Roger and Tony were two brothers. They grew up together and since childhood they have always enjoyed a wonderful relationship: played together, shared their toys with one another, and helped one another with the household chores. Their parents were really proud of those two sons. When they finished school they found their jobs and moved to different cities. Finally they got married and built their own families. However, they never lost contact with one another, but they missed the physical presence of one another in their ordinary life.
One day Roger’s neighbour put his house for sale. He immediately called his brother Tony and gave him what he thought would be good news for their families. Tony consulted with his wife, both analyzed the risk of changing jobs and schools and it didn’t take too long before making a decision. Yes! The decision was made. Tony decided to put his house for sale and to be the next door neighbour of his brother. Everything was going very well. Both shared the same front yard and took care of each other’s lawn and garden. The two joined front yards became a common field for their children to play together. Things were going very well and both families felt very happy about being next door neighbours.
But one day something happened. It was something very small. Situations like this always start with small things. I learned a long time ago that the difference between a good and a bad relationship is the level of communication. These small things happen, are ignored, but the feelings stay there. With this «small thing» their relationship was not the same anymore. They started being cold to one another. Their children were advised not to play with their cousins and to watch more TV instead. This was before cell phones. Finally they stopped talking with each other and as it is obvious it affected the entire family.
One day, Tony, (the youngest) decided to do something very ugly. He hired a caterpillar excavator machine and opened a trench between the two houses. What had been a beautiful garden and a playfield for cousins was transformed into an ugly trench. Revenge was growing along with pain for both families. One day Roger was at home when somebody rang the bell of his house. When he opened the door a man introduced himself saying: «Sorry for bothering you. I am a carpenter and I do small jobs. I am wandering if you have something I can do for you. People say that I am a good carpenter and I don’t charge too much. And this is my way of making a living». Roger thought for a while and then had a devilish smile. «Yes. I have a job for you». And then he told the story of his relationship with his brother and how it ended in a trench. «Come and I will show you something. Do you see that wood? I would like you to come tomorrow morning and build a fence high enough. I don’t want to see that man anymore and I don’t want him and his family to see me and my family anymore».
The following morning, Roger went to work and left everything ready for the carpenter to build the fence. Roger spent the day «enjoying» the feeling of revenge. But when he got home he was shocked by a stunning surprise. Instead of a fence he found a beautiful and artistic bridge uniting the two sides of the trench. The children were already playing and crossing the bridge. Tony was already on his side waiting for him and ran to him with a big hug, apologizing for what he had done. «I am sorry Roger. After opening that stupid trench, you have built a bridge». The two families reunited again, ordered pizza, beer and Coca-Cola for dinner, and Roger, after talking with his wife, approached the carpenter and invited him to stay overnight. But the carpenter answered: «Unfortunately I have to leave because I still have many bridges to build».