Mutism [hood]

Bailey

I play with the strings of my boot, just thinking. It's lunch time and I am spending it in a library doing nothing.

I stand from the beanbag and walk over to the counter clerk. The lady has brown hair with blonde highlights. She only looks to be in her late twenties or early thirties.

She is currently checking in books, occupied by the gun that checks the bar code.

I guess my shadow blocked her light, because her head immediately snaps up to me. "What do you looking for?" She says in a nice feminine voice.

I notice a stack of copy paper and a cup of pens and pencils. I grab one and write on the paper.

"I'm Bailey." I hold the piece of paper up and smile. She reads it and looks up.

"Mrs. Vance, nice to meet you." She smiles and goes back to work in scanning the books and writing things down.

I write under it. "I need a friend." But Mrs. Vance doesn't look up, so I slide it in front of her face.

She takes time in reading it before putting down her pen and looking up at me. I take the paper again.

"I have selective mutism. I don't talk, but I have a lot to say. So for the past few years of my life I've been watching this kid who also goes here. Calum. It isn't in a creepy way, I just saw him. He had this amazing smile, it brightens up my days. He's a skater boy. He goes around town and does his own stuff." I had to refrain from saying shit because she is still a teacher.

"Calum lives across the street from me. He likes punk rock music. He prefers pancakes over waffles. He has one sister. He lives with his mom and his sister who is on break currently from university. He is half Kiwi. He is an Aquarius. And it's weird how I know so much about him, and he is just now realizing who I am. That's why I was so upset this morning. That's why I hate Calum Thomas Hood."