My missing puzzle piece 🧩

Nove

The next morning everyone got up a little earlier than usual, no reason that's just how their body clocks worked that day. They made the most of it and decided that they would all wash their hair, then sit down and all have breakfast together.

Maya went and made oatmeal for everyone while Carina dealt with Nora's hair. Nora's hair was lovely, it was long, thick and curly. But it was hard work to keep it from getting matted all the time, for bed her hair was usually in plaits to keep it from frizzing, and after washing her hair Carina would put curl creams and frizz ease in it, as well as de-tangle it in hope it stays as nice and as manageable as possible until the next time it was washed.

They all sat down for breakfast with a bowl of oatmeal each which they decorated with slices of fruit and honey. Carina had a double macchiato and Maya a protein shake, Nora would usually have some apple juice but today she didn't want any. Because they had this time in the morning, Maya and Carina decided that now would be a good time to talk to Nora about trying mainstream.

"Are you excited for school bellina?" Carina asked

"Sì ma non impariamo molto, giochiamo solo molto" Nora said munching on her food

"She said she's excited but they don't really learn much but play a lot" Carina said translating for Maya

"Do you like playing?" Maya asked

"sì ma voglio imparo" Nora said

"Well Mrs Brown had a little idea" Carina's started "she said that you could go to some of the chemistry lessons and learn as much as you want"

"Sì?" Nora asked

"Yeah you'd get to join some of the older kids in the school in their chemistry lessons" Maya said

"You'll get to do homework and tests and learn so much" Carina said

"ma non conoscerò nessuno" Nora said

"Mrs Brown would go with you and you don't have to talk to people you can just sit and listen" Carina said "she asked if you'd like to try it? Would you?"

"Forse, penso sì" Nora said

"Aww yay! You're going to really love it, I'll email your teacher later today and say that you want to" Maya said "we're so proud of you Ellie"

***

Nora had officially had her first session of speech and language therapy with Sophie and it went very well.

They didn't focus on English words but instead sounds like "th" and "ph" and sentence structures like "I went to the... and I did..." Nora didn't say the sentences but she wrote them down and nodded along like she knew what she was doing.

It was mainly to improve some of Nora's confidence in speaking around people. The aim was to get Nora feeling safe enough talking around people to be able to attempt speaking her second language, a language that to non English speakers can be daunting to try.

When Nora came out of school that Friday and was met by Carina, Mrs Brown raves about how well Nora got on and that she'd do speech and language every Tuesday and Friday. Enough a week to make a difference, but not enough to overwhelm the girl.

Another milestone for the DeLuca-Bishops is that Nora attended her first mainstream lesson, and it went great. It was a chemistry lesson with the year 12s, so with sixteen year olds. Mrs Brown had said to Maya and Carina that she had never seen Nora so invested in something. Nora was loving it.