Leave Room for a Change

The son was too straightforward in what he said and never knew how to leave room for a change.About this， his father was worried.He decided to help his son.\"Remember to speak in another way round.Never be too straightforward and rigid.\" the father told him.

Not knowing what his father meant， the boy blinked and kept silent.

However， the father was patient.He tried to teach the dull boy again and again.\"For example，\" the father explained. \"What did you say when the neighbor came to borrow things yesterday? You said ' No， we haven't.' That won't do.That's too rigid.If anyone comes to borrow something next time， do not say 'No， we haven't'， nor 'Yes，we have. 'Just say 'Some of them are at home. Some are not.' That's a good way to speak. Can you remember?\"

The son seemed to understand.

A few days later， a man came and called on them.

\"Is your father at home?\" the man asked.

The boy kept silent for a moment， thinking of what his father had taught him， and then replied calmly， \"Some of them are at home. Some are not.\"

兒子說話很直，從來不知道說話要留有余地。爸爸為此很擔(dān)心，于是決定好好地教導(dǎo)教導(dǎo)兒子。他對兒子說:“以后說話一定要靈活些，千萬不要把話說得太絕對?！?/p>

兒子還不太明白其中的道理，只好眨巴著眼睛看著爸爸。

不過，爸爸很有耐心，他不厭其煩地一遍遍開導(dǎo)這個遲鈍的孩子。他對兒子解釋說:“比如說吧，昨天鄰居來借東西，你是怎么說的?你說:‘沒有!’這可不行，話說得太絕對了。今后如果再遇到這類事情，不要直接說‘沒有’，也不要說‘有’。就說‘有的在家，有的不在家’。這就把話說靈活了。記住了嗎?”

兒子似乎明白了。

幾天后，他家來了一位客人。

“你爸爸在家嗎?”客人問道。

兒子默默地思考了一下爸爸對他的教導(dǎo)，然后非常鎮(zhèn)靜地回答說:“有的在家，有的不在家。”