Once, while driving to his office in Tokyo, an American army captain encountered a flat tire. He examined the damage, looked at his pristine uniform, and fetched his tools to begin changing the tire. This unexpected delay meant he might be late for an appointment.

As he worked, he noticed a young Japanese boy watching him with great curiosity. The boy didn’t say a word but wore a mischievous grin. Ignoring the boy’s amusement, the captain continued with his task, wondering why a flat tire could be funny.

Just as he was about to finish replacing the tire, he realized that the young boy had disappeared. He didn’t give it much thought since he couldn’t fathom what was amusing about a flat tire anyway. But to his surprise, the boy returned, carrying a bowl of hot water, a bar of soap, and a towel.

Reference: Ripples 2
Source: Periscope