The third and final Matthews child was a surprise to everyone, not just the expectant parents but to Riley and Auggie who up until that moment, had not expected for their worlds to change, but grew accustomed to the news of the latest arrival. But what flipped their lives the most; their small daughter Phoebe was special needs and the family together had to learn to be patient on a level that she could understand.
"Hey Phoebe." Maya smiled as she and Riley walked into the kitchen for an eight o'clock dinner.
Phoebe stared blankly at Maya, afraid to speak or even react despite Maya being around everyday since she had been born, and becoming a literal part of their family. Phoebe had widened her big brown eyes and curled her lips in a nervous scowl, narrowing her eyes and stepping back, grabbing onto the bottom of Topanga's cardigan.
Phoebe was diagnosed with Selective Mutism and Anxiety in result to being mildly autistic, and she was afraid to speak to more than just her mother and sister, choosing selectively on whom she would talk to due to social anxiety. Cory and Topanga had tried for years and at the point when they had lost hope, right before her third birthday, concerned with her poor social skills, they had taken her to see a therapist who suggested teaching the child sign language.
"Say, 'Hi' to Maya." Topanga looks down to Phoebe, showing her the sign for 'Hi'.
Phoebe cowers behind her mother, silently begging her to pick her up and leave the room. Maya smiles and shrugs, turning around to sit down at the table for dinner. Topanga lifted Phoebe into her booster chair and handed her a spoon, the chubby cheeked child lazily scooping potatoes onto it before completely missing her face. Instead, she played with the potatoes, squishing the white flakes between her fingers.
"Phoebs, food is for your tummy." Cory reminds her gently, wiping her face.
"Mom and Dad, Maya and I want to propose something to you." Riley boldly announces, clapping her hands together.
Riley and Maya exchange excited smiles, Maya pulling out her poster board from under the table with the plan the two had sketched out earlier.
"Riley and I wanted to take a family road trip together this summer!" Maya announces.
Cory and Topanga exchange looks while Auggie jumps up onto his knees in his chair, excitedly chanting as she looks at the girls.
"Girls, we don't know. With your sister's anxiety from being away from home."
"C'mon mom!" Riley whines.
"C'mon Mrs. Matthews." Maya whines.
Cory shrugs, feeling slightly sided with the idea of taking a trip, seeing the world with the girls as a learning experience. Topanga on the other hand was hesitant to take Phoebe, her first real trip from home.
"We'll think about it." Cory looks at Topanga for approval.
"So in other words, no." Maya grumbles and Riley groans.
"Maybe." Topanga assures them as she finishes her bite.
Topanga stands, dreading to set her plate in the sink and announce the ever dreaded bathtime to Phoebe, but calmly helps the child down, grabbing her hand and walking her into the other room.
"Phoebe, do you wanna go play with your toys in the bath?" Topanga coaxes her.
Instantly the child bursts into tears, looking up at her mother with fearful and tear filled eyes, her mouth wide as she flailed her body to the ground, laying flat on her face as she sulked, furious sobs shaking her entire body. Calmly, Topanga lifted her to her feet, holding her arms gently yet tightly to the child's body and making firm eye contact with her.
"Calm hands, calm body." She repeats firmly to the child before grabbing her hands and walking her up the stairs.
Phoebe quietly and obediently followed, her sniffles loud but her tears not in sight, as she walked her droopy and exhausted body up the stairs.