Itissaidthatthisbasedonatruestory,whetheritisrealornot,Iguessitisnotimportant. “CanIseemybaby?”thehappynewmotherasked.Whenthebundlewasnestledinherarmsandshemovedthefoldofclothtolookuponhistinyface,shegasped.Thedoctorturnedquicklyandlookedoutthetallhospitalwindow.Thebabyhadbeenbornwithoutears.Timeprovedthatthebaby’shearingwasprefect.Itwasonlyhisappearancethatthemarredtravelindustry. Whenherushedhomeformschoolonedayandflunghimselfintohismother’sarms.Shesighed,knowingthathislifewastobeasuccessionofheartbreaks.Heblurtedoutthetragedy,“Aboy,abigboy…calledmeafreak.”Hegrewup,handsomebutforhismisfortune.Afavoritewithhisfellowstudents,hemighthavebeenclasspresident,butforthat.Hedevelopedagift,atalentforliteratureandmusicYoubeauty. Theboy’sfatherhadasessionwiththefamilyphysician,“Couldnothingbedone?”“IbelieveIcouldgraftonapairofouterears,iftheycouldbegotten.”Thedoctordeclared.Theysearchedforapersonwhocouldmakesuchagreatsacrificefortheyoungman.Twoyearswentby.Oneday,hisfathersaidtotheson,“You’regoingtothehospital,son.MotherandIhavesomeonewhowilldonatetheearsyouneed.Buttheidentityofthedonorisasecret.” Theoperationwasabrilliantsuccess,andanewpersonemerged.Histalentsblossomedintogenius. Schoolandcollegebecameaseriesoftriumphs.Hemarriedandenterthediplomaticservice. Hewouldaskhisfather:“Whogavemetheears?Whogavemesomuch?Icouldneverdoenoughforhimorher.”“Idonotbelieveyoucould.”Saidthefather,“buttheagreementwasthatyouarenottoknow…notyet.” Theyearskepttheirprofoundsecret,butthedaydidcome.Hestoodwithhisfatheroverhismother’scasket.Slowly,tenderly,thefatherstretchedforthhishandandraisedthethick,reddish-brownhairtorevealthatthemotherhadnoouterearsYoubeauty. “Mothersaidshewasgladshenevergotherhaircut,”hisfatherwhisperedgently,andnobodyeverthoughtmotherlessbeautiful,didthey?”