The Carpenter

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