Amanda's Voice Chapter 02: The Sounds of Silence
Amanda Sefton was still locked in a war of wills with her bigoted parents over her boyfriend, Kurt Wagner, who happens to be a mutant, and an X-Man. With her parents demanding that Amanda dump him, and never see Kurt again, Amanda has had her TV, Music System, Computer and Cell Phone all taken away by her father, until she gives up Kurt forever. In the only way she knows how, Amanda is fighting back with a simple weapon: Silence. She refuses to speak to her parents until they relent, and stop their bigoted ways. She also has another weapon, her mind. Amanda has been heavily hitting the books from the town library, the one place that she is allowed to be outside school and home.
Silence.
Amanda never realized just how loud silence could be until she was forced to live inside of it. Working hard at her Special Project, in her room, Amanda heard her mother come home. Amanda knew that her mother would come right up the stairs and check on her. Amanda was tempted to put away her Special Project, but knew that her mother would not really know what Amanda was doing. It just looked like another American Civics project. Last month, it was the legality of the Federal Government to enforce Civil Rights in the American workplace. Amanda, however, was working on her own project. If this were a school project, it would be a Pass/Fail grading, because either this worked, or it failed.
Mrs. Sefton walked into the open doorway, as Amanda looked up. Amanda's face was stone-cold, as it has been since this war of Bigotry Vs Love began. Ms. Sefton looked and saw that everything was as it has been for the last two days. Her daughter's coldness cutting Mrs. Sefton's heart. Still, SHE was the mother, the adult. Amanda simply needed to learn that her parents knew best, and she should just obey. Mrs. Sefton steeled herself and said "Amanda. Go wash your hands, and set the table." Amanda obeyed, but no warmth was sent to her mother.
Silence.
As she was setting the table, Amanda was surprised to find that her mother said "Set one more place, we are having company. He's important, so be civil." Amanda was intrigued but wary. She smelled a trap, but was unsure how, or what form it would take, but her feminine intuition warned her to stay sharp. After her father pulled into the driveway, another car followed him, and parked behind her father's car. She could see her father get out and wait for his mystery guest. He didn't wait long, as the car opened and a well built man stepped out. He was almost as tall as her dad, with a dusky complexion,and nice brown hair. His suit probably cost more that Amanda made in month of looking at him, made Amanda think of the old song "Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood. Damn but he did look studly. That's when every instinctive feeling of doom hit Amanda! She thought to herself 'Of COURSE! He's a honey trap! Mom and Dad will try to get me to admit to liking him, go out on a date, then forget about poor Kurt! Not. A. Chance. In. Hell. ' Amanda's blood was boiling for a very different reason than what her parent were hoping for! I decided upon my strategy, and walked to the bathroom.
As I re-entered the dining room, I could hear my father talking with this stranger, who could be heard to say "Of course it will work, I can guarantee that." My father replied "I hope so, but she is very stubborn." My mother warned them "Shh! She's coming!" I made an entrance worthy of a queen, of a goddess! I walked into the dining room with my mouth closed, my head held high, and a face like a statue. With regal grace I merely looked at this unwelcome intruder. This would be corrupter of love dered to look me full in the face. He even had the gall to address me! "Good evening, Amanda. My name is Alan Sisko. I am a friend of your father, and to you as well. You just need to hear me out, and I'm sure that we'll all get along famously. My reply?
Silence.
I took my accustomed seat and waited for the food. My father wasn't having any of that "Amanda! Don't be rude to our guest! At least say 'hi' or something!"
Silence.
My mother tried to get me to 'see reason'. My dad tried to get me to give up. Mr. Sisko tried to 'save' me from 'those awful, and untrustworthy mutants' by showing me documents, from something called 'Friends of Humanity', to 'prove how wicked and evil mutants are'. I did my best to make my position crystal clear. I ate my dinner. I got up. I cleaned up after myself. I then turned towards them all. Then I really let them have it, with regal dismissal.
Silence.
My father was angry. My mother was embarrassed. The intruder was both puzzled and attracted to me. Icky. He is at least eighteen, maybe twenty. I, and Kurt are sixteen. I walked up to my room, leaving my parents and the Pervert behind as I left them as they deserve. in silence. I could still hear them downstairs. My mother came up to my room and was clearly worried. She should be, because she and my father are going to lose. They can either lose this bigotry of they can lose me. I am saving every penny to simply move out as soon as I legally can. I am beginning to not really care about if my parents ever change. I am seeing a side of them that I never have. A side that disgusts me. A side which I will NEVER emulate. Instead I plan on regaining my life by various means. My two plans are A, and B. The first is the long shot that may not be a winner, but it is the absolute moral high road. Plan B is more likely to work, but it is not something to be proud of. Even thinking about it makes me feel bad, but am running out of options. I resolve to ask for advice at lunch. Even as I turn out the light to sleep, I can feel the bonds my family once shared, fading like warmth in one's hand while outside in winter's chill. Slow, but inevitable. With such awful thoughts, I cry myself to sleep.
It is now Friday. I get up, get ready for school. As I prepare to leave and catch the bus, my mother says to me "Sweety? I guess it's rather unfair for anyone to tell you how you should feel. It's certainly not a fun thing for your parents to tell you whom you may be in love with. I understand that. It's just that the house got wrecked, partially by him, and he had been hiding his real appearance! I think that if you had been honest from the first, we may have had a different reaction. I don't want to break your heart, sweety. I just worry that he may not be the right boy for my little girl. Once you get to school, I can't protect you! There are so many boys who would like nothing better than to use you, and throw you away afterwards. That is always a big fear for any parent of a teenage girl. Even one as smart and strong as you. Just try to think about it from our side. Please?" I was floored! Was my mom serious? I didn't say anything, but I did give my mom the first hug in three days! My father had already gone to work. The bus was coming, and I smiled at Mom as I ran to catch it.
I immediately told Kurt about what my Mom said. I also told her about my father's friend. To say that my poor Kurt's feelings were on a roller coaster ride would be simply accurate. I held Kurt's hand and smiled at him. When Kurt gathered me in his arms, I just felt so safe, so warm, so LOVED! As we parted for different classes we agreed to get together at lunch.
Although many of the girls were still giving Amanda grief for dating a mutant, many were simply not in the same classes, or they just had other things to worry about. All told, Amanda has had worse days at school. At lunch, