Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms came into conflict. It was their first serious rift after 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labour and goods.
It all started with a small misunderstanding which it grew into a major difference, which finally exploded into a bitter exchange of words. This was followed by weeks of silence.
One morning, there was a knock on the door of John, the older sibling. He opened it to find a man standing there with a carpenter's tool box.
"I'm looking for a few days' work" the man said. "Perhaps you have a few small jobs here and there I could help with."
"Yes," said John, "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbour. In fact, that's my brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee. Now there is a creek between us.
"Well, he might have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me an eight-foot fence so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."
The carpenter said, "I think i understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll do a job that pleases you."
John had to go to town, so he helped the man get the materials ready and then he was off. The carpenter worked hard all day, measuring, sawing and nailing.
Around sunset, when John returned, the carpenter had just finished. But the farmer's eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped as he looked across his land. There was no fence at all!
Instead, there was a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other. A fine piece of work, handrails and all. What's more, his younger brother was coming towards them, with hands out-stretched. He said: "You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all that I had said and done."
The brothers stood at each end of the bridge. Then they met in the middle and took each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.
"No, wait!" John called. "Stay a few days. I've lots of other projects for you."
"I'd love to stay," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build".
Sent to Starmag by Pola Singh
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Power of Today
The young man stood on the edge of a tall building early one morning. Just as he was about to leap off, he heard a voice ask: "Are you looking at yesterday or today?"
Startled, he turned around and saw an old man standing near the staircase. The stranger repeated his question.
The young man, who could not answer, became furious. Then he started shouting:
"What do you know about me? I'm desperate ... I've lost everything. There's no way I can get my life back. My family left because they cannot forgive me for the mistakes I've made."
The old man said: "Don't you see - everything you've said happened yesterday, or earlier. You can't undo what has been done.
"But look! Another day is dawning. The power of today is strong enough to make a change for a better tomorrow. Learn to live again."
The old man stepped forward and patted his back. The young man felt a sudden surge of strength, even as his tears flowed. Together, they headed for the stairs.
Sent to Starmag by Gabrielle Yeoh
Startled, he turned around and saw an old man standing near the staircase. The stranger repeated his question.
The young man, who could not answer, became furious. Then he started shouting:
"What do you know about me? I'm desperate ... I've lost everything. There's no way I can get my life back. My family left because they cannot forgive me for the mistakes I've made."
The old man said: "Don't you see - everything you've said happened yesterday, or earlier. You can't undo what has been done.
"But look! Another day is dawning. The power of today is strong enough to make a change for a better tomorrow. Learn to live again."
The old man stepped forward and patted his back. The young man felt a sudden surge of strength, even as his tears flowed. Together, they headed for the stairs.
Sent to Starmag by Gabrielle Yeoh
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Great Expectations
A butcher watching over his shop is surprised when a dog walks in. He shoos it away, but soon enough, the creature comes back. As the butcher walks towards it, he spots a note in its mouth, which reads: "Can I have 12 sausages and a leg of lamb, please?"
The dog has something else in its mouth. The butcher looks inside and, lo and behold, there is a RM10 note! He takes the money, puts the sausages and lamb in a bag, and places it in the dog's mouth. Quite impressed by now, he decides to close shop and tail the dog home.
The dog walks down the street and when it gets to a level crossing, it puts the bag down, jumps up and presses the button. Then it waits patiently, bag in mouth, for the lights to change. When the green light comes on, it walks across the road, with the butcher close behind.
The dog then comes to a bus stop, and stops to look at the timetable. It halts the bus by pulling its left leg up, and then hops on board, with the butcher following suit. The dog shows the conductor a ticket tied to its collar. It then sits beside the driver, and looks out throughout the ride. As the vehicle nears a bus stop, the creature stands up and starts wagging its tail.
Then, without waiting for the bus to stop, it jumps out and scampers to a house by the road. The dog opens the big iron door gate and makes for the front door.
Suddenly, it changes its mind and heads towards the garden. It goes to the window, beats its head on the pane several times, jumps off, then walks back to the front door, and sits down to wait.
The butcher watches as a big guy opens the door, and starts swearing at and kicking and punching the dog. Shocked, he runs to stop the guy.
"What in heaven's name are you doing? This dog is a genius. He could be on tv!"
To which the guy shouts: "You call that clever? This is the second time this week the stupid dog has forgotten his key!"
Sent to Starmag by Terence Wong
The dog has something else in its mouth. The butcher looks inside and, lo and behold, there is a RM10 note! He takes the money, puts the sausages and lamb in a bag, and places it in the dog's mouth. Quite impressed by now, he decides to close shop and tail the dog home.
