Speech • A Cameron Dallas AU

Let me put things straight.

My name's Cameron.

I'm twenty, and I still live with my parents.

So this whole 'parent thing'?

Totally wasn't expecting it.

Another thing I wasn't expecting?

To raise this kid alone.

More so, I wasn't expecting to be in a Children's Therapy Office six months later, trying to get my daughter to understand that everything has a name.

A lot of people ask me how I got Davis.

Well it's quite a story let me tell you.

I was in college at California University and I had a one night stand. Needless to say nine months later I got a call from our closest hospital asking if I could come in. They said that a girl had came in here, had the baby, and didn't want her. She wrote down MY information for the father information. So they got a DNA test and it was true. I had a daughter. After a few days of figuring shit out I was able to actually meet this little girl. That same morning she lost her hearing. She was born sick so when she recovered it took her hearing. So finding out that your daughter might not ever get to hear your voice? Scary.

So right now I'm living in my parents house trying to graduate California University online and keeping my life together. I had to get a job for myself since my parents paid for Davis' life insurance and everything else and couldn't pay for me too. So they say. So I worked a job and had to raise a deaf daughter and graduate.

You can only imagine what type of position that's put me in.

"Davis, no, no! Don't hit the puppy!" I ran over and picked up my daughter as she began crying. See it's hard to tell your daughter 'no' when she can't hear you. It's also hard to calm her down because she doesn't know she's screaming.

"Cameron do want help hon'" "Thanks, but I've got her." Once she calmed down I grabbed a pacifier and gave it to her, which she gladly took. I sat back down in my office chair and set her on my lap while I finished the last five minutes of my lecture.

Once I was finished I picked up Davis off my lap and looked at her. I pulled a funny face which made her laugh. It's good to know she knows how to use her vocal chords. She already makes sounds from seeing me talk to other people.

"I'm right here Day." I entered the kitchen sighing as I set her in her high chair. I locked her in and started grabbing a bottle while calling Nash. "Hey man what's up?" "You think you can come over?" "Um I think so why?" "Because I need and extra hand with Davis." "Aren't your parents there?" "Nope. And I just got her a new crib so I need to put that up." "What about her old one?" "It was mine from when I was a baby, you really think it's going to last?" "Nope." "Exactly. Now get over here."

Nash showed up a couple of minutes later as I ripped open the box. Davis had just laid down for a nap in my parent's room and I worked to try to get her crib done quickly. I came into the room slamming the door behind me. "Baby?!" "Dude she's fine." "Oh shit dude I'm sorry..." "Dude you're fine." I mumbled opening the cardboard further. "Is it tough?" I looked up at him and pulled a 'Are you fucking kidding me.' face. "Yeah. A smidge." "Dumb question." "Very." I sighed and pulled out the white crib frames and smaller pieces.

See, raising a deaf child is like completing a jigsaw puzzle. A very complicated jigsaw puzzle. You know the basic idea of what you have to do and how to do it, but you have to take every single piece and exam it and go through all the other pieces to find a match. And when you get there you have to repeat that process over and over.

When we were done I headed out of my room to go check on Davis. She was up but she was trying to eat her feet. "You're a goof. You know that?" I chuckled picking her up and gently tickling her slightly. I got a couple of giggles out of her before heading back to my room. "Lookie! Day got a new crib!! Yay!!!!" Nash started clapping which got her clapping. My eyes widened and I chuckled astonished. "Oh my god! I've got to call Felicite!" "Who's that?" "Davis' therapist." I explained grabbing the phone. I called in and heard Felicite's voice on the other end. "Cameron?" "Hey! I just wanted to call to say that Davis had started clapping." "That's great!! By the way, while I have you on the phone, I found a teacher who meets your requirements." "Are you for real?! Oh my god that's great!" "She flies in on Saturday. Her name is Elizabeth Nades. Lizzie for short." "Lizzie. Cool. Thank you so much Liss." "Not a problem! I'll see you guys next week!" "Wait, today's Thursday?" "Yes." "Oh gosh ok thanks again."