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Checkup

By: Ann Petry
Narrated by: Shayna Small
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Publisher's summary

“Petry is the writer we have been waiting for, hers are the stories we need to fully illuminate the questions of our moment.” -(Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage)

A rare, previously unpublished short story by Ann Petry (1908-1997), one of America’s most distinguished African American writers.

On a snowy Christmas Eve in an unnamed American city, the archangel Michael wanders the streets. He is alone and hungry, his clothes tattered, and when he sees his face reflected in a store window, it is that of a young African American boy. Who will offer him food and shelter and who will turn him away? And when he becomes a blonde, freckle-faced child, is his fate different? Ann Petry’s beautiful fable reveals all her gifts as a storyteller and a sage.

©2020 Ann Petry (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.
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What listeners say about Checkup

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Touching story

A beautiful little story which illustrates the negative repercussions of prejudice and the power of kindness as Archangel Michael experiences the earth looking like a street kid.

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12 people found this helpful

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A familiar message - entertaining angels unaware

Give yourself a holiday treat and listen to this book. The joy and wonder that is childhood innocence and human kindness is front and center. In an increasingly cruel and crude world, we forget or ignore one of the basic teachings of our faith - that we entertain angels unaware, Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” No one lives to himself, and none of us can provide entirely for our own needs. We are all to a greater or lesser extent dependent upon each other. However, even though said 'angels unaware', the practice of entertaining total strangers without any knowledge of their background has never been an automatic obligation, and might not be safe in this world today. Be cautious, even when entertaining strangers.
Great narration as well.

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Lovely story, great narration!

Uplifting story (pun intended). I found it sort of by accident. I was searching for this narrator, who I think is just great!

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What a lesson!

You never know who you are meeting. It is best to always be kind so you represent humanity well.

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Wonderful message

Truly a wonderful experience to hear a holiday story, in this time of great divisiveness in the world. it’s a simple story of the true nature of people. It is an acceptance of people as they are, some good, some not. Enjoyed it.

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Wonderful!

I really liked this. I hope she writes more. This lifted my psyche! Terrific. More, please.

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another person's shoes

wonderful makes you think how would you react to that person, if you had encountered him

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Angels unaware

Kindness is always important, no matter what time of year. A story of a child among the best and the worst of mankind.
Beautiful!

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13 people found this helpful

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Easy listen. Racial language

This should come with a “hard R” warning. I wasn’t expecting to hear that word.

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my opinion

it was very good and enjoyable. glad I listened, a good measure of man kind.

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