The story is about a boy with a difficult character. His father gives him nails and tells him to hammer one into the fence each time he loses his temper. The first day he hammers 37 nails. Over time, as he learns to control himself, fewer nails are hammered each day. Eventually he is able to control his temper completely and removes all the nails. His father tells him that while the nails are gone, the holes they left in the fence will always remain, just as arguments leave wounds that don't fully heal. The passage concludes with advice about friendship, love, and life lessons.

1. A Tale of Nails

2. Once upon a time there was a boy with a very difficult character. His father gave him a bag full of nails and told him to drive one nail into the garden fence every time he lost his patience or had an argument with someone.

3. The first day the boy drove 37 nails into the garden fence. In the following weeks, the boy learned to control himself and the number of nails driven into the fence got lower every day. The boy discovered that it is easier to learn to control himself than to hammer nails into the fence.

4. At last, the day came when the boy did not drive any nails into the garden fence. Then he went to his father and told him that on that day he did not need to hammer any nails into the fence.

5. His father then told the boy to take out one nail from the fence for every day he succeeded in controlling his temper and not loosing his patience. Many days passed and finally the boy told his father that he taken out all the nails from the fence.

6. The father took his son to the front of the fence and told him - ‘My son, you have behaved well, but look how many holes you have left in the fence’.

7. It will never be the same, and so it is when you have an argument with someone, you leave them with wounds like the holes in this fence.

8. If you stab a person with a knife and then take it out, you will always leave a wound. It does not matter how many times you say are sorry, the wound will stay. A wound caused by words hurts just as much as a physical wound. Friends are rare jewels, they make you smile and support you. They are ready to listen to you whenever you need it, they are there to support you and open their heart to you. So always show your friends how much you love and respect them.

9. ‘ A good thing about friendship is to know with whom to confide a secret’ Alessandro Manzoni Please read the following thoughts, they may be useful in your life

10. Give people more than they expect!

11. When you say ‘I love you’, always mean it!

12. When you say ‘I am sorry’, look into their eyes!

13. Don’t make fun of other people’s dreams , love deeply and with passion. You may get hurt, but it is the only way to live your life to the full!

14. Do not offend and judge other people according to how their relatives behave!

15. Speak slowly , but think quickly!

16. If someone asks you a question that you do not want to answer, smile and ask them ‘why do they want to know?'

17. Remember that the greatest love and the greatest success involve the greater risks!

18. When you loose, do not miss the lesson!

19. Smile when you answer the phone, who calls you will be able to hear it in your voice!

21. Do not let a small misunderstanding ruin a great friendship; when you realise you have made a mistake, correct it immediately!

22. ... and always remember that sometimes not getting what you want may be quite fortunate!