Deaf Love

Chapter 9

For the first time in 9 weeks Ivy was downstairs before me. She smiled as I walked into the kitchen. Her right hand moved swiftly from her waist to her shoulder. This was the sign for good morning. I smiled and signed back. Ivy pointed to the stove and then moved her hand as if putting food into her mouth then to her shoulder. I did the same. She grabbed the pen and paper on the bench and wrote "Hannah is coming over." She circled "coming over" and wrote "visit." She put a finger on her cheek bone, pointing towards her eye, then made the same arc as she did last night. Just as I went to copy her the doorbell rang. As suspected Hannah's colourful outfit waltzed through the door and into the kitchen. She grabbed a bit of bacon out of the frypan and munched it down as Ivy signed quickly in front of her.

"So, learning to sign are we?" Asked Hannah, signing the words at the same time. It seemed so easy when they did it, but I just felt awkward.

"Yeah, I guess. I'm going to try at least," I replied unconvincingly.

"Mm and what would the reason for this sudden interest be?" Hannah asked raising an eyebrow suspiciously. Unbeknownst to Ivy, Hannah always teased us for living together, saying it would be impossible for her to be in that close proximity to someone for so long and for nothing to happen.

Hannah never mentioned her personal life much. There was no talk of her parents or living arrangements or past. It didn't bother me but she seemed so interestingly undiscovered. She had the whole read-me-like-a-book personality down pat but there was something I couldn't see.

"So," said/signed Hannah, clapping her hands together, once we had finished breakfast, "what are we doing today? Except for teaching you to sign of course."

"Ah, I dunno. We could knock over the the human bio essay I guess?" I offered in response.

"Ugh come on, I wanna go outside. I love the winter. We can study tomorrow. Let's go," said Hannah practically running out the door.

"Wait!" I called after her. "I can't go out today. Dads spy is coming to check up on me. Her names Grace. She comes every Saturday but I never know when so I can't go out. Sorry. You two go, I'll be fine here. "

"That's not happening," said Hannah blankly before turning to Ivy.

---Hannah's PoV---

Outwards fist-pointer up and shake. That's the way my mind works now. I don't make many friends. When I met Ivy, six years ago, I didn't believe she'd want to even know my name. Now here we are fluently signing to each other. I'm not a big talker so it kind of worked that she couldn't hear me anyway. I don't even second think signing anymore. It seems the normal way to reply to someone. Outwards fist means his. Pointer finger up and shake means what. Therefore I said in disbelief, "His what?"

"His baby sitter. Don't worry she doesn't do much. She just sits texting for an hour then leaves," replied Ivy. Sometimes I try to imagine what she would sound like. She's never tried to speak, she doesn't even know what sound is. Daniel had turned away from us now and is washing up in the kitchen.

Pointer up shake - palm down spirit fingers - point to her - grind fists - 9-12 hand. Meaning- what do you do all day?

Fist chest to give - up grab - multi click
Meaning- will find something.

And with that she turned back to the kitchen to continue to attempt to teach Daniel to sign.

Author note:

Don't worry. I promise only some of the convos will have the signing above them and I will make it clearer as Daniel is learning. And just to clear one thing up, this is Australian sign language.

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