Speak With Confidence;
Chapter Five.
: "Take a shower your attitude stinks"
Everything was back on track again. My father was too busy planning the speech ceremony thing. My bruises had faded and I'm now back to my daily appointments. In fact, I'm sitting with Harry at this very moment.
"A-a-are yo-you jus-st going to st-stare at m-me?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'm trying to figure you out. One moment you despise me, the next you're willing to let me help you, then we go back to square one again." He mumbles, eyes still focused on me.
"Yea w-well, g-g-good luck t-t-trying t-to f-f-igure it o-out." I shrugged carelessly.
"Why do you do this? Why do you have your guard up again right after you gave me a taste of who you really are? Are you scared that I'll break your trust?" He pressed.
"Well, you s-sh-should m-mind yo-your own b-b-business." I sassed. I don't have to say a word if I don't want to. He can't make me.
I think he noticed this because he didn't talk for a long while.
There was a knock at the door, which I was confused about. I still had like half an hour more to go.
A little boy came in through the doors.
"H-hello M-Mr. Harry." The little boy stuttered out. I was in awe.
"Well hello little Benji. Is there something you need?" Harry asked almost cooing.
"Y-yea momma said I won't b-be c-coming next week. We're g-g-going on vacation!" Benji said excitedly. I was yet to say a word.
"Oh wow! Benji, your doing great with your speech already!" Harry mentioned, proud of the little boy. The boy just nodded and that's when he notice me.
"H-hello mister." My mouth opened and closed, not knowing if I should respond.
"H-hello t-there l-little g-guy." I finally said. His eyes widened in shock.
"Y-your just like me!" He pointed out, shocked. I nodded, smiling at him.
"Oh wow m-mister. I t-thought only l-little boys had i-it!" I shook my head no.
"I g-guess not-t b-because I'm ju-just like y-y-you." At the corner of my eye, I saw Harry analyzing our little encounter. I ignore him though, for he's irrelevant at the moment.
"No need 't w-worry mister! Yo-You're in good h-hands with mister Harry." I shrugged.
After he talked to Harry for a while, the little boy left claiming his mother was waiting for him.
We stayed in silence until he spoke up.
"So... how'd you think of Benji?" I shrugged.
"K-kind of re-reminded me o-of my-myself."
"He had the same attitude as you did when he first came in, believe it or not. For a little boy, he understood his situation quite well. After a while he believed he could do it and now he's gotten better." Harry explained. I nodded along.
It's sad to think about the little boy's stutter, wondering if he got the same reactions as the other kids did to me. Or if his parents treated him like my father does to me. I shook the thoughts out of my head. No, he has to have it better than I do. I refuse to believe an innocent child has gone through what I have.
"Th-thought you w-worked w-with sp-speech, n-not a-as a th-th-therapist." Walls back up, attitude back on, blank face put on, let's do this.
Harry shook his head. He knows he has to try harder to get through me.
I won't let that happen though. I won't let Harry get through me and give me false hope. I don't need him. He doesn't know what he's doing. He's just a stupid, nosy, curly-headed boy, that thinks he's a hero and can help everyone. Newsfalsh, he can't help me. I won't let him.
How hard can it be? I can do this for a while more. I've done it for years, a little more won't hurt anybody.
