
A/N: Don't worry I have not forgotten about my other story Peter's Fairies. LucyCrewe and I are coauthoring it together. Hopefully another chapter will be up soon. This story was inspired by Sentimentals Stars fanfic, "Those Who Speak" with her permission to use the idea and a few changes made. Of course it's not Edmund. It's Peter and he was born that way. I only own - well people I make up. British sign language is different from American Sign language .Things in italics are sign language I only own Mark
Helen Pevensie was ready to scream in frustration. Her oldest already was screaming and crying. Four year old Peter had been born deaf and mute, so trying to guess what he wanted was a trying task. With two other children to care for, sometimes she simply wanted to throw up her hands and give up.
That wasn't to say she was a terrible mother.
She really wasn't.
But sometimes it got daunting.
There was silence. Helen turned to check if Peter was still alive.
He was.
He was standing in front of Edmund's high chair, staring as he pointed to his open mouth, signaling that he was hungry."
Discuit" Edmund said.
Helen went to the cupboard and took out a tin of baby crackers. Peter's eyes followed her until she placed the crackers on the tray. He snatched them up cramming them in his mouth. Helen was half amused and half angry, she couldn't scold him.
He couldn't hear her.
Anyway last time she smacked his hand, he smacked Susan's hand for reasons unknown to her or James. Something had to change, but she didn't know what.
Meanwhile she could put him in the other room with his toys and Edmund could have his snack in peace.
Later that night after children were in bed, she decided to talk to James about getting some extra help - a nanny or something. She drew up the footstool, "Darling, may I talk to you about something?" she asked unsure of where to begin.
James lowered his paper, "What's wrong?"
"It's about Peter. Well, this whole situation really." she said, "You don't know how hard it is to have to take care of three small children. When one of them is deaf and mute it just adds to the tasks. I can't properly scold Peter because he can't hear me. I'm not saying that he's naughty. Sometimes he is." Helen said, "Well, no. Not really. It's only when he wants something and can't tell me, then he gets frustrated and upset. I just think it would be easier if we had a nanny or a tutor of some sort."
James sighed, "I don't know if we can afford that. Tutors are expensive, but maybe I can find someone who would be willing to."
***********************************************************
A few weeks later as Helen was washing the dishes, she dried her hands on her apron. Susan beat her to the door. Even at three years old Susan was polite and charming.
"Hello," she said, in her sweet little voice. A young man stood on the doorstep, he had curly brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Hello," he said. He nodded at Helen, "I'm Mark. I'm here about the tutoring position. I saw your advertisement in the paper."
"Oh yes, won't you come in," Helen said, stepping aside.
Mark followed her into the house, into the den. Toys were scattered about.
"Perhaps I should just observe, for now. Get a proper assessment. By the way, which one is the deaf child?" Mark asked.
Peter chose that moment to come over to Helen laying his head on her lap, he stuck his thumb in his mouth and gazed at Mark.
Helen ran a hand through his hair tenderly." This is Peter. He's my oldest and the deaf child. He's mute too."
"Was he born that way?" Mark asked.
"Yes, he's four years old," Helen said.
"How do you and your husband communicate with him?" Mark asked, taking out a pad of paper.
"Not vey well. We do try, but I do have two other children," Helen admitted.
"Does he know any sign language at all?" Mark asked.
"No. He will point to whatever he wants, but sometimes it is hard to know what he's pointing at."
"How does he get along with his siblings? Your two oldest do play together, do they not?"
"At times, but most times they both end up in tears, because they can't communicate. Peter is stubborn and he knows what he wants. The problem is no one else does, so it can get frustrating for everyone," Helen said, as Peter went back to play.
"May I ask you a question?" Helen asked.
"Yes, of course." Mark said.
"I hope you don't think me too forward for asking this, but why do you want to teach deaf and mute children?" Helen wondered.
"Actually ,this is my first time doing this professionally. I do have personal experience though. My younger sister was born deaf and mute. She's ten years old," Mark said.
"And you could teach Peter?" Helen asked.
"Of course, it won't happen over night and you and your husband will have to learn this stuff. So will your other two when they're old enough, although this is a good age to start. It won't happen overnight. It'll take a lot of patience and tears, but he'll learn the sign language." Mark replied.
***********************************************************
Mark was patient with Peter. Instead of having him sit at the table he decided to make it interesting and took him through the house pointing to different objects and teaching him how to say it sign language. He did it several times until Peter was ready to copy him.
Helen and James were also learning the different signs. If Peter touched his fingertips to his thumb and pointed toward his mouth that meant he was hungry.
When he mimed rocking a baby, it usually had something to do with Edmund.
If it had to do with Susan he usually tapped the bridge of his nose to indicate sister, followed by whatever he wanted to tell her.
It was getting a bit easier to communicate with him, but there were still times when it was hard.
A/N: Just in case anyone's wondering the sign language I described was not made up it is British I found a website that had it