Situation: Henry is having problems with his homework. His friend
Tim is having problems with building a doll house. They are seeking each
other’s help.
Tim: Henry, what are you
doing?
Henry: I have been trying
to solve this physics problem for the last half hour, and I still have no idea
how to do it.
Tim: When do you have to
turn it in?
Henry: It is due at the
end of this week.
Tim: Well, it is only
Monday. Why don’t you get some after-school-tutoring tomorrow?
Henry: I have to sign up
for it first. I guess I will go sign up for the Wednesday session tomorrow.
Tim: You should reread
the chapter before you show up for the session. It will help you understand the
subject matter better.
Henry: OK, I will do that.
Tim: Now that your
problem is solved, I need you to lend me a hand with my problem.
Henry: What is up?
Tim: I need to build a
new doll house for Nancy. I was putting her doll house away, and somehow I
accidentally dropped it. It was broken into pieces.
Henry: How clumsy of you!
Does she know?
Tim: I told her about
it. I could not lie to her.
Henry: How did she take
it?
Tim: My sister really liked
that doll house, and obviously she was not very happy. But, I told her
Henry: Me? Help you? I
have never built anything in my life.
Tim: Me neither. But,
don’t worry. Putting together pieces of wood is not going to be difficult.
Henry: It is more than
just putting pieces of wood together. You need to put in windows and doors.
Have you thought about how you would do that?
Tim: Who says houses
need to have windows and doors?
Henry: So, you are going
to build a doll house with no windows and no doors?
Tim: Yes, I do not see
anything wrong with that. Do you?
Henry: No. It makes the
project easier to handle now. But, are you sure that Nancy will not mind having
a doll house with no doors and no windows?
Tim: Yes, I am sure.
Henry: Are you sure that
Nancy will find this doll house with no doors and no windows prettier
Tim: No, I am not sure.
Why do you have to make things so complicated?
Henry: I am not trying to
complicate things. You did tell Nancy that the new doll house would be better
than the one you broke. I just want to remind you of your promise.
Tim: Ah, I wish I have
not touched her doll house! What should I do then?
Henry: Get help from
somebody who knows how to build a doll house. I would not be of any help to you
in this project.
Tim: Who do you suggest
I ask?
Henry: Mr. Brown used to
be a carpenter. He will be glad to help you out. Why don’t you give
him a call, and see
whether he has some free time.
Tim: You are right. It
will take us forever to build this doll house. With Mr. Brown’s help, I can finish
it in no time.
Henry: OK, now that your
problem is solved, can you help me trim the trees in the back yard?
Tim: Who? Me? Trim the
trees in your back yard? It will take us ages to trim those trees. Let’s see
who is good at trimming trees. Ah, you can ask Mr. Brown. He is also good at
trimming trees. And, when you ask for his help, please ask him to help me build
a doll house also.
