Once there were two children, a brother and a sister, who played with one another constantly. They were normally good friends and played together well, but we must also admit that they occasionally quarreled. And one afternoon, while playing in the back yard, they quarreled. One had bumped the other, then had been bumped back, and then it escalated to the point where their angry voices could be heard inside the house.
Their father appeared on the back deck and told them both to come over. As they approached, they were both talking at the same time, each trying to be heard first. Their father raised his hand, which they both knew meant they had to stop talking. And so they did.
Their father then sat down on the edge of the deck and his face was level with their faces, and he spoke to them very kindly. “Now, children,” he said, “I was in the house and didn’t see how this happened.” He looked at his son and said, “Why don’t you tell me everything that you did wrong.” After that, he looked immediately at his daughter, “And then you can do the same thing. When you have both told me how you have sinned against the other, I will know the whole story. Does that sound reasonable?”
Both children nodded, not really understanding what he was doing. “Now, what happened?” the father asked.
At this, I am afraid that both children started talking at once, pointing at the other. The father raised his hand again. “No, let me explain this again.” And he did, and then asked again, “Now, what happened?”
Again, the children instinctively started in on the other, but this time their father just raised his eyebrows. He didn’t have to raise his hand. Both children stared at him for a second, and then both of them laughed together.
The brother turned to his sister and said, “I’m sorry for being ugly. Will you forgive me?” His sister nodded. “Of course. Will you forgive me for being ugly too?” Her brother nodded. “Come on, let’s go!” he said, and off they ran.
As the screen door shut behind him, his wife asked, “What was that about?” “Beats me,” the father said.