The dog walks down the street and when it gets to a level crossing, it puts the bag down, jumps up and presses the button. Then it waits patiently, bag in mouth, for the lights to change. When the green light comes on, it walks across the road, with the butcher close behind.
The dog then comes to a bus stop, and stops to look at the timetable. It halts the bus by pulling its left leg up, and then hops on board, with the butcher following suit. The dog shows the conductor a ticket tied to its collar. It then sits beside the driver, and looks out throughout the ride. As the vehicle nears a bus stop, the creature stands up and starts wagging its tail.
Then, without waiting for the bus to stop, it jumps out and scampers to a house by the road. The dog opens the big iron door gate and makes for the front door.
Suddenly, it changes its mind and heads towards the garden. It goes to the window, beats its head on the pane several times, jumps off, then walks back to the front door, and sits down to wait.
The butcher watches as a big guy opens the door, and starts swearing at and kicking and punching the dog. Shocked, he runs to stop the guy.
"What in heaven's name are you doing? This dog is a genius. He could be on tv!"
To which the guy shouts: "You call that clever? This is the second time this week the stupid dog has forgotten his key!"
Sent to Starmag by Terence Wong
The Farmer's Watch
One day, a farmer realised that he had lost his watch in the barn, It was of sentimental value to him, so he looked high and low for it. After a long, futile search, he enlisted the help of a group of kids playing outside the barn. He promised them that the person who found it would receive a RM20 reward.
The kids rushed inside and poked around the stacks of hay. Still, no one could find the watch.
Just as the farmer was about to give up and call of the search, a little boy asked for another chance to search again. The farmer looked at him and thought, "Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough." So the boy hurried back into the barn.
After a few minutes, he came out holding the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised, so he asked the kid how he managed to find the watch when everyone else had failed.
"I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. When I heard the ticking of the watch, I just followed the sound."
Sent to Starmag by Jane Neelambaaran
The kids rushed inside and poked around the stacks of hay. Still, no one could find the watch.
Just as the farmer was about to give up and call of the search, a little boy asked for another chance to search again. The farmer looked at him and thought, "Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough." So the boy hurried back into the barn.
After a few minutes, he came out holding the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised, so he asked the kid how he managed to find the watch when everyone else had failed.
"I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. When I heard the ticking of the watch, I just followed the sound."
Sent to Starmag by Jane Neelambaaran
The Smallest Gesture Counts
One day, a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a figure in the distance. As he got closer, he was that the figure was a little boy who was repeatedly reaching down to pick something up from the sandy floor and then gently throwing it into the sea.
Approaching the boy, the man asked, "What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die."
"Son" the man said, " don't you realise that there are miles and miles of sand and hundreds of starfish? You can't possibly make a difference with what you are doing."
The boy listened politely to the man and then bend down to pick up yet another starfish. Throwing it into the surf, he smiled at the man and said, "I make a difference for the ones I throw back."
Sent to Starmag by Hen Yune Yin
Approaching the boy, the man asked, "What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die."
"Son" the man said, " don't you realise that there are miles and miles of sand and hundreds of starfish? You can't possibly make a difference with what you are doing."
The boy listened politely to the man and then bend down to pick up yet another starfish. Throwing it into the surf, he smiled at the man and said, "I make a difference for the ones I throw back."
Sent to Starmag by Hen Yune Yin
Escape Ruse
A pretty woman was serving a life sentence in prison. Angry and resentful about her situation, she decided that she would rather die than live another year behind bars. Over the years she had become good friends with one of the caretakers. His job, among others, was to bury those prisoners who had died, in a graveyard just outside the prison walls.
Each time someone died, the caretaker would ring a bell, which could be heard by everyone. He then got the body and put it in a casket. Next, he would go to his office to fill out the death certificate before returning to nail the casket lid shut. Finally, he would put the casket on the wagon and take it out to the graveyard for burial.
The woman, who knew this routine, devised an escape plan which she shared with the caretaker. The next time the bell rang, she would leave her cell and sneak into the dark room where the coffins were kept. She would then slip in and lie beside the body while the caretaker filled out the death certificate. When he returned, he would nail the lid shut and carry the coffin out of the prison, with the woman inside. He would then proceed to bury the coffin.
The woman knew there would be enough air for her to breathe until later in the evening, when the caretaker would return under the cover of darkness, dig up the coffin, and set her free.
Initially, he was reluctant to go along with the plan. But since he and the woman had become good friends over the years, he agreed.
The woman waited several weeks before someone in the prison died. She was asleep in her cell when the bell rang. She got up, picked the lock of her cell, and slowly walked down the hallway. She was nearly caught a couple of times; her heart was pounding.
