No sight required to love me 

No sight required to love me.

By Samantha C Sinclair

This is a short stand alone story about a police officer who sees potential in a young visually impaired woman when no one else does. Her family has turned their back on her, most of them anyway, and no one in town thinks she should be hired for the job she so wants. Can he convince her she is worth it, and help grow Cinthia’s support system? She clings to her faith in God. But he isn’t sure. Can she convince him God can be trusted?

Other books by Samantha 

The God’s Silver Lining Book Series

• Emergency Romance 
• One Step Toward Faith
• Over and over again
• THE KEEPER OF MY SOUL
• God’s Shining Through
• Amazing God

Prayer Closet Devotional Series

• Prayer Closet subtitled January 
• Prayer Closet subtitled February 
• Prayer Closet Subtitled March

Stand alone title

A Glimmer Of Hope

Vince watched the last of the sun set. God had to care to create such beauty, right? Vince Wall put his patrol car in drive. He had a job to do. 

He called in service on his police radio. Then he went through the coffee shop drive through to grab his favorite coffee. He picked up two extra cups for Sarah and Jennie. They were his dispatchers, his life line, for this shift. As he turned on to the street that led to the dispatch center, his mother’s name popped up on his phone.

”Hi mom.”

”I just wanted to remind you about Sunday dinner. Your sister and I expect you to be here. Your dad does too.”

”Bad wolves couldn’t keep me away,” he smiled.

”Good son. I can tell you are driving. Love you bye.”

”Love you. Bye Mom.”

His mother might be nearing ninety, but there was nothing wrong with those retired dispatcher ears.

As he entered the radio room, he caught the end of a hushed conversation. He paused to listen.

”She has no business working here.”

”Right. What could she bring to our well working team?”

He walked around the corner at that time.

”Who we talking about ladies? Did they find a new hire?”

”Well, not yet.”

Sarah threw Jennie a look that said more than enough. 

“Some blind person put in. Walked up in here with that long stick thing. Looks like she could trip you.”

”But as for the job,” sniffed Jennie, “Why would they hire her? We don’t need an in the way person during emergencies.”

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Vince thought of taking the coffee to his mother and sister. He sat them down a little harder than usual, splashing coffee on the desk. Jennie grabbed a napkin.

”What was that for?”

”I think you two are the ones who don’t deserve the job. What is her name?”

”Cinthia Greenwail,” Jennie snorted, “Greenwail.”

”You two need help.”

He left the building as the ladies continued their rude laughter. He never thought them to have been so rude.

When he climbed back in his patrol car, he looked up Cinthia Greenwail. She was a nice looking young woman, about thirty. So was he. She had a lot of things posted on her social media about God. The fact her faith remained strong despite her eye sight said a lot.

The next morning at seven, he headed back to Dispatch. Mary Anne, the supervisor was working today. He called, and let her know he was coming in for a serious talk.

Five minutes later, they were behind her closed office door.

He told her about events the night before, and his feelings on the matter.

”I’m with them. I don’t have time to train her.”

”Whom ever you hire, unless they are experienced, you are going to have to train.”

”Look Sheriff Wall, if you want my job you can have it. I am ready to retire now. But as long as I’m in charge, we are not hiring someone who needs supervision twenty four seven. She probably can’t even make her own meals.”

”This is flat out discrimination. You know that, right?”

”She will never know. We will hire someone with more experience, or who has reliable transportation.”

’You don’t even know Cinthia or her situation.”

”I don’t care. End of this. If you get involved in any way, I’ll see you lose your badge.”

An hour after the get me no where talk, Vince walked in the local diner. Milley waved from behind the counter. He nodded to confirm he wanted his usual. He headed to join Jack, his deputy, and Ray. Ray was a seasoned dispatcher, and sometimes he let it go to his head. 

When Vince sat down, Ray asked what he thought on the topic of some blind person dispatching. 

“Not you all too. I feel sorry for you both. Jack, right this minute I’m sorry I hired you.”

Vince shoved back and stood.

”Milley I’ll take my food to go.”

”You running to arrest someone?”

”No Milley, I’m headed to meet a future Dispatcher.”

Vince easily found the address. A fence surrounded the small house and yard. A little girl with brown curls played. As he drove up the little girl grabbed hands with a tall slim woman. A woman with the prettiest blue eyes he had ever seen. That had to be Cinthia. He hardly noticed the white cane in her right hand. She swept it back and forth to the end of the drive.

”Can we help you?”

”Are you Cinthia?”

”I am, and you are?”

”He is a cop Mommy. Just like my Daddy.”

At that, the woman had to compose herself.

