Page 53 of Hearing Little Hadley

“You did,” he agreed.

“In front of everyone.”

“Yes, in front of everyone.” He thought he knew where this might be going.

“But I don’t want to talk to everyone today at school.”

He smiled and kissed her little nose. “You don’t have to, Peeps.”

“What if they think I’m faking?”

He finished washing her.

“Faking being nonverbal?”

Hadley nodded.

“Do you really think the friends who have been so kind to you these past nine days would really think you were faking?”

“No, Daddy,” she answered after a moment of reflection.

“Were you faking being nonverbal?”

“No, Daddy.”

“Are there a set of concrete rules for being nonverbal?”

“No, Daddy.”

“Do you think being nonverbal means you can’t say any words ever?”

“No, Daddy.”

“Do you think maybe what Noelle said to you is affecting your thoughts this morning?” he asked, setting the soapy cloth down, rinsing her, and pulling the plug on the tub.

“Yes, Daddy.”

He picked her up after drying her off and carried her to the changing table. “Sometimes when people do things to hurt us, we accidentally make other people pay for their actions. Do you think that maybe you’re projecting what Noelle would say onto your new friends?”

Hadley was quiet while he diapered her and then applied lotion to her skin.

“I think I was projecting, Daddy.”

“I think so too, Peeps. That’s a very normal thing to do, but I want you to try not to let Noelle’s ugly actions affect the way you see your friends, okay? They don’t deserve that, do they?”

“No, Daddy. They’re good friends.”

“That’s right and they will understand if you want to be silent today.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”

He kissed her mouth before lifting her off the table. “You can always talk to Daddy about what you’re worried about.”

“Will you?”

“Will I what, Peeps?”

“Share your worries with me?”

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