Give Me a Sign(71)
“I never actually minded that.”
“Really? A lot of people do.”
“I just want you to feel comfortable doing whatever you want,” he says, still making sure to face me as he talks.
“Thanks, Oliver.”
He dumps the dry noodles into the pot, searching in the big industrial-size fridge for some cream, butter, and cheese.
“Otherwise you’re doing all right?” he asks, turning to make sure I still have a clear view of his face when he speaks.
“Yeah, I guess I just felt like I made so much progress figuring myself out this summer, and it all got erased in a single night.”
“No, don’t think of it that way.”
“It’s hard not to,” I admit.
“There’s still plenty of summer left,” he says. “And a whole life ahead of you. You can keep finding yourself again and again. The important part of all of that is just being true to what your heart tells you.”
“Dang, that’s poetic.”
“I have been reading a lot of Ben’s poetry collections lately.” He leans back to stir the boiling water.
I consider what he said. Up until this summer, wearing my hearing aids was nonnegotiable. I diligently put them in every morning without question. I never would’ve thought I’d go without them for most of the last month. But I can do that. I have that choice—and so many choices ahead of me. A multitude of ways I can explore my identity and decide how to exist in this world.
Oliver drains the noodles and assembles the ingredients. “All right, hop down, grab us a couple bowls, and get ready for the best meal of your life.”
We take our cheesy snack and sit outside on the dining hall porch, staring out at the slumbering campgrounds waiting to come to life again the next morning. I bask in the cool evening breeze, finding peace in this moment, especially as I take a bite of the delicious meal.
“This is good,” I sign, nodding as I chew. Before I can say it out loud, Oliver jumps in.
“That means ‘good,’ right?” he says, smiling. “I knew it.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Natasha waves at me across the fire. It’s a very cold Tuesday night, but our staff cabin is still housing campers, so the options for gathering after hours are limited. From my bench on the opposite side, I watch her across the flames.
“Hey, I need to talk to you,” Natasha signs. I’m nervous since we’re not exactly on the best of terms right now. “I want to say sorry.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine.”
“No. About that night.” She looks away for a second before adding voice. It’s been exactly one week since Isaac left camp, and we’d been avoiding discussing the subject until now. “I was just scared. Isaac explained more about what happened, so I wanted to apologize.”
“It’s okay, really,” I assure her, fixating on the fact that she’s gotten messages from Isaac. But I’m relieved that, even if he doesn’t want to get back to me, at least he’s in touch with his friends. “I probably would’ve reacted the same way.”
“Yeah,” she says and signs. “I noticed you haven’t been signing as much lately.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I guess since I’m working with the blind campers mostly right now.” But as I talk to Natasha, my hands stay by my side, like they’re too heavy to lift. “Yeah . . . so you’ve heard from him? Is he doing okay? I sent him a message, well, a few messages.”
Natasha gives me a pitiful, knowing look. “I’m sure he’ll respond to you soon.”
Ethan walks up, with a very enthusiastic Mackenzie and Jaden by his side, and waves to get everyone’s attention.
“Do you have the staff here?” He looks around the firepit to confirm. “Let me text Simone and Bobby real quick.”
“What’s up?” I ask Ethan.
“Let’s wait for everyone to be here,” Ethan says and signs.
Mackenzie sets up her laptop on the picnic table. Gary pulls up on the golf cart as Simone and Bobby arrive. Everyone’s seated and waiting for Ethan’s announcement.
“Which do you want first, the good news, or the great news, or the best news?” he asks.
“All of them!” Bobby shouts.
“Okay, we’ll build,” Ethan says and signs. “To start, the initial donations received, thanks to all your families and friends, as well as Mackenzie’s boost to her followers”—Mackenzie nods, having been waiting expectantly for this shout-out—“have officially secured us enough funding to get started on repairs to the storm damage!”
“We can get our staff cabin back?” Simone asks. “No more hanging around in the cold?”
“It’ll take a while to mend the roof of both cabins, but they’ll be looking better than ever in no time!” Gary announces proudly.
“Now, the great news. I’d argue this is tied with best,” Ethan says and signs. “It’s not one hundred percent yet. But I’ve heard from Isaac, and he should be returning to camp soon!”
My heart races with excitement and despair. He’s returning to Gray Wolf? But he’s been in contact with seemingly everyone but me?
“And last, but certainly not least . . .” Ethan gestures for Jaden to take the next part, voicing his signing.