[ WP ] Your whole life you had an ability that seemed normal to you . Now you realized you 're the only one with this ability .

MILAN, 4th CENTURY AD 
 
 `` Ambrose! Ambrose!'' 
 
 Bishop Ambrose of Milan sighed. It was the young man from Hippo again. What was his name? It started with an A... 
 
 `` What is it, young... Antony?'' 
 
 `` Augustine.'' 
 
 `` Augustine. My apologies. And your lady friend is...'' 
 
 `` Patricia, your grace.'' The young woman said. 
 
 Well, at least *one* of Ambrose's visitors knew how to address a bishop! Ambrose smiled warmly at Patricia, then addressed Augustine. 
 
 `` And what, my young friend, brings you here today? Have you more questions about the Good News?'' *Please do n't be here for an argument about celibacy please do n't be here for an argument about celibacy. * 
 
 `` Ambrose!'' Augustine was grinning widely. `` Do... *the thing. *'' 
 
 Ambrose waited for Augustine to elaborate. He did not. `` The... thing?'' 
 
 Augustine gestured wildly with his hands. `` The *thing! * The thing you do when you think no one's around to see you but I *totally* saw you and you were *doing a thing! * Patricia does n't believe me but you *were! * Doooo iiiiiittt!'' 
 
 Ambrose could not keep his incomprehension off his face. *The thing you do when you think no one's around? * He began to sweat. Had Augustine seen... what *had* he seen? He looked helplessly at Patricia. `` I... I do n't... what?'' 
 
 `` My friend Augustine says you can do something remarkable with books.'' She supplied. 
 
 `` Remarkable?'' Ambrose replied. `` I read them and gain wisdom from their contents, as do all men of learning, but --'' 
 
 `` No, no, no!'' Augustine interrupted, and pushed past Ambrose. Entering his inner chamber, he pulled a book off the shelf and set it open on the lectern. `` Pretend we are n't here, and start reading.'' 
 
 *If I humor him perhaps he'll leave. * Ambrose walked over to the lectern and began scanning the page. After a short time Augustine slammed the book closed, holding his finger between the pages to keep his place. 
 
 `` Now,'' asked Augustine, `` What does it say?'' 
 
 `` Well that's hardly fair, Augustine!'' Patricia broke in. `` The bishop has n't started reading yet, how is he to know what it --'' 
 
 `` The holy Ignatius,'' said Ambrose `` is urging the godly to stand firm against strange teachings, as a great athlete stands firm against punches, and the anvil weathers the blows of the hammer.'' 
 
 `` *See? `` * Augustine cried in triumph. He opened the book again, turning it so Patricia could see. `` What does that say?'' 
 
 `` Stand-thou-firm-as,'' Patricia read haltingly `` an-anvil-when-it-is-smitten-it-is-the-part-of-a-great-athlete-to...'' she looked up. `` Why your grace!'' She exclaimed `` You have memorized the whole book!'' 
 
 `` No!'' said Augustine, `` Do n't you see? He was reading... *but silently*.'' 
 
 Patricia let out a disbelieving laugh. `` What -- without even moving his lips! Surely not.'' 
 
 `` Why... does n't everyone?'' Asked Ambrose, puzzled. The two youths shook their heads. 
 
 `` However did you learn?'' Asked Patricia. 
 
 `` I just... started doing it.'' Ambrose shrugged. `` It is n't hard.'' 
 
 Patricia turned to Augustine. `` Can you do it?'' 
 
 `` I've tried.'' Answered Augustine, solemnly. `` It's just not possible.'' 
 
 `` I suppose it must be a miracle of God!'' Patricia said reverently. 
 
 `` I do n't think this really counts as a --'' began Ambrose. 
 
 `` Truly, some things in this world are simply beyond explanation.'' said Augustine. 
 
 `` If you wanted,'' protested Ambrose `` I'm sure I could teach you.'' 
 
 `` Oh, it's nice of you to say, your grace.'' Patricia said `` But I am a poor sinner, and miracles are beyond me.'' 
 
 `` It's *not* a -- -'' 
 
 `` Anyway,'' Augustine cut him off `` I do n't really see how it has any practical application. Good day, Ambrose!'' 
 
 Ambrose's visitors turned to leave, and Ambrose set the book back upon the shelf. 
 
 Edit: This is basically a [ true story. ] ( http: //linguafranca.mirror.theinfo.org/9804/ip.html )
