A Silent Cry

Chapter Eleven: Giant Leap Back

IMPORTANT THING THAT I NEVER MENTIONED CUZ I FORGOT: Felix signs everything that he says to Cry (to help teach and stuff). I'll be sure to mention that more often.

Whenever Cry wasn't cursing his classmates, he was a nervous wreck. Walking through the crowded halls made him anxious and paranoid. It always felt like people were staring at him. Luckily, it was the end of the day. All he had to do was step outside the doors and he would be free from those dreaded halls for two weeks.

"Cry!" Felix grabbed Cry's shoulder's from behind.

Cry squeaked in response.

Felix chuckled. "Sorry. I just wanted to catch you before you left." Cry turned to look at Felix and saw his eyes gleam with joy. There's no way he could be mad at that. "Do you wanna come over? I mean, I have to work for a little bit, but you can tag along. I can make you something."

A grin crept onto Cry's face and he nodded. He brought out his phone to tell Sarah he wouldn't be needing a ride home. He looked back to Felix. "Sarah knows," he signed. It was a little slow and unsure, but he did it. He gave a sheepish smile.

"You'll get there," Felix beamed. His hands were fluid compared to Cry's. "You've already learned quite a lot in our short time together. I'm rather impressed."

Cry felt his face warm at the compliment. "Thank you." At least his hands couldn't stumble on that.

"Anyway, let's go, Cry! My sister should be waiting for us."

Cry never talked to Fanny much considering she still had a hard time hearing, and Cry couldn't exactly speak or sign as fluently as Felix. He usually fell into a comfortable silence while the siblings talked. Fanny and Felix were different sides of the same coin. Fanny was more humble and quiet while Felix was bold and talkative. They complimented each other as well as completed each other.

"Hello, Cry, will you be joining us?" Felix's mother asked as the three students hopped in. She absolutely adored Cry. She thought it was cute the way he acted so shy and nervous. Like a puppy who isn't sure how to go down stairs.

"Yeah, he'll hang out at work and then later he'll be coming over," Felix answered. Cry nodded in agreement and felt his cheeks heat up.

"Maybe we'll put him to work." Felix's mother winked.

~~~

When they arrived at the bakery, the three students stepped out of the car. "I have to go to the store real fast, but your father should be back before me," Felix's mother said, as well as signed for Fanny. "Be good, you three." Then she drove away, leaving the three of them alone.

"Alright," Felix cracked his fingers. "Let's get to business."

The three walked inside after Felix unlocked the door. Fanny made sure to take down the "be back soon" sign. "Jeez, it's a mess in here," Felix sighed. The tables and chairs were slightly askew and crumbs and trash littered the floor. "Cry, you don't mind straightening things up with Fanny, do you?" Cry shook his head. "Great. I'll be in the back if you guys need me."

Fanny smiled at Cry. She motioned for him to follow her and he did. She handed him a broom and dust pan, allowing that to speak for her. Cry nodded to show he understood, took the items from her hands, and shuffled away to do some work. He glanced back at her curiously. She didn't speak a word to him in that whole exchange. Cry knew for a fact that she could talk — he heard her with Felix sometimes — but why not speak to him? He pushed it to the side and began sweeping.

The two worked in a comfortable silence. Cry swept up all the trash and Fanny straightened out the room. They looked at each other and smiled. Cry wanted to say something to her, but his hands stayed at his side as if they refused to move. He tried his best to at least say hi but they still refused. As if Fanny could sense his distress she whispered, "I kinda know how you feel." As she spoke she moved her hands and, for a second, Cry could see how similar she was to Felix. "I wasn't able to speak for the first few years of my life. I couldn't hear anything -- at least not clearly. It was awful, really. I didn't know how badly that would actually affect me until I started going to public school. It was about second grade or so, and I had a limited vocabulary compared to the other students." As Fanny explained, she and Cry sat down at a table. Cry noticed she never kept her eyes off her hands.

"I was made fun of whenever I didn't know a word or because I pronounce things funny. Of course, they didn't know why they just thought I was weird. My doctor thinks that's how I developed my selective mutism." Fanny shrugged as if she dismissed the idea. "But that's beside the point. The point is, I know how you feel when you want so badly to say something but you just can't get it out. It sucks. But I know you'll overcome it. I mean, look at me, I'm talking to you right now." At this, she looked up at Cry and grinned.

Cry felt overcome with acceptance and understanding. He had no idea that what he had been feeling was selective mutism. He didn't even know that was possible with his lack of useful vocal chords. But it would explain his sudden inability to make conversation with certain people. He gave Fanny a small smile to show his gratitude.

The two looked toward the door when the little bell rang. Cry felt as if his lungs were crushed and surroundings shattered. He stared at the newcomer with wide, petrified eyes. Keith didn't seem to notice they were there until his eyes landed on them. He gave a grin that caused Cry to shudder. "Fancy meeting you here," Keith sneered.

Fanny glanced between the two wearily. She wasn't quite sure what to do, but one look at Cry made her act without thinking. "Felix," she called out as she hurried back to the kitchen.

Keith immediately took her seat. He looked at Cry with an over-the-top smile. They stared at each other before Keith spoke up, "How've you been?" Cry didn't dare make a noise. "Not much of a talker now, are you?" Cry pretended that comment didn't affect him in any way.

Felix rushed into the main room but stopped when he saw Keith. He looked at Cry with wide eyes which Cry returned. Fanny cautiously peeked from around him. Keith caught on to what Cry was looking at and turned around to see the siblings. He smiled at them. "Finally, some service around here."

The siblings looked at each other, expecting the other to do something, until Felix spoke up. He put his hand on Fanny's shoulder and said something in Swedish in a low, serious voice. Fanny nodded and hurried back into the kitchen. Felix turned back to the two sitting with a concerned look on his face. "Well?" Keith sat back expectantly.

Felix's face twitched in disbelief but he brought up a forced smile. "What would you like, sir?" He spat out "sir" like it was a foul word in his mouth.

"What would you recommend?"

"Getting the hell out of my bakery."

"Fe-!" Cry cried out in surprise. In an instant, his face turned a bright red. It was just an instinct to shout out. It wasn't his fault there wasn't a voice to go with him.

Keith looked smug while Felix was stunned. "So the big talker lost his voice," Keith said. "How tragic."

Cry lowered his gaze down to his lap. Felix scowled. "You listen to me, mister," his voice was stern. "I don't know what you have against Cry but I don't care. There's no way I'm letting you treat him like that. Now you can get out or I'll throw you out."

Keith stood up from his chair, towering over Felix. Felix faltered a little but did not stand down. They stared at each other for a few moments, each trying to intimidate the other. But then Keith chuckled. This startled both Felix and Cry. "You have no idea who I am, do you?" Keith leaned down to Felix's height. Felix wanted to step back but he resisted. "Should I tell you the rules?" He shoved Felix back.

Felix glared at him when he regained his balance. Cry bit his lip and clenched his fists. He saw Fanny peeking out from the kitchen doorway. "I run things around here," Keith inched his way over to Felix. He grabbed onto Felix's shirt collar and Cry heard Fanny gasp. Cry could only stare as his friend was being threatened right in front of him. He wanted to help -- to stand up and fight -- but his body betrayed him. He was trapped in his chair with his body shaking non-stop.

"Next time I come in here I expect some respect." Keith let go of Felix and left without another word.

Fanny came running out to Felix. She spewed out her worries and Felix tried to reassure her she was fine, but on the inside, he wasn't fine. He was worried. It wasn't about his own safety or even him at all. It was about Cry. Because right now, his steady steps forward just took a giant leap back.