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“Clear my schedule.”
I didn’t wait for a response. Instead, I ended the call and peered in Nature’s direction. Her right hand and face indented the pillow as she drifted into a deep, difficult sleep. The emotional turmoil she was experiencing forced her to rest.
Her beauty wasn’t only skin deep. Inside out, Nature was stunning. Seeing her so broken and battered left me feeling some kind of way. This pain, which was pain I suffered from as well, was the kind that made your gears grind because it wasn’t pain that you could snap your fingers and make go away. It was pain that lingered because the circumstances wouldn’t change, most likely. Mason’s disability wouldn’t hinder his success in life, I’d make sure of it, but it would make life a bit more complicated for us all.
Big, curious eyes stared up at me. I quickly pushed the pain aside to reside in the moment with my glossy-eyed son. He didn’t have to hear me to feel me, see me, and understand me. That was enough for me.
“We got this shit, little dude. Pops got you. No matter what. We’re ten toes down in this shit, Mason. Most kids hard-of-hearing any-damn-way, right? This is lightweight.”
Just as the words left my mouth, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I retrieved it, immediately recognizing the email that repeated itself across the screen. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
“Aussie,” I answered.
Ruffling in the background eventually led to her pretty face in the screen.
“Uncle Milo. Name an animal that lays eggs but isn’t a bird.”
“A snake.”
“Good job.”
“Name an animal that—”
Before she could continue her quiz, I interrupted. There were more pressing matters at hand.
“Aussie, look who I have in my arms.”
Angling the camera, I showed Mason’s face. He followed the light of the screen, eyes glued on Aussie’s face as it always was whenever we talked while he was near.
“Ahhhh. Hey, Mase,” she cooed, already having gave him a nickname. “Hi! It’s Aussie.”
Flipping the phone again, I gnawed on my bottom lip before delivering the news.
“He can’t hear you, baby,” I admitted.
“Babies can hear. In fact, they develop the ability while in u—”
“Not this baby, Aussie.”
“I don’t understand.”
“He’s deaf. We found out today. He can’t hear us. None of us.”
Her furrowed brows straightened and began to lift right along with the rest of her features. Naturally, she began using her hands as she spoke.
“Hey, Mason. It’s Aussie. Your biggest cousin. I love you.” She re-introduced herself, but this time through signs and words, carefully articulating her words so that he could see the movement of her mouth.
“I’m going to need you, baby girl. Your uncle knows little ASL.”
“I’m fluent,” she said, still signing.
“I’m not deaf, Aussie. You don’t have to sign, baby girl.”
“But you are. At least, you have to be or act as if you are to truly adapt to Mason’s world. If I were you or Mason’s Mommy, I would forbid verbal communication in private settings from this day forward.” She emphasized each word with her fingers and body.
Being schooled by a young girl who wasn’t even old enough to be in kindergarten might’ve been offensive for some, but I loved every bit of it. She reminded me so much of myself and my mother. Her brain was simply impeccable.
“You’re right.”
