The Unknown Hand

006

Lance

They worked on Lance's essay for a solid four hours before it was finished. Margaret kept needing to explain to him the paragraph writing process, how to add quotes, why that comma wasn't needed. Essay writing was most definitely not his strong point. When they finally finished, they were sitting on the floor of her room, both looking at her laptop screen where his essay was typed. As they sat there, neither saying a word, he couldn't help but think about things he had previously been too busy to wonder. Like why her house was so big when it seemed she was the only one there. Like why her house was modern and nice, but there was hardly anything in it.

Pushing all his thoughts out of his head, he looked over at Margaret. The question he had been wanting an answer to since day one was coming back to his mind in full force. His curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but ask it. He tapped her on the shoulder, her attention leaving the screen and focusing on him. "Do you mind me asking why you know sign?" he signed.

Eyes flitting to the floor, it looked like she thought for a second. "I saw someone speaking in sign when I was in kindergarten. I don't know why, but I just loved how it looked. I had no idea what was happening, all I knew was that these people were talking to each other without speaking out loud. I came home and immediately began searching for what they were doing. I didn't find out that day, but I kept looking. By the time I reached second grade, I knew what it was and knew I wanted to learn it. When I hit third grade, I learned that my teacher spoke it. I told my parents that I had to stay after school a lot because I needed help on the school topics when I was really taking lessons from my teacher." She signed all this before stopping. He could see her debating whether or not she should continue. She did.

"I learned as much as I could, but I still never told my parents that I was learning it. They were very strict on what I did and didn't need to learn, and I knew it would be on the list of things I didn't need to learn. So I kept it a secret from everyone. I taught myself a lot, but when I was old enough I started taking actual lessons. When I reached the high school, I talked a lot with the ASL teacher but never took the class. Besides her and some of my teachers, no one knew. Not until now." That was how she finished.

He looked at her for a while longer, thinking through what she had told him. Her eyes eventually met his, staying for a moment before returning to their place on the floor. He suddenly felt bad for bringing up the topic, feeling like he had dampened her mood. He would have to do something for her. But what could he do?
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Chapter Summary: Lance asks why Margaret knows sign language.

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