Page 55 of The Voice We Find

“Sure, I can stay after class for a few minutes.”

“Great.” Portia squeezes my arm lightly before she makes her way to the stage. There are maybe forty-ish people in attendancetonight, and from the look that passes between my seatmate and her boyfriend, I can see how delighted they are by the turnout.

Tyler signs something to her and then points to me.

I lean in. “What did he say?”

“He says we’ll have to start thinking of some good name ideas for you.”

“Name ideas?”

“Yes. Your ASL sign name. Only a deaf person can give you one.”

“Really?” The thought brightens my mood considerably. “That’s really neat.”

Portia takes the stage then. She reintroduces herself to the room using both English and ASL. It’s intimidating to watch how quickly her hands move, but also inspiring. The more I see of this beautiful language, the more I want to understand it. Unlike the last time I saw Portia address an audience from a stage, this time she introduces her husband, Nick, to the group. Nick stands, turns, and waves.

We all wave back.

“Nick is the best man I know, which is why I was the one to propose marriage to him first because I didn’t want him to get away,” Portia says in a somewhat mischievous tone.

Nick, still standing, signs something back, and I notice the way he uses his entire body in his response—his shoulders play as active a role as his facial expressions. I don’t need to understand everything he’s saying to understand he has a funny sense of humor like his wife. Gabby belly-laughs beside me, and so do a few others in the room. And I’m desperate to know what he’s said.

Portia is laughing as she tries to deliver her husband’s reply. “Nick says, ‘Oh, no, you don’t. That’s not how it happened at all. The only reason she asked first is because her mouth moves three times quicker than my hands. I was already on bended knee, holding out the ring to her, and she stole my next line like a diva.’”

The rest of the room erupts into laughter, and it’s incredible how the atmosphere relaxes. As stage actors, we’re shown techniques to warm up an audience, but this is next level. In a single interaction, this couple has bridged two worlds, and I’d bet there’snota soul in this room who doesn’t look at ASL like the incredible gift it is.

With the attention squarely focused on the stage, Portia shares a brief overview on the history of ASL and how this special language has played both a personal and a professional role in her life as a certified ASL interpreter, tutor, and speech therapist. Her vision to integrate the hearing and non-hearing communities in our area is commendable, and I find that as she shares, I’m overcome with a desire to know more. Like how this old theater plays a part in her family’s life. How did Twilight Theater come to be purchased by them?

We spend the rest of the class discussing the layout of the months ahead, the workbooks and curriculum for purchase, the at-home videos we’ll need to watch and practice each week, and our overall commitment to learning. It’s a lot, but it’s right. I know it is.

When Portia mentions the option of memorizing a weekly Bible verse in ASL before the start of class each week, I watch her find me in the crowd. Perhaps she’s remembering our brief conversation about the Bible journal we share. I’ll be happy to tell her I’ve been tracking my progress with the plan in the mornings.

As the meeting winds down and eventually wraps up, I make my way to Portia, who is surrounded by attendees. When the last person finally steps away, she rotates to face me.

“Great job tonight,” I say. “You’re really inspiring.”

“I believe I said the same thing about your résumé the first time we met.”

I feel my calm slip and my nerves return, but then she reaches for my hand. “I’ve been thinking about that coffee date we talked about.”

“Oh yeah?” I release the anxious breath I’ve been holding. Committing to coffee is an easy yes.

“Yeah,” she continues, “only I’m wondering what you might think of doing something a bit more routine, like meeting for an hour or so before class on Tuesdays to talk through what we’re reading and discovering in the Bible since we’re following the same plan. Could you do that?”

“Absolutely. I’d love to.” I’m equal parts flattered and thrilled by her suggestion. “Thank you.”

She drops her voice to a whisper. “What do you think about inviting Gabby to join us? I know she has an aunt who sees her every couple of weeks, but I lost my mom when I was an older teen, and I know how valuable a consistent female influence is at her age.” I nod emphatically, and she smiles and touches my arm. “Great. And for the record, Sophie, I don’t think you’re in the Tates’ lives by accident.”

A tiny thrill climbs my spine as the sentiment takes root. I think about what Gabby said earlier—how she trusts God is at work in every circumstance. How she believes He has a plan even in the hard times. The thought is so remarkable I can’t help but try it on for size myself.

Could God’s plan be at work in my life at this very minute? The question is almost dizzying as I process the untimely ending of my stage career, my move back to California, my narration gig at the studio, and even my friendship with the Tates. With one in particular.

A thought that leaves a smile on my face for the entirety of my drive home.

14

Sophie

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