She opened the door to the room where the coffins were kept. After some groping in the dark, she found the one that contained the body, climbed into it and pulled the lid shut.
Soon she heard footsteps, followed by the pounding of nails. Even though she was very uncomfortable in the coffin, she knew that with each nail, she was one step closer to freedom.
The coffin was lifted onto a wagon and taken out to the graveyard. The woman could feel it being lowered into the ground. She didn't make a sound as it hit the bottom of the grave with a thud.
Finally she heard the dirt hitting the top of the wooden coffin, and she knew that it was only a matter of time before she would be free again. After several minutes of absu\olute silence, she began to laugh. She felt free!
Then, feeling curious, she decided to light a match to find out the identity of the prisoner beside her. To her horror, she found herself staring at the stiff caretaker!
Many people believe they have life all figured out. But sometimes, things just don't turn out the way they plan.
Sent to Starmag by Pola Singh
Each time someone died, the caretaker would ring a bell, which could be heard by everyone. He then got the body and put it in a casket. Next, he would go to his office to fill out the death certificate before returning to nail the casket lid shut. Finally, he would put the casket on the wagon and take it out to the graveyard for burial.
The woman, who knew this routine, devised an escape plan which she shared with the caretaker. The next time the bell rang, she would leave her cell and sneak into the dark room where the coffins were kept. She would then slip in and lie beside the body while the caretaker filled out the death certificate. When he returned, he would nail the lid shut and carry the coffin out of the prison, with the woman inside. He would then proceed to bury the coffin.
The woman knew there would be enough air for her to breathe until later in the evening, when the caretaker would return under the cover of darkness, dig up the coffin, and set her free.
Initially, he was reluctant to go along with the plan. But since he and the woman had become good friends over the years, he agreed.
The woman waited several weeks before someone in the prison died. She was asleep in her cell when the bell rang. She got up, picked the lock of her cell, and slowly walked down the hallway. She was nearly caught a couple of times; her heart was pounding.
She opened the door to the room where the coffins were kept. After some groping in the dark, she found the one that contained the body, climbed into it and pulled the lid shut.
Soon she heard footsteps, followed by the pounding of nails. Even though she was very uncomfortable in the coffin, she knew that with each nail, she was one step closer to freedom.
The coffin was lifted onto a wagon and taken out to the graveyard. The woman could feel it being lowered into the ground. She didn't make a sound as it hit the bottom of the grave with a thud.
Finally she heard the dirt hitting the top of the wooden coffin, and she knew that it was only a matter of time before she would be free again. After several minutes of absu\olute silence, she began to laugh. She felt free!
Then, feeling curious, she decided to light a match to find out the identity of the prisoner beside her. To her horror, she found herself staring at the stiff caretaker!
Many people believe they have life all figured out. But sometimes, things just don't turn out the way they plan.
Sent to Starmag by Pola Singh
Size Up the Facts First
One fine day, a bus driver went to the garage, started his vehicle, and drove off along his usual route. No problems at the first few stops - a few people got on, a few got off, and the ride was smooth.
At the next stop, however, a hulk of a guy got on. Six-foot-eight, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back of the bus.
Did I mention that the driver was five-three, and quite meek? Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about his getting a free ride.
The next day, the same thing happened: Big John got on the bus, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. He did the same the next day, and the one after, and so forth. This grated on the driver, who started losing sleep over the way his passenger was taking advantage of him.
Finally, he could not take it any longer. He signed up for body-building courses, karate, judo, the whole works. By the end of the summer, the driver had become quite strong. On top of that, he felt really good about himself.
The following Monday, when Big John got on the bus and said, "Big John doens't pay!", the driver stood up, glared back at his passenger, and screamed, "And why not?"
With a surprised look on his face, the burly man replied, "Big John has a bus pass."
Make sure there really is a problem first, before you start working hard to solve it.
Sent to Starmag by Thanavalli Rajaretnam
At the next stop, however, a hulk of a guy got on. Six-foot-eight, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back of the bus.
Did I mention that the driver was five-three, and quite meek? Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about his getting a free ride.
The next day, the same thing happened: Big John got on the bus, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. He did the same the next day, and the one after, and so forth. This grated on the driver, who started losing sleep over the way his passenger was taking advantage of him.
Finally, he could not take it any longer. He signed up for body-building courses, karate, judo, the whole works. By the end of the summer, the driver had become quite strong. On top of that, he felt really good about himself.
The following Monday, when Big John got on the bus and said, "Big John doens't pay!", the driver stood up, glared back at his passenger, and screamed, "And why not?"
With a surprised look on his face, the burly man replied, "Big John has a bus pass."
Make sure there really is a problem first, before you start working hard to solve it.
Sent to Starmag by Thanavalli Rajaretnam
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)