How can indirect communication be effective and why do people do it?

For example:

My husbands kids will often come to me and say "I have a recital at church tomorrow" When what they mean is "Can you go to my recital tomorrow?"

or another example.

My husband's ex-wife calls and says to my husband "I hope you got something nice for your wife for Valentines day" when what she's fishing for is for us to ask her what she got for Valentine's Day.



I don't understand this type of communication..

Why can't they just ask for what they want instead of twisting words and phrases?How can indirect communication be effective and why do people do it?
It's a way of testing people to see if they really care, or if they will just blow you off. Aren't human interactions fascinating?How can indirect communication be effective and why do people do it?
Be an example of honesty and it will be contagious. Hold the pure image of their perfection and they will grow into it.How can indirect communication be effective and why do people do it?
If you could show me one example of communication that ISN'T indirect, then I will give you a million dollars. We think we know what we want, but it never works out that way. Similarly when we talk to other people we present a fragment of what we are trying to express, and then try to make something "whole" out of that. And when you say "what they actually mean", I'm saying THAT'S what is actually being expressed and not the words themselves, which mean nothing without the context in which they live. Just be grateful for these people in your life, and god (if he truly exists) will reward you with happiness.