Young Writers Society

It is about the young man named Seba. He was left deaf when he was very young after a ravaging fever. So he cannot speak properly and can only "hear" by lip-reading (this is the first century, so there is no established sign language).

Because he cannot hear, Seba is incredibly focused on sight, taste, and smell. He is phenomenally observant, which makes up for his deafness. Due to his strangeness and his inability to speak, people think he is a lunatic/demoniac, so he wanders Judaea alone.

Seba remembers that his parents were devout Jews, but believes that whatever gods are out there have cursed him.

During his travels, he meets a man in a meadow. Through his exceptional observations, he believes there is something odd about the man.

Seba approaches him and they begin talking with each other (of course, Seba only reads lips and attempts to speak). The man says his name is Yeshua. He tells Seba to be still. Yeshua spits on the ground, smears the mud/dirt on his hands and then sticks his fingers in Seba's hears. All of the sudden, Seba can hear.

Yeshua then places his finger on Seba's tongue, allowing him to speak with clarity.

Struck with awe, Seba finds himself in an entirely new world of hearing and is forced to accept the reality that this man has just healed him. He tells Yeshua that he will forever be in his debt and Yeshua warns him, though, not to tell anyone about the healing. Seba is confused and asks why. Yeshua says it is because he wants people to focus on his message, not his miracles.

Seba asks what Yeshua's message is. Yeshua says "I gave you the ears to hear it." And reveals he is the king of heaven.

• Silent World
• Seba's Silence
• How I Gained My Hearing (that one's kinda lame, but if you like it, go ahead!)
• Hearing Healed
• Speech Found

a little bird An undisclosed source; a secret witness; intuition. This phrase refers to the ubiquitous yet unobtrusive nature of a small bird that, theoretically at least, is able to observe many covert goings-on as it flies through the air. Since the beginning of recorded history (and no doubt before), birds have been respected and, at times, revered for their godlike powers of flight and sight. Many Greek and Roman soothsayers cited their purported understanding of avian language as a source of their knowledge and intuitive or psychic abilities. According to the Koran, the sacred book of Islam, Solomon was advised of Queen Sheba’s activities by a tiny lapwing, and Muhammad himself was counseled by a pigeon. In addition, some early religious woodcuts show various popes listening to the whispered advice of a small bird. These and many other legends have given rise to the almost universal adage, a little bird told me, an expression indicating that the speaker knows a secret or other confidential matter by virtue of intuition or some undisclosed source.

Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. (Ecclesiastes 10:20)

I have a thing for cryptic titles.