Member-only story
I Can’t Hear You
A deaf writer visits a small town and falls in love.
Daniel was a writer. An exceptionally good one. At the age of twenty-four, he managed to attract an agent and get a book deal. He had just arrived in Franklin, a small town in the midst of “renewal.” He was planning on spending a week in Franklin to do some research on small towns and their residents.
Daniel entered the Lunchtime Diner and took a seat at a booth. The diner was a charming place, like something out of a 1950s movie set. It only took a minute before a young woman in her mid-twenties walked over to the table and said, “Hi, I’m Jenny, what can I get for you?”
Daniel took out a small notebook and wrote down a note. Then he handed it to Jenny. It said:
I’m new in town. What do you recommend? I am deaf, so you will need to write your response.
Jenny smiled, and using sign language, signed, “I recommend the BLT and some lemonade.”
Daniel pointed to the notebook and reached out his hand. Jenny handed the notebook back, and Daniel wrote:
I don’t know sign language, I am newly deaf. The doctors don’t know why it happened.
Jenny took the notebook and wrote:
