Author: Sweety Vyas
In this world, relationships are essential. It provides companionship, support, and happiness.
Being harmonious with each other is easy when all is going well. However adverse situations can
shake you up, causing you to behave in unexpected ways. You can say and do things that you
wish you had rather not. One thing can escalate into another and soon you find yourself caught
up in a storm of negative emotions. How can you get out of this and mend your broken
relationship? Let me share an Appalachian tale that has been around for a while that reflects
this.
Old Joe lived in the country and his neighbor was his best friend. Their spouses had died a few
years back. The children were grown up and living on their own. All they had was their farm and
each other.
Then one day they had an argument. It was about a trivial matter, a stray calf which both
claimed belonged to them. Both of them refused to give in. Weeks went by. Old Joe was truly
miserable…
Then one day, there was a knock at his front door. A young man was standing at the doorway.
He was carrying with him a wooden tool box. He enquired, “Do you have anything you need
fixing? I am a carpenter and am looking for some work.”
Old Joe replied, “Yes. I do have something for you to do.” He took him to his kitchen window
and pointed at his neighbor’s farm. He said, “Do you see the creek that is running between our
farms? He put in there recently and then flooded it. It was done to irritate me. Now this creek
separates us. I am so angry with him. I want you to build tall a fence along the creek. So that it
hides his farm from me.”
The carpenter replied, “Sure. I’ll go ahead. I think you will be pleased with the results.” The
carpenter began his work. He took the supplies from the barn and worked diligently.
Meanwhile, Joe went to the town for some work. When he returned in the evening, he was
speechless when he saw what the carpenter had built. Instead of a tall fence, across the creek
he saw a beautiful and sturdy bridge with railings. And on the other side he saw his neighbor
waving his hands enthusiastically. The neighbor crossed the bridge and remarked, “I am so glad
you built the bridge after all the unpleasantness between us. I am happy we are going to be
friends. You can have the calf, it is yours.” They hugged each other, expressing their joy through
tears of happiness.
Both at them looked at the carpenter who was getting ready to leave. Joe said, “Don’t go. You
did a great job. My neighbor and I have several projects which can keep you busy for some
time.”
The carpenter smiled at both of them and remarked, “I can’t stay. I have other bridges that
need to be built.”
With that he walked away, whistling merrily ….
Relationships require care and nurturing. Forgiving frees us and others. Should we build bridges
or fences? It is our choice; one does not have to be a carpenter to do that. One leads to
happiness and the other separates us.
Versions of this story have been around for a long time. An account is found in “Thirty-Three Multicultural Tales to
Tell” by Pleasant DeSpain. This is my adaptation of the story.
