“That’s okay. Feeling a little nervous gives you some edge, which is what actors want. It pushes us to bring our A-game.”
Ollie smiled, then signed the letter A.
“You’re getting good at this,” Jason said. “I’m proud of you.”
“Is it okay if I stay for this?” Sarah asked. “I wanted to try to learn it so I could practice with Ollie at home.”
“Of course,” Mauve said. “You’re more than welcome.”
Sarah took the chair by the window, leaning forward, hands clasped. Ollie sat on the rug next to Mauve. Jason settled on the rug across from them and hit call. Mary answered seconds later, sitting in her kitchen in Burbank. Her hair was up in a high knot, and she had a massive pink water bottle next to her. She lifted both hands to the camera the moment she saw them and signed hello hello hello, three quick waves, big smile.
Ollie’s whole face lit up. He lifted his small hand and signed hello back.
“Hi, Mary,” Jason said. He signed it as he spoke, for Ollie’s benefit. “This is Ollie. And this is Mauve. And in the corner there is Sarah, who is Ollie’s mom.”
Mary smiled. “Hello, everyone.” She signed and spoke at the same time, easy and clear, the way she did when there was a mixof hearing and signing people in the room. “Ollie, I have heard so much about you.”
Ollie ducked his head, suddenly shy, his cheeks turning pink.
Mary continued. “I’m happy to meet you. Jason has told me you’re working very hard on the song. Can you show me what you’ve learned?”
Ollie glanced at Jason. Jason nodded.
“Do as much as you can,” Jason said.
Ollie took a small breath and stood up, which tickled Jason. He set his feet shoulder-width apart and looked into the camera. Then, he began.
“Frosty the snowman”—his shiver, hands cupping snow, his theatrical shudder—“was a jolly happy soul”—the brush up his chest, wide grin, his expression bright with the cheap-seats smile.
Ollie held it. Then he relaxed.
Mary peered through the camera, eyes shining. “Ollie, that was gorgeous. Can I tell you something? I teach grown-up actors who get paid a lot of money. Most of them cannot do what you just did. You’re a natural.”
Ollie nodded his head, grinning, then made the sign for thank you.
“You went big, which is exactly what the song calls for. “Jolly happy soul” is not a small feeling, right?”
Ollie shook his head again.
Mary leaned forward. “Before we continue, Jason has told me you wanted to ask me something. Is that right?”
Ollie nodded, eyes wide.
“You can ask me with your hands or you can ask me with Jason’s voice. Whatever you want.”
Ollie looked at Jason. Jason waited.
After a moment, Ollie lifted his hand. He made an O with his fingers, and pointed at himself, and made his eyebrows go up.
Mary got it right away. “You want a name-sign.”
A slow nod.
“Ollie, I would love to give you one. I’m honored,” Mary said. “But first I want to ask you something. May I?”
Another nod.
“When you did the “jolly happy soul” part, your expression was exactly that. Jolly and happy.”
