Deaf Out Loud

c h a p t e r t w e l v e

I watched Justin make funny faces at Mila as she smiled and cooed. "Daddy's silly." I kissed the top of her head. "She's seemed to grow so much." He said and laid her against his chest. "Think so?" I smiled softly. He nodded. "I don't like working overtime, I miss so much of what's going on." I moved closer to him and kissed his cheek. Mila cooed, making us both look down at her. "Mila doesn't mind, do you?" I asked her. She smiled up at me as Justin kissed her forehead gently.

I watched Marlowe run over to our car and open the door. She waved excitedly before getting into her seat and buckling up. I turned to look at her. "How was school?" I asked. "Good! In science, we learned the three states of matter." She signed. I nodded. "What are they called?"

"Solid, liquid, and gas. We got to play with ice cubes and watched them melt!" She replied excitedly. I smiled. "Look at you smart girl." I playfully squeezed her knee and she giggled. When Justin got us home, I took Mila out of her car seat and carried her inside. I put her in her swing before going to help Marlowe with her homework.

"Excited for dance?" I asked Marlowe as we walked inside the studio. She nodded excitedly. She sat down on the bench as I helped her put on her tap shoes. All of her little dance friends came up to her and greeted her with hugs and waves. I smiled as I watched them before two of them grabbed Marlowe's hand so they could walk into class. I sat down with a few of the other parents as they began to stretch with their teacher.

I was apprehensive about putting Marlowe in dance because I thought it would be difficult for her to get everything. I also didn't know how the other children would treat her because of her deafness. All of my anxieties disappeared once I saw how everyone treats her; they are all super kind and accommodating towards Marlowe and she doesn't get treated any differently than her other peers.