Virtues of Thrift

Angah pegang, Along suap, k? (You hold, I serve, agree?)
The older brother, Along, said to his younger brother, Angah, while giving the cup of ice-cream he has just bought. He was to hold the small spoon for doing the serving acts. With only one cup of ice-cream they have to resort to sharing. Only minutes ago the mother gave the older brother just enough money to buy a cup from the fast food outlet nearby, under her watchful eye. She looked like one who can actually buy bucketfuls of ice-cream, but may be doing so out of need to train the kids to have just enough, and not getting everything too easily.
It seemed that synergy or win-win partnership has been practiced even by the young. Even perhaps by us, unconsciously or naturally, when we were young. But as we accumulate our age, it gradually becomes unnatural, and we have to re-discover it in order to practice it once again. We give it new expanded meaning: synergy, win-win partnership, smart partnership, cooperation, etc. It works, but not all the time since one important ingredient must always be part of the deal, and sometimes that ingredient is simply lacking or non-existent. That ingredient is trust. Angah trusted that Along, in holding the spoon, would be fair in serving the ice-cream. Along trusted Angah that he will not be running away with the only cup of ice-cream. The mother also helps the cooperation to work, by acting as an arbitrator, if the partnership did not work; and the kids knew that.
On the first serving of ice-cream by Along to Angah, Nakamora made his way to the escalator towards the parking lot. Another lesson today, he talked to himself, and he was grateful.