cooked up this story because they were late getting on the job and needed something to tell their customer? Doesn't really come across like that though.

Yes, you're right about us being easily deceived by our minds. But I think that goes both ways. Yes we are capable of making some experience become something totally different that what actually happened and believing the incorrect version for the rest of our lives. But it's also possible that we restrict or prevent ourselves from something true because it has no explanation or way of fitting into our understanding.