Page 19 of Spoonful

“Oh, uh, I get that,” Jaylin said, even though he did not really at all.

He also absolutely wasn’t filing away the fact that Hiro had had boyfriends. That didn’t matter. Jaylin definitely didn’t care.

“Alright,” Hiro said as he pulled a laptop out of his messenger bag. “Let’s get started. First things first, we’re drafting a letter to your college’s department for disabilities.”

***

Jaylin considered his winter schedule pretty light, all things considered. He had his astronomy class Monday and Wednesday evening from six to ten. Tuesday was Sign Language from one to four, Wednesday was also when he had his business law class, two to four, and then Thursday was algebra from nine to noon.

Jaylin would have preferred to not have to get up early on Thursday after getting home on Wednesday after ten at night, but the only other day that his college had offered statistics for winter semester had been Friday. And Brent required that Jaylin keep his Fridays free.

But still, even with a later Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, that was only four classes, and for only a few hours each day. The only reason Jaylin had no free time was because he spent nearly every waking moment he had trying to muddle through what felt like illegible gibberish. Readingtook forever. Deconstructing his homework assignments took forever. Doing said homework assignments took forever. Especially if he had papers to write, because then he had the extra work of more reading to make sure all his references were sound…

It was exhausting and stressful, and he hated how overwhelming it all was.

He felt nearly as stressed when he walked into his astronomy lecture Monday night, body alight with trepidation as he approached the front of the class.

“Um, Serena?”

Serena, the class’s TA, looked up at him from the papers she was sorting and smiled politely. “Yeah, what’s up? How can I help you?”

Jaylin swallowed. He had never actually spoken to Serena before. He didn't really talk to anyone in class—he just sat and tried to absorb everything he could. “I’m, uh, I’m Jaylin West. I’m, uh, I was told to talk to you or Professor Smythe about special accommodations.”

Serena frowned, still politely. “Accommodations?”

Jaylin felt his face heat as the lecture hall started to fill. “Yeah? I emailed the–the office of student disability services–”with Hiro’s help“–about recording the lectures and, um, longer testing times.”

Serena’s face didn't brighten with comprehension or understanding, and Jaylin’s shoulders hunched as he got more and more self-conscious. This was so stupid. Hewasso stupid. Why did he ever think–

“Ah! Jaylin, my boy!”

Jaylin jolted at the exclamation, as Professor Smythe strode up to him. He was as larger than life as ever, and Jaylin tried not to shrink away from it. Professor Smythe was a great teacher. He was expressive and kind of funny and knew how todeliver the information in a way that was easy to understand. He was just also a little loud, and Jaylin didn't love loud.

“Yes, sir?”

Professor Smythe nodded, hand on his chin. “Forgive me, it seems Serena wasn’t CC’d into our conversation. This is in regards to your dyslexia, wasn't it?”

Jaylin nodded miserably. Professor Smythe wasn't being discreet, and Jaylin was sure his classmates must be taking notice. “Yes, sir.”

“Yes, well, not to worry. I’ve already set up the recording equipment. You simply need to come to me after class to take the SD card home with you. You do have an SD card reader, I hope?”

Probably, and if Jaylin didn't, he’d buy one tomorrow. “Yeah. Yes.”

“Excellent! Now the SD card is school property, please do keep that in mind, so it must be kept in good condition and be used exclusively for learning. I expect you to bring it back with you to every class for the next lecture to be recorded. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” Jaylin said at once. He could do that. He could definitely do that. “Okay.”

“Excellent!” Professor Smythe clapped him on the shoulder and Jaylin tried not to flinch but didn’t quite manage it. The hand was immediately drawn away. “Very good,” Professor Smythe said, clearing his throat. “Now go ahead and take a seat. Time for class!”

“Right, thank you,” Jaylin said in a rush, before hurrying away to his usual seat in the back. He felt eyes on him as he went, and twisted just in time to see Serena frown, turning away.

Well that… that was okay. He didn't care what Serena thought. He just needed the recordings. Professor Smythe was going to give him them without any fuss at all, and that was better than Jaylin had expected.

***

Talking to his Sign Language instructor the next day went really well too. Adrian wasn't that much older than he was, which Jaylin used to find weird and kind of uncomfortable, but she was a really good teacher and she told great stories. She had gotten the email too and was very understanding as Jaylin haltingly signed to her to ask about it, patiently waiting as Jaylin fingerspelled when he didn't know words.

“So this is why you never write anything down!”She signed.“I was wondering. It also explains your tests.”

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