Dr. Aris worked at a quiet research center nestled in the hills. One evening, while driving back from the city, his car suddenly hit a sharp stone, and the rear tire went flat with a loud pop. He pulled over to the side of the road, but the area was lonely, surrounded by thick bushes and rocky terrain. He waited for a while, hoping for a passerby, but no one came.
"I'll have to do this myself," Dr. Aris muttered. He gathered his tools and began the difficult task of changing the tire. However, just as he removed the flat tire, the four heavy metal bolts holding the wheel slipped from his hands and tumbled down into a narrow, deep drainage ditch nearby. Dr. Aris stared at the ditch in despair; it was too narrow for him to reach down and grab them.
Just then, a young man named Leo, who lived at the research center, walked by on his evening stroll. Seeing the doctor's distress, Leo approached him. Dr. Aris explained the situation, feeling completely stuck.
Leo didn't panic. He looked at the car, then at the ditch, and a smile spread across his face. "Don't worry, Doctor. We can fix this with what we have right now," Leo said.
"Here is the plan," Leo explained. "Take one bolt from each of the other three tires. That gives you four bolts. Now, use those four bolts along with the remaining bolts to put three bolts on each of the four tires. This will make the car stable enough to drive slowly. Once we reach the mechanic's shop just a mile down the road, we can buy four new bolts and secure all the wheels properly."
Dr. Aris was stunned by the logic. "Leo, you are incredibly brilliant! Why are you staying at the research center?" he asked in wonder.
Leo laughed softly and replied, "I may see the world a little differently, Doctor, but my mind works just fine!"
Moral
Calm thinking can solve even the most impossible problems.
