I want to see your face....

( A story from Taipei, Taiwan ) 

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          Even a minute wasn't over when I realized that I couldn't do this anymore and I had to open my eyes now. Colors burst in my vision and I felt relief wash over me. This was not going t be easy. I decided to try again. As soon as I closed my eyes, I heard a squeaking sound and opened my eyes in fright. I let out a sigh of relief when I found out that it was just Si Hao's shoes rubbing against the bench. " Si Hao's shoes are filthy again aren't they ?" asked Jack. I was awestruck. Here I was, Zhang Tuo Ye, trying to step into my best friend, Jack's world for sometime and failing miserably! Whereas Jack knew perfectly what was happening where. I looked on as his long slender fingers we arranging all the books and  stationary with perfect precision, and gaped at him! He turned to me and said," I don't need to see it, I can smell his shoes, Zhang."

              They called him visually impaired, but I knew the amount of miracles that he could perform. Jack cold sense his friend's presence from across the room and know when they were happy, angry, sad or simply bored. It was truly amazing to see the amazing work that he did.He was a shy, enthusiastic kid with an amazing smile. You couldn't help but smile back at him. I was in 5th grade then, studying in National Taipei University of Education Experimental Elementary School and Jack was 16. We became friends due to the constant interactions that we had when he came to my mum for tutions.A constant tap - tapping sound brings me back from the " having - a - conversation - with - self - world." " What is it? What is bothering you Jack?" asks my mother.He answered," I want to be able to see each one of my friends!" Oh! yes, I forgot to tell you about how Jack see's his best friends. He touches our faces and after that he says that he knows just how we look.We suggested that why not he go and talk to people, but he said he felt shy. We decided that we will talk about this at school the next day.

      There was a lot of discussion and fight, but at the end we came up with a brilliant idea! We decided that we will make cards on behalf of Jack and distribute them among people. After a lot of mocking each other's drawing's, skills, the cards were ready and we distributed them to some of his classmates. The initial resistance soon turned into a lot of enthusiasm and even the classmates who had not been given a card, lined up to get their faces felt by Jack. All of them were very excited and kept on asking Jack of he could really see them. There was laughter all around and we were elated!!! Jack asked them if it felt weird, but all of them were jumping around and shouting at the same time.  All of us felt really happy seeing Jack this way. The sense of pride was extremely strong and the positive response that we got  motivated us even more. We spread more awareness about Jack's campaign. He told us something that surprised us even more. Jack had never felt his mother's face, and he was shy to ask her. We chuckled and dragged him home. He asked is mom if he could touch her face, a shy smile playing on his lips. His mom agreed in an instant and it was simply magical to see the mother - son duo have a bubble time of their own. " You have such a small nose, mother!' Jack exclaimed and all of us burst out laughing. Jack's mother joined in too, her cheeks wet it the tears of joy! Jack could now see all his loved ones. The postcards were a huge success!!!!