”Your daughter is right. I am the Sheriff. I was wondering could I speak to you for a minute?”

“What about?”

She swung the gate open.

He followed her to the front porch. Her daughter went back to her game of fetch with the puppy.

”Cinthia you applied for the dispatcher opening, right?”

”I did. Did I get turned down?”

”Well that’s what I’mhere about. Cinthia people are not very welcoming to change around here. Also, people forget people with disabilities are capable.”

”I get what you are saying. I’ll look elsewhere. Thank you for coming by.”

”Please hear me out.”

She sat back down.

”Something tells me you are not like the rest of them.”

”You thought right. Cinthia, I want to help you fight for this job. Are you in?”

”If you will tell me exactly what we are fighting against.”

He filled her in.

”I’ve heard most of it all before. My Mom lives in the next town over from here. That’s funny they say I can’t make my own meals. Not only do I make three meals a day for my daughter Sophie and I, but I help Mom with her catering business. I use Ride Grin, our local transportation to get us where we need to go, most of the time. It’s not affordable if you use it often or long distance. There should be better options in small towns for disabled and elderly. But yea, I can fight back with truth.”

”Let’s go.”

”On one condition,” Cinthia let her smile take up her face.

”And that is?”

”Stay for dinner.”

”Good,” he rubbed his stomach, “I’m hungry. And, I can say I’ve personally ate your cooking.”

The next morning Vince was on the Mayor’s door step before the office opened. Unfortunately the Mayor had already gotten wind of the situation.

”Vince this job is to important to get messed up.”

”Like a sighted person doesn’t ever goofe it up?”

”Come on Vince. You know what I mean.”

”Yea Mayor, I do.”

”Good..”

”Yea.”

Vince stood.

”I’m ashamed to work for this county. You should all be ashamed for your actions.”

”Now hold on. You don’t know her.”

”Had dinner with she and her little girl last night, that Cinthia cooked. That was the first time I have ever met her or her daughter. But she deserves a fair chance.”

”A single mother living off the government,” the Mayor muttered.

”She is the widowed wife of a police officer who was murdered in the line of duty. She is a mother trying to provide the best life she can for her little girl who misses her Daddy very much. Now Mayor, what do you have to say?”

”How would she get to work? How would she go to the academy, who would watch her kid?”

“Is she even going to be given a chance Mayor? I know you know.”

”No.”

The Mayor pounded his fist on the desk as though it were a gabble. Poor desk.

”Fine. I was hoping we wouldn’t have to do it this way. See you all in court Mayor.”

”Vince.”

”Yea Mayor?”

”This will cost you your badge.”

Vince walked out to his patrol car, retrieved his extra clothes, and slipped into the men’s room. A couple minutes, and a prayer later, he returned to the Mayor’s office. 

“Here Mayor.”

Vince dropped his uniform, keys to his county car, and informed the Mayor he would return the rest to the department. 

“You are crazy Vince.”

”No. I’m not. This is the best decision I’ve made recently. I’ll be getting her a lawyer.”

The Mayor yelled something as Vince walked away, but he was to busy praying for the next steps to hear him.

The next morning, they dropped Sophie at school. Then headed twenty miles North to the best Lawyer Vince knew. It had taken some pleading to get her to let him pay all costs involved. But on the topic of it leading to a better life for Sophie, she caved.

Over the next month, he, Cinthia, and Sophie were growing closer and closer. She had begged Vince to attend Church with her. It had taken him three weeks, and Sophie Lyn begging. He was going today. Her Mother was pretty much the only family member who gave Cinthia and Sophie the time of day. Her Mother had also hired him as a grill cook. Cinthia’s aunt spoke to her via phone once or twice a year. But that was it. Friends were just as few for mother and daughter. Sophie had a few friends at age five. 

Vince enjoyed the Church service. After dismissal prayer, Sophie went with her Grandma for the afternoon. Vince took Cinthia on a picnic.

”How do you stay so strong?”

”God,” she beamed.

”That’s what I mean. Your Dad leaves, your sight is the way it is, and all this. You cling to Jesus.”

”Don’t you? Vince if it weren’t for HIM, I wouldn’t be here.”

Vince pulled in a quick breath as she spoke.

”When my Dad left, I thought no one loved or wanted me. All my friends turned their back on me when I lost my sight, or most of it, in the accident. It was pretty much my Mother and me.”

”What happened in the accident?”

”I was a cheer leader. My first week at the top. I was a flier. They missed, and didn’t catch me. I hit the ground, headfirst. You get the rest. There was a small brain bleed that grew into the night. Praise God HE took it away.”

”But your sight went along with it.”

”That’s okay. You know why?”

