uncle didn't know sign language, how did you speak to him?
We were on his lawn, Kitty and the pups lying on a blanket with us, the puppy's fat little bodies waddling around, getting lost in their blindness before their mama nuzzled them back to her.
Phoebe was lying nearby too. She was mildly curious about the puppie s, but didn't pay them much attention.
Archer looked up at me from where he was lying, his head propped up on his hand. He sat up slowly so that he could use his hands.
I didn't do much speaking. He shrugged. I wrote it down if it was important. Otherwise, I just listened.
I regarded him silently for a minute , wishing I could see his expression better–but it was hidden under all the un-groomed hair. How did you learn sign language? I finally asked quietly.
I taught myself .
I tilted my head, taking a bite of the pastrami sandwich in my hand. Archer had polished his sandwich off in about thirty seconds flat, eating most of it, but sharing pieces of pastrami with Kitty. I put the sandwich down. How? From a book?
He nodded. Yeah .
Do you have a computer ?
He looked up at me, frowning slightly . No.
Do you have electricity?
He looked at me with amusement. Yes, I have electricity, Bree. Doesn't everyone?
I chose not to enlighten him to the fact that he kind of came off as someone who didn't necessarily have any modern conveniences. I tilted my head. Do you have a television? I asked after a minute.
He shook his head. No, I have books.
I nodded, considering the man in front of me. And all these projects that you do–stonework, gardening–you just teach them to yourself?
He shrugged. Anyone can learn to do anything if they have the time. I have the time.
I nodded, picking a piece of meat out of the side of my sandwich and chewing it for a second before asking, How did you get all the stones for the driveway and the patio?
Some I collected around the lake, some I bought in town at the garden shop .
And how did you get them back her e?
I carried them , he said, looking at me like it was a crazy question.
So you don't drive? I asked. You walk everywhere?
Yes, he answered, shrugging.
Okay, enough with the twenty questions, he said. What about you? What are you doing in Pelion?
I studied him for a second before answering, his golden brown eyes trai ned on me, waiting for what I was going to say. I'm sort of on a road trip –I started, but then I stopped. No, you know what? I ran away, I said . My dad… passed away and… some other stuff happened that I had a hard time handling, and I freaked out and I ran away. I sighed. That's the truth of it. I'm not sure why I just told you that, but that's the truth of it.
He studied me for a little longer than I was comfortable with, feeling exposed, so I looked away. When I saw his hands move in my peripheral vision, I looked back at him. Is it working? He asked.
" Is what working?" I whispered.
Running away, he said . Is it helping?
I stared at him . Mostly, no, I finally answered.
He nodded, staring at me thoughtfully before looking away.
I was glad he didn't try to come up with something encouraging to say. Sometimes an understanding silence was better than a bunch of meaningless words.
I looked around the immaculate yard, to the small house, compact but well kept. I wanted to ask him how he had the money to live out here, but I didn't think that was polite. He probably lived off of some insurance policy his uncle had left him… or maybe his parents. God, he had had so many losses.
So Archer, I finally said, moving the conversation in another direction, that cooking lesson I mentioned… Are you free this Saturday? Your place. Five o'clock? I raised an eyebrow.
He smiled slightly. I don't know. I'll have to check with my social secretary.
I snorted. You being funny?
He raised an eyebrow.
Better , I said.
He smiled bigger. Thank you, I've been working on it.
I laughed. His eyes twinkled and moved to my mouth. Those butterflies took flight
We were on his lawn, Kitty and the pups lying on a blanket with us, the puppy's fat little bodies waddling around, getting lost in their blindness before their mama nuzzled them back to her.
Phoebe was lying nearby too. She was mildly curious about the puppie s, but didn't pay them much attention.
Archer looked up at me from where he was lying, his head propped up on his hand. He sat up slowly so that he could use his hands.
I didn't do much speaking. He shrugged. I wrote it down if it was important. Otherwise, I just listened.
I regarded him silently for a minute , wishing I could see his expression better–but it was hidden under all the un-groomed hair. How did you learn sign language? I finally asked quietly.
I taught myself .
I tilted my head, taking a bite of the pastrami sandwich in my hand. Archer had polished his sandwich off in about thirty seconds flat, eating most of it, but sharing pieces of pastrami with Kitty. I put the sandwich down. How? From a book?
He nodded. Yeah .
Do you have a computer ?
He looked up at me, frowning slightly . No.
Do you have electricity?
He looked at me with amusement. Yes, I have electricity, Bree. Doesn't everyone?
I chose not to enlighten him to the fact that he kind of came off as someone who didn't necessarily have any modern conveniences. I tilted my head. Do you have a television? I asked after a minute.
He shook his head. No, I have books.
I nodded, considering the man in front of me. And all these projects that you do–stonework, gardening–you just teach them to yourself?
He shrugged. Anyone can learn to do anything if they have the time. I have the time.
I nodded, picking a piece of meat out of the side of my sandwich and chewing it for a second before asking, How did you get all the stones for the driveway and the patio?
Some I collected around the lake, some I bought in town at the garden shop .
And how did you get them back her e?
I carried them , he said, looking at me like it was a crazy question.
So you don't drive? I asked. You walk everywhere?
Yes, he answered, shrugging.
Okay, enough with the twenty questions, he said. What about you? What are you doing in Pelion?
I studied him for a second before answering, his golden brown eyes trai ned on me, waiting for what I was going to say. I'm sort of on a road trip –I started, but then I stopped. No, you know what? I ran away, I said . My dad… passed away and… some other stuff happened that I had a hard time handling, and I freaked out and I ran away. I sighed. That's the truth of it. I'm not sure why I just told you that, but that's the truth of it.
He studied me for a little longer than I was comfortable with, feeling exposed, so I looked away. When I saw his hands move in my peripheral vision, I looked back at him. Is it working? He asked.
" Is what working?" I whispered.
Running away, he said . Is it helping?
I stared at him . Mostly, no, I finally answered.
He nodded, staring at me thoughtfully before looking away.
I was glad he didn't try to come up with something encouraging to say. Sometimes an understanding silence was better than a bunch of meaningless words.
I looked around the immaculate yard, to the small house, compact but well kept. I wanted to ask him how he had the money to live out here, but I didn't think that was polite. He probably lived off of some insurance policy his uncle had left him… or maybe his parents. God, he had had so many losses.
So Archer, I finally said, moving the conversation in another direction, that cooking lesson I mentioned… Are you free this Saturday? Your place. Five o'clock? I raised an eyebrow.
He smiled slightly. I don't know. I'll have to check with my social secretary.
I snorted. You being funny?
He raised an eyebrow.
Better , I said.
He smiled bigger. Thank you, I've been working on it.
I laughed. His eyes twinkled and moved to my mouth. Those butterflies took flight
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