Member-only story
The Boy Who Would Not Sing
And the man whose voice saved everyone
Since ancient times the Bendolo people celebrated those among them with beautiful singing voices. Children were encouraged to sing before they could speak. Around the campfire each night the people sang well into the night. In the mornings they gathered together facing east and sang to the sun as though coaxing it to rise up into the sky. During times of drought they would sing to the clouds as though imploring them to release their water. Their leader was always chosen based on their singing abilities.
Then one day a little boy was born. He seemed perfectly normal and healthy but when he was old enough to sing he refused. All the Bendolo people were very concerned. Obviously something was very wrong with this child.
When he was a young boy the people relentlessly pleaded with him to sing and finally one day in front of all the people he opened his mouth and sang. It turned out the child was profoundly tone-deaf. His singing was like a thousand fingernails on a chalkboard. Everyone quickly covered their ears with their hands. They never again asked him to sing.
Each night around the campfire all the people sang except for the boy. He just sat against a tree trunk watching all the people.
