The Boy

They wanted to have the college to create an American Sign Language elective. It was hard to deny it could have life-saving outcomes. It was also hard to say no because of the rarity. You could never use CPR, but you should know it.

Memos from the home office were sent to all branches to ask their colleges to create such a class and encourage all members to attend. The sorority always thought about service to the community, this was a unique way to do that.

Most colleges thought the best way to proceed was to make it a night class and have it open to the public. The colleges thought this would be a low attendance class, and would collapse on itself due to lack of interest.

Then a young cub reporter at a national paper remembered a small story that happened around Christmas. She started looking at the story of Alice. She dedicated a full week to it. She knew her bosses were testing her; this may not be a good decision.

Phones were ringing off the hook. Everyone wanted to know where and when the classes were. Just as in the sorority, things snowballed. The teachers could not keep up with the students.

While the newspaper was a national newspaper, it prided itself on having a local feel.

The newspaper wanted to give the reporter a promotion. She declined.

She said, "I need more experience, I want to have a bond with my readers. It would be nice if I got to the point where someone would buy the paper just to read my article. I would hope every writer in your employ would have that as their goal.

The heroes of the story are Dean and Mary. They go to school together and learned sign language so they could study in the quiet car of the train either together or via Skype. They were not taking the same major so they decided to do both majors' together, alternating years. This added three years before they could graduate. If you want to give money to someone, I would suggest giving some financial aid to both of them for every semester.

I could go on and on about stories about them, but I have to get back to work, thank you for the offer Sir. Know this, you can never refer to them as Dean or Mary, it is always Dean and Mary or the 'I love you couple.'"

The reporter eventually set up weekly podcasts, the first few of course, were done by Alice.

The President of the house put up a framed weather protected sign on the front and back doors. It read:

Please announce yourself if you are a 'boy' or if you don't sign. We wouldn't want to be rude to you if we didn't talk to you. There is a high probability that many people would only be signing to each other. Please enter, and welcome to our home.

One late evening someone took that sign too literally. Four burglars tried to rob the house. Without their knowing, as the burglars started stealing items, all the doors were remotely locked. The house remained quiet unless one of the now active laser beams were broken.

To keep the girls safe, they were located at the bottom of the steps leading to the upper floors, at the entry to the kitchen from the common room, and the entry to office from common room.

Five police cars were waiting outside, they just wanted to see how stupid the burglars were. Their van was being towed away.

One decided to get the computer from the office, once the beam was broken there was a 100 Db siren that went off for ten seconds. They all scattered only to find out all exits were locked and every window was guarded by a policeman with a raised pistol.

As the miscreants were being taken away the police chief rang Dean's doorbell. "Dean I apologize for doubting your security system. I had fun just waiting for one of them to break a beam. I am sure your fire and ambulance warnings will be just as effective."

Dean said, "The ambulance was the hardest to do as I couldn't put cameras in every room so I have several panic buttons the girls can push. They were told to push the one closest to the problem area so help knows where to go, no guessing. If it is bad enough to call the ambulance, they probably should not be moved anyway. Fire of course, can have multiple problem areas."

When people heard about the break in, everyone laughed, "What kind of idiots would try to steal from a house where Mary lives? Dean would do anything to protect her and her friends."

When Alice heard about the break-in she asked her Mom to drive her there. The sisters had set-up a TV near the front door to test Alice's hearing; thirty was determined to be the normal volume. The sister squealed, "Sister you passed the volume test. Let's test group chat. Sisters, Alice passed the TV test, can we get three or four to test the group chat test?"

At first Alice winced some then stopped. The sister who gave the TV test motioned everyone to continue speaking at normal volume. Alice had to get used to this kind of talking.

Alice gave out one of her million watt smiles, "It hurts a little, but I think maybe next time we will be OK."

A gold envelope arrived at the house addressed to the 'I love you' couple. Everyone was around the kitchen table and all were intrigued, Dean was called in to open the letter. The longer that Dean read the letter the more harassment he got. "This is from the newspaper that reporter works at, she declined a promotion, and said it would be better to give both of us financial aid. They want to start for this current semester. They just need to know how we want the money to go into our bank."

Mary ripped the letter from Dean's hands, tears streaking down her cheeks, "Do you know what this means Dean?"

