My Deaf World

Ch 10-Fool

As the day kept going the more I would start feeling sick.  It was my instincts about Emily in full warning mode.  But I couldn't cancel. Fritz really wanted me to go. So when it came time to leave I was ready.   My mom even threw a bag of peanut butter cookies in my hand as a gift to give them.

"I'm kind of nervous." Fritz signed as we parked the car in front of Emilys' house.

"You always fit right in. It'll be alright.  Besides you and Emily are such close friends,  she won't make you feel excluded."

We kissed before heading inside.  I was right, Emily made sure Fritz was always included, she also made sure that I wasn't.  Even when I found people I got along with she would run over and snatch them for a game.  Eventually Fritz had had enough and locked our hands together.  He would let go if he had to sign but other than that he took me with him wherever he went.

"Fritz come help me and the others set up outside. Val you can wait here until we're done."  Emily signed as she gathered up all the boys.

Fritz didn't look like he wanted to leave me. "It's alright, go help." and with that Fritz went outside.

After a few minutes a few guys came back in to let everyone know that it was ready but Fritz never came back.  As I went outside with the other girls out back Fritz was still missing.  When I asked around I was directed to check behind the screen.  I stayed a nice distant so the two figures who I saw were Emily and Fritz didn't notice me, but I could read everything they signed.

"But she's not even deaf! She will never understand you completely!  Not like I do!" Emily signed, throwing her hands high and everywhere.

"It doesn't matter that she's not deaf. She's the one I want to be with." Fritz told her.

Just when I was about to join them, Emily started signing all crazy like again, "You don't even tell her about all the fights with your dad anymore because she's really worried! I get worried also but at least you tell me!"

That kind of hurt.  I interrupted whatever Fritz was going to reply and stepped forward.  They both looked shocked to see me.

"It doesn't matter that he tells you the stories about his dad when I see it every time I go to his house.  It also doesn't matter that I'm not deaf like him.  I understand him more and more each day." I signed.

Emilys' face got red and she walked away without a second glance.

"She means well. I think she's just lonely." Fritz told me when I looked at him.

"Why are you defending her? It doesn't really matter now. Can we just go home?" I have had enough of today.

"First we need to talk about this.  You can't just act like it was no big deal."

"I just think we shouldn't be hanging around her anymore." I told him. This was a big deal, I wanted him to stop communicating with her. She was literally trying to get Fritz to choose her just now over me.

Fritz ran a hand through his hair and after minutes of not replying I started feeling sick.

"What are you not telling me?" I asked, afraid it would be something I didn't want to know.

"Emilys' school is only for the hard of hearing and I've already started making plans to go."

"When were you going to tell me?" I was hurt.  Well of course I was, he had been keeping this from me for a whole week while Emily knew.