Super hearing

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Super Hearing (by Sita Krishnan)

 

 

A man and his friend were in a city, walking through the street. It

was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with

people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing

around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were

almost deafening. Suddenly, the man said to his friend, " I hear a

cricket. "

 

His friend said, " What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly

hear a cricket in all of this noise! "

 

" No, I'm sure of it, " the man said, " I heard a cricket. "

 

" That's crazy, " said the friend.

 

The man listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the

street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He

looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he

located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed. " That's

incredible, " said his friend. " You must have super-human ears! "

 

" No, " said the man. " My ears are no different from yours. It all

depends on what you're listening for. "

 

" But that can't be! " said the friend. " I could never hear a cricket

in this noise. "

 

 

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" Yes, it's true, " came the reply. " It depends on what is really

important to you. Here, let me show you. "

 

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly

dropped them on the sidewalk. And then, with the noise of the

crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head

within twenty feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on

the pavement was theirs.

 

" See what I mean? " asked the man.

 

" It all depends on what's important to you. "