Shy Sally | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Shy Sally | Previous Challenge Entry
By LeslieJean Anderson
09/14/16
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

By the sixth grade, Sally’s parents were sure their daughter was slightly retarded. It wasn’t because of her grades – she was often on the honor roll. It wasn’t because of her behavior, which was mostly good at home and at school. It was because she wouldn’t speak in social settings, including school.

Sally’s personality was charming in the security of family settings. There was nothing wrong with her brain or her vocal cords. She chattered incessantly to her dolls and to her dog. As she grew, she would sometimes interact with her much younger cousins, and occasionally with older family members who seemed lonely.

But her inability to interact at school puzzled everyone. The more people in the room, the more withdrawn she’d become. Eventually she was given some tests. The answer came back: selective mutism.

Her parents learned that Sally was not being stubborn or willful when she did not engage in conversation with people. She simply couldn’t speak in many situations, even when she tried. After a few years everyone around her just came to accept it. And so did she. They called her “shy Sally.”

In spite of her limitations, Sally grew into a smart young woman. She read voraciously and began to write poetry, most of it about beauty, God and heavenly manifestations. She eventually became a librarian, and easily found her voice when someone needed help with the books or the computers.

It was in the library that Ian first saw her. Hiding behind a huge stack of law books, he watched her work with some young students. Soon he was completely smitten.

Ian was a law student at a nearby university, and just about to graduate. He also worked part-time as a lay minister at a large local church. A social life was not in his plans. But when he decided to introduce himself to the pretty librarian, that all changed.

It took him a year of library attendance to get her to go on a date with him. Sally had become used to his presence by then, and they enjoyed a comfortable familiarity. Ian was by nature talkative and Sally was happy to mostly listen. But then Sally began to read her poetry to him. He in turn began to read the sermons he wrote. Soon they were going to Bible studies together.

Their marriage was a great relief to Sally’s parents. She’d never dated in high school or college, but somehow she’d snagged a fine man who was devoted to her. Her family was overjoyed.

Within two years a little girl was born to them. But two years after that, the child died suddenly. That was when Ian first learned about Sally’s condition. She did not speak for a year. She was mostly functional but almost completely mute. When she did make eye contact, Ian saw only pain. She eventually went back to the library working silently in the back rooms with the books and computers.

Ian was wild with concern, constantly worried that he would lose his wife after losing his daughter. Finally he decided to fast weekly and pray daily for Sally’s healing. He also submitted her name to several powerful prayer groups. And then he waited on the Lord. Months went by.

Early one morning Ian opened his eyes to find Sally looking at him, her head still on the pillow. The pain in her eyes was gone.

“I love you, Ian,” she whispered.

Ian began to cry. He gathered her hands in his and kissed them over and over.

“Oh, Sally - I thought I’d lost you forever.”

“I had a dream, Ian. I dreamed that I was alone in a small boat in a terrible storm, paralyzed with fear. It was all I could do to breathe. But I could hear you calling my name. And then Someone came towards me, walking on the water. I thought it was you, but it was Jesus. He calmed the storm, the sun came out and then suddenly you were in the boat with me.”

“He healed you, Sally,” Ian whispered.

After that morning, Sally improved quickly, returning to her former position at the library. Her interest in church activities also sharpened, and one day she told Ian she wanted to address the congregation.

“What do you want to say?” asked Ian, incredulous.

“I want to hold the microphone in my hands and tell everyone in that big church about the miracles God has performed in our lives.”

748 words This is a work of fiction.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.