Information and communication are important for understanding.

This friend has much interest in aquaculture landscaping. In aquaculture landscaping, plants, rocks and hard wood able to withstand rot in water are used to beautify an aquarium. To ensure there is no opportunity for mosquito larvae to thrive, two or three small fish like the neon tetra and guppies are put into the aquarium.

Such an enthusiast as this friend is always on the lookout for beautiful and rare water plants, suitable beautiful rocks and wood to use for attaching plants as well as decorating the aquarium. So it was that one day this friend happened upon a piece of mahogany wood which attracted his attention with its shape and texture. It was a beautiful piece of wood and he was so happy to part with thirty ringgit in exchange for it. He took it back with great delight for having been fortunate enough to chance upon it before another enthusiast did. For him it was a good buy.

He took it home and left it on the table in the hall. When his parents asked about it, he quickly passed it off as just a nice piece of wood he found somewhere. He knew his parents would disapprove of spending thirty ringgit on a piece of wood. Believing that his parents need not know of the price and thus possibly make complains about his purchase, he decided to keep the price a secret.

The hand-phone rang and some friends wanted to meet him outside. He joined them and spent a good number of hours in their good company. By the time they separated it was late in the evening. So, he returned and went looking for his piece of wood but it could not be found. Unable to find it, he gave up the search and approached his father to enquire about it.

“Oh, you mean that piece of wood you brought back this afternoon. Come. I’ll show you how useful it is,” the father happily told his son.
“What do you mean? Where is it?” He followed his father into the garden where he saw some orchid plants tied to some pieces of wood.
“Look! I have cut the piece up for these three orchid plants. The pieces of wood are just right for my orchids. Next time you see such pieces of wood, do bring more of them back.” The father was so proud of being able to display his orchids on such beautiful pieces of wood. The poor guy could not say anything. How was he to blame his father when he never let on that that piece of wood which he brought back was expensive? Would it be right of him to dampen his father’s joy when he did not inform him that he intended to use it for his aquaculture? He knew he had lost something good but it had also taught him a lesson.

From that day onwards, in everything he does, he informs his parents and those around him. He realises that that is the only way to avoid misunderstanding and possible losses.