”No. Tell me.”

”After I realized God was truly the only one on my side. I prayed and asked HIM to save me from my sin. But I also asked HIM to save me from my depression. HE did with a promise I would one day see. Vince, that is a promise from my FATHER, and HE doesn’t break them.”

Vince sat speechless.

”I believe in God, I really do. I just have a hard time letting go. But I’m ready now.”

Vince lowered his head, and took her hands. 

“Pray with me?”

”Of course.”

They prayed the next hour, sometimes silently. Sometimes out loud.

After hours spent with the lawyer, and it was clear Cinthia wasn’t interviewed they proceeded with the case. Both praying for an impactful outcome, they walked into the court house hand in hand.

”Everyone who puts in for this job is interviewed, is that correct?”

Their lawyer was standing his ground.

”Well…”

”It is a yes or no question.”

’Yes.”

”Then why was my client disregarded?”

”We didn’t feel your client was capable of performing the job duties.”

”How would you know? That’s all the questions for now. Your Honor, may my client approach?”

”You may.”

Cinthia let Vince lead her to the spot. Despite her calm manner, she was shaking.

”State your name for the court please.”

After she raised her right hand, and made known she would tell the truth and nothing but, they continued.

Their lawyer asked Cinthia a series of questions involving her capabilities. Yes, she could type fluently. She could use technology to do her job. She could use public transportation or other reliable sources to arrive on time. She was willing to work nights, holidays, and weekends, and overtime as needed.

”One more thing. Cinthia, what do you feel you could bring to your emergency personnel and community?”

”As a visually impaired person, my hearing makes up for my sight loss. Hearing is very important skill for a dispatcher to have. Hearing background noise, such as if someone is in a car, or indoors or out. Maybe it’s listening to multiple things at one time. I can bring the hearing.”

”Thank you Cinthia. That’s all for now.”

Using her cane, she returned to their seat. Vince cleared his throat so she knew which way to turn.

”I have one more person to call if I may your Honor.”

”Proceed.”

The Mayor and several others sat on the front row on the opposite side. Their faces looked as though they were steaming.

”Former Sheriff Vince Wall, would you come forward please.”

Vince went through the usual. 

“Mr. Wall happened to have his body cam running in a couple cases where these people willingly made it clear they would willingly discriminate against my client. Is it true you did not realize your cam was recording?”

”True Sir.”

”May we show the footage your Honor?”

”Your Honor,” the counselor for the county stood to his feet.

They had brought in a special judge for this case.

”Sustained. Sit down counselor. Continue.”

After the footage of Vince’s conversation with Jennie and Sarah was shown, the one with the supervisor followed.

”It is my understanding you had some other conversations with others who have influence in this case.

”Yes Sir. My former deputy sheriff, a shift supervisor, and finally the Mayor.”

”Mr Wall,” the Judge spoke up, “Who is Sarah and Jennie to this case?”

”Jennie is a Dispatcher who has no formal say in hire. Sarah on the other hand is involved in the interviewing and HR process of things.”

”Thank you. Continue Counselor.”

”When did you first come to know my client?”

Vince told the story to the court.

”That’s all I have your Honor.”

Vince returned to the seat with Cinthia and her Mom.

”This clearly is a instance of purposeful discrimination. It is not excusable. The law will be upheld in this case.”

Following the judge’s announcement of punishment for those involved, some losing their jobs, he closed the case.”

Outside the court house that evening the sun was setting. The parking lot was pretty much empty. Cinthia’s Mother stood waiting by the car.

”Wait Cinthia. Can I ask you something?”

”Sure.’

He took her hands, and knelt on one knee. He could see her Mother videoing.

”I know it has only been three months. But I feel as though I’ve known you my entire life. I feel like Sophie is my own child. I wish you would marry me, and let me adopt Sophie Lyn. Will you walk through this world with me. No sight required to love me.”

”You give a convincing pitch Vince Wall. Yes, I’ll marry you and let you adopt my daughter. But, I need to talk to her about this. At least … “

”I already randomly asked her if I could marry her Mother. She said yes.”

”I did Mommy. Say yes, please say yes!”

”How did you get here?”

”We have our ways, right Dad and Grammy?”

”That’s right pumpkin.”

Her Mother’s laughter sounded like twinkling wind chimes. Cinthia laughed. Music to his ears.

”How about it Cinthia?”

”Yes yes. A million times over.”

Just as the moon was rising, he slid the ring on her hand and kissed her lips.

”God you gave us a beautiful day,” she whispered and kissed him.

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Email Samantha.christianfiction@Gmail.com

Prayers for you, and hope to hear from you soon.

God bless.