Working Woes ......

This happened one evening when we were having our soccer game during those boarding days that I mentioned yesterday.

While playing, a plane was flying slowly towards our direction from a far. The sound from the plane grew louder and louder. A boy playing with us became very distracted by the sound of the plane. He then kept running towards the direction of the plane instead of going after the ball. And, kept following the direction of the plane. As the plane got closer and closer, he got more and more excited when he saw the plane flying high above us. All of us saw the excitement and happiness in his face as he shouted out to us, 'look!, look!, look!'. 'Look!, iron bird coming'. 'Iron bird coming!!!' 'Iron bird!' very loudly. We laughed at him for calling an aeroplane 'iron bird'. From that incident onwards, we often continued disturbing him whenever we saw him and got him very angry with us every time. But, boys are boys, it was just for the sake of disturbing him. Although, we had no problem understanding his excitement, happiness and why he called an aeroplane an 'iron bird' instead.

A few years ago, I shared this 'iron bird' story with a young boy (hardly ten years of age) called Adrian. After listening to the story, he laughed and laughed and laughed non stop. And, everytime I bring up the same story he will laugh so loudly, so much so that young Adrian have to cover his mouth with his hand. I can emphatised why young Adrian laughed and enjoyed this story.

But, the fact is, Thomak KaKunta came from the interior and thus have not have the privilege of having a proper education before he joined us. I remember Thomah KaKunta as someone very helpful, strong, cheerful and easy to get along with. But, I have neither heard nor have any news from Thomak KaKunta since the evening we lined-up and bade him 'good-bye' tens of years ago. That evening, we were told that Thomak KaKunta is leaving us and have to return home to attend to some very important matters. 

Looking back, Thomak KaKunta was never wrong by calling an aeroplane an 'iron bird' instead. I like to think that he is a very creative person. A person with a 'sharp' attitude. But, far more important to me, I am convinced that there are many lessons that we can draw from and shared with our loved ones in this beautiful story.

............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Updated Saturday May 24th 2008.

Clarity Pays !!!

Fish rearing is my hobby. I used to have two aquariums a few years ago. One of my aquarium was filled with goldfish and was left at the living area. The other was my tropical community tank which I placed in my study. For the tropical community tank, I kept lots of small tropical fishes like tetras, tiger barbs and other tropical varieties.

One day I went to my usual aquatic centre for some neon tetras. (The practice with most aquatic centres is that for every ten purchased, they will give you one for "free"). A young girl in her early 20s attended to me that day.

As she scooped out the neon tetras for me, I asked her "got free?" After a while, she reluctantly answered "sometimes, even got also very late." I started cracking my head asking myself "why is she answering me like that?". I then decided to clarify by telling her that since I bought ten, is there one "free" for me?".

She then happily replied "got."  

I pay for my neon tetras and left the aquatic centre then. Clarity pays !!!