Christopher K Doyle

Even in the Quiet Places Christopher K Doyle

One two three four five six seven eight nine zero. Counting to zero helps Henry make sense of the world. Born with a developmental delay, bright orange hair, and one leg shorter than the other, Henry finds meaning in what he knows to be distinct truths-that life is about being even, that the canal must be finished so that the mules with red saddles will come, and sadly, that the voice in his head of his former abuser, Hiram, must be extinguished. Battling a past of being sexually assaulted, Henry must confront this voice, his inner demon, and conform his mind so that Hiram does not possess him any longer and that he can once again be even. Finding companionship with a couple of the town's children, Henry must draw the line between playing pretend and being the person he is meant to be. In this unusual, yet important tale, we are taken on a journey that bounces between Henry's grotesque truths, we pray alongside him as he scrubs the local church's pews, and we hope, with all our hearts, that Henry will find the light, even after some downfalls, and especially, even in the quiet places.