Dean announced, "It means we can start saving for the deposit on our house."

The letter ended, "From the way we had to address this letter, we know both of you are deeply in love with each other. We would like to hear from you as you go through your studies. Please take care of Alice and her mother."

Mary said, "Dean, why would she turn down a promotion? She got such a good start."

Dean said, "I am sure she gave her bosses good reasons. She does not want to be 'a flash in the pan'. She wants and needs to be mentored. She has shown them her integrity. She will get her chance when she is ready. They know that, she knows that and in time, other newspapers will know that. They do not want a talent stolen."

As it happened, the house had some sisters who were studying elementary education and another in speech therapy. All asked their teachers how to help Alice best. It was so easy to teach Alice. An Elementary Education student along with the speech therapist student had joint meetings with Alice. If there was a concept Alice just couldn't understand, they could just sign instructions and try again.

Alice was hitting all her benchmarks. After every joint meeting, there would be a group chat meetings. One day Alice said it did not hurt anymore.

Sister said, "Time for lunch at the student center. Alice loved burgers, but rarely got them so it was a treat. Not only were the sisters testing for group chat, they were testing for group interaction. Alice knew the cafeteria test was not far off, it will be much louder.

What Alice thought was a radio it was actually an iPad. Dean had hidden many of the apps, and he left three radio apps that Alice could use, and Skype for future use. Two of the three radio apps had premium service. She got a small pink backpack for the iPad, for her sketchbook, crayons, colored pencils, and a notebook to draw or write down her private thoughts.

Alice was extremely bright for her age. She found out there was more than one channel on the radios. One day her Mom came into the room where Alice was in only to see her with her eyes closed, slowly rocking back and forth, as she was listening to a station she never listened to before.

Her Mom didn't want to disturb Alice so she just sat down where she was and did the same thing that Alice did. The music was deeply soothing.

One night Alice passed the group chat test with seven people talking; the radio helped.

All the girls went over to the corner and huddled, chatting. Alice and her Mom just looked at Dean.

Dean said, "Don't look at me, they have their own schemes."

All the girls came out of the huddle laughing. The president, taking her leadership role, announced, "Since Alice passed her hearing tests, this calls for a celebration. It is time for Alice to have a girl's trip to the mall for a clothes shopping run; Dean can hold the bags. She has to learn the benefits of retail therapy. This Saturday at 10:00 AM. Mom, can she get a charm bracelet?"

The Mom was laughing so hard she was crying. "I suppose she earned the right to get a charm bracelet."

Alice said, "Mommy I don't understand."

Mary said, "A lot of times a group of girls flock to the mall to buy stuff even if they really don't need them. We want to get you some new clothes and some other things. Have a good breakfast, you will need the strength to last the day. All sisters need to know how to do this."

This was the first time that Alice was being included as a sister; it was a special trip just for Alice. Her Mom thought it was a good idea.

That day, Alice was really excited, she was going with her sisters. Dean handed Alice some ear protectors, "Alice, sometimes the music or so many people talking may be too much for you. We don't want you to get hurt so put these in and we can go to a different part of the mall or just go home. Maybe get something to eat."

Alice was taken from one store to the next; it was very tiring, but she was being included in things. She wanted this day to last forever.

Dean went and got Alice some noise canceling ear buds.

It was a very long day, almost dinner time. The last stop was to a silversmith's.

Mary said, "Sir, can you help us? We have a young girl here who is in need of a charm bracelet, and of course a special charm."

When Alice looked through the showcase her eyes grew as big as saucers. All the bracelets were so sparkly.

Mary said, "You see Alice, you collect charms as you go through life; mine has five charms on it." She pulled up her sleeve and Alice looked at it. "I forgot, someone gave me this old thing on my finger."

Dean grabbed sister's wrist and they both stood at the end of the showcase. The owner, who recognized Dean and sister, now realized who was talking and it was up to him to keep Mary solely interested with the charm bracelets and not the wedding rings that were in the next few showcases.

Alice said, "Mary, what should I get? I do not want to get something like a train as that was a sad time."

Alice said, "Mister, do you have any that are for friends? These are all my friends, and today is a special day for me."

After much hunting, the owner found a little girl, he said, "If it is a special day for you, here is a small girl so you can remember this day whenever you look at it."