The hostess had just moved into a new house. No sooner had she finished putting things in order than the power suddenly went out, plunging the room into darkness.
Just as she reached for a candle and matches, someone knocked at the door.
Opening the door, she found a boy looking up at her, his hands behind his back. "Auntie, do you have a candle?" he asked.
'How could this be?' she thought. 'I've only been here a day, and already a neighbor is sending a child to borrow things. Isn't this just taking advantage of the newcomer? If I lend a candle today, tomorrow they'll be back for onions, ginger, and garlic. No, absolutely not!'
"Oh, what a shame," the hostess replied. "I just moved in and haven't prepared any candles." With that, she began to close the door.
"Auntie, look! My mum asked me to bring these to you." The little boy brought his hands forward and proudly held up two thick candles, as if performing a magic trick.
Facing the child's clear, glistening eyes, the hostess was stunned. She leaned weakly against the doorframe, covered her face with her hands, and could not bring herself to meet his gaze.