Page 112 of Slap Shot

Hey. Sorry for the late text. I lost track of time. I’m eating dinner with Piper and Liam.

Madeline

I figured you were out and about and having fun. I also might’ve checked your location to make sure you weren’t in a ditch somewhere.

Me

*Attachment: 1 image*

What can I say? The garlic bread is a hell of a time.

Are y’all having a good night? Is everyone behaving over there?

Madeline

*Attachment: 1 image*

Lucy and the dogs are now known as the Three Musketeers.

Me

Love that picture. I’ll be back later, but I’ll give you a heads up before I get home.

Can’t have another banana incident.

Madeline

Are you ever going to let me live that down?

Me

Never, KG.

I hitpause on Piper’s laptop and press my palms to my eyes. I’m frustrated and tired. I’m not understanding what Piper is trying to tell me, and no matter how many times I watch the video she pulled up, I’m still confused.

“I don’t get it.” I groan and drop my hands to my lap. “This is really fucking difficult.”

“It is, but you’re doing great,” Piper says encouragingly. “You have to remember you’re an adult learning this, and it’s an entirely new language. It’s new words and new sentence structure. You almost have to forget what you know in English and relearn it in ASL. No one expects you to have it figured out in an hour. Hell, it’s going to take hundreds of hours to even be able to communicate in basic conversation with handshapes.”

“What’s the word? Handshapes?” I ask.

“Yeah. It’s the configurations the hands take as they form words. Let’s go back to learning how to tell someone to have anice day. It’s an English dominant phrase, but it’s a good starting point. Want to watch me?”

I do my best to mimic her. I touch my upper chest with bent handshapes. Next, I place my left hand up in front of me. I move the flat palm of my right hand across my left hand.

I move my left arm, with my palm down, parallel to my body, so my hand is almost touching the right side of my chest. I then take my right elbow and rest it on top of my left hand, and make my right hand close so I’m using my pointer finger to the ceiling. Finally, I start to bring my right hand into a downward motion to meet my left elbow.

“That’s it!” Piper squeals. “That was perfect, Hudson. Do it again.”

The praise gives me a new sense of determination, and I try for a second time.

“Have a nice day,” I murmur to myself, and she nods to me from across the table.

I repeat the sign until it doesn’t feel clunky. It takes me a few minutes; I’m slow and get my hands mixed up, but when I finally do the phrase correctly three times in a row, I’m fucking elated.

“I did it.” I try it again to make sure it sticks. “Holy shit. I did it.”

“I’m so proud of you.” Piper is grinning, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been this proud of myself. “Do you remember how to spell your name?”

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