Page 39 of Interpreter

“Shut up.”

“I didn’t know big, bad Marines turned red.”

She’s full of shit.

“You can’t see if I’m red in this light,” I argue, praying that’s the case.

“Sure I can. These phone lights are surprisingly bright.”

I feel myself pulling away before I’m met with solid resistance. “Don’t even think about it.”

I chuckle. “Your grip issurprisinglystrong for someone the size of a garden gnome.”

That comment earns me a harsh swipe to the chest.

“I’ll have you know that I’m five foot two.”

Please.

“Do not arch those brows at me. I’m not kidding.”

Sure she is. There is no way on this green earth this woman is five foot two. “How tall without the five-inch heels?”

That shuts her up.

“It doesn’t matter. The movie is starting, and I can’t get this paint off. I was feeling bad about it, but now I think you deserve to walk around the rest of the evening looking like a bird pooped down your face.”

For someone who says I don’t smile unless I’m around my family, I just did it twice in the past five minutes. With her. Not my family. I’ll take that win, Dr. Parker. I might still have a few issues I need to work through, but I am moving on.

Okay… so I’m not really moving on. Every uncomfortable encounter I’ve had with Milah, or anyone for that matter, I have fled. But I stayed tonight! Granted the two ladies on my blanket weren’t taking no for an answer. But deep down, I didn’t want Oliver to think any less of me than he already does. The poor kid doesn’t need me showing him how fucked-up living with deafness can be. I’m a special kind of fucked up. I’ve been to meetings. I’ve been to clubs with my mother. People everywhere are living better lives than I am with even fewer senses.

I know I’m handling this in all the wrong ways. I know. But for some reason, I can’t fucking stop it. All I can think of is that banged-up tape recorder in my bedside table. I used to listen to the damn thing every night, trying to decipher her message. What did I miss? How did I miss it? And every night I went to bed just as confused as the night before. I’ve been without her voice for months, but I was still able to pick up faint tones… until I couldn’t. Now, I can’t hear it at all. Now, it’s nothing. It’s just a worthless recorder just like the worthless interview on it.

A soft touch to my shoulder pulls my attention back to Milah. “Do you want me to tell them to turn on the closed captioning?”

God, no.

I shake my head.

“Do you want me to sign it to you?”

You’re fine. You are normal. She’s trying to include you, not make you feel isolated.“It’s okay. Aspen and I have seen it before. I can remember what’s going on.”

Total bullshit. Aspen and I haven’t seen this movie, but I don’t want Milah to do either of those things for me. I just want to sit here, like all the other parents and teachers, and watch a movie with these kids. No special treatment. Just normal.I want to feel normal.

Milah nods and lies back on the blanket as Aspen crawls over my legs and rests her head. The owl painted on her cheek is almost unrecognizable in this light. Maybe I should take her to her parents? She’ll be asleep in a few minutes, especially after all the playing she did. Anniston might want to go home and put her to bed. I reach down to pick her up, but I realize her hand is attached to another. Oliver. He too has inched his way over and has one hand in hers and the other on my pant leg, his head aligned with my hip. Looks like I’m not going anywhere. My phone buzzes, and thankfully, it’s in the pocket that isn’t squished by a little girl.

Theo: Lay the fuck down. The people behind you are complaining. Parents are trying to fuck out here, and you’re killing the vibe.

I look up and find Theo and Anniston staring back at me. They aren’t fucking or fingering like he promised, but instead, they are spying.

Tim: It’s sad that married life has bored you to the point of spying on an elementary school’s fall festival.

Anniston: Who’s the little boy?

Theo: Why is the hot teacher so far away from you? Did you forget to brush your teeth?

Hayes: Did y’all know you’re texting on the group chat?

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