That shop? Well, now. I tell you a story.
Chinleyuego Aboagyem was born without eyes. A curse to his parents, though they loved him.
The young boy perfectly remembered everything he heard. By the age of five, he could speak as well as any adult in English, Akan, Dagaare, Twe, and Ewe. After a single hearing of a book of Scripture, he could repeat it letter-perfect. By the age of seven, he could recite both the Old and New Testaments in their entirety without a single error.
One day his cousin Ade brought Chinleyuego a small engine to play with. Without sight, the boy disassembled the motor, repaired it and put it back together in the space of an hour, his hands seeming to move of their own accord.
His reputation spread. Others brought their motorcycles, their cars. He repaired them all.
Miracles are everywhere if we will but look for them.
Miraculous child.
Great voice! Like the implication that of all the wonders of his many gifts, it is the practical one that takes hold.
The title of your story startled me – I didn’t think you ‘did’ God; in fact, I suspect rather the opposite. But when I read the story I understood your thinking; there are quite enough miracles in life without looking for them from some deus ex machina. And, although I’m a believer myself, I tend to agree with you. Good story whichever way you cut it.
Funny, I saw this very sentence on a bumper sticker later in the day.
beautiful – and I just heard a blind boy sing a song (open the eyes of my heart – ironically) at a church (an old video) and I guess his birth mother was doing drugs and this other family adopted him as a baby in 2002. and he sang so sweetly –
and so that was fresh in my mind as I read your fiction.
Oh and it also reminded me a little bit (very little) of the Book of Eli movie (which I did’t love – but I love your fiction because we covered so much and seemed to mature with the main character as he found his niche with repairs.
oh – and well the real miracle and is that good mechanics are a dying breed
That is true! I’m just glad he isn’t a barber!
bwahhhhhh
that was super fun reply –
and again, such a fun fiction here. I continued to find more elements when i came back to integrate it into my story.
and side note – it is a very sophisticated writing style to be able to cottle and unfold topics without revealing author’s view – or maybe you did – but I read the comments about the God topic – and it seems you have left it vague as to what JHC feels about God and miracles and wrote this piece with a neutrality that allowed characters to “be who they be” completely and free.
Love this, Josh. When one sense is taken away, the others amplify… not always so wonderfully as this child’s though.
thought provoking….
A lovely tale that warms the heart. Chinleyuego is the main hero, but Ade must be a brilliant cousin.
Dear Josh,
It’s amazing what a person can accomplish, isn’t it? Well written and heartwarming.
Shalom,
Rochelle
What an interesting story to go with a puzzling sign. A beautiful message and an impressive kid. Im glad that,in the focus on the “curse” of his disability, his talents were not overlooked.
The boy had talent and special capability.
& that’s what we call a prodigy. His parents ought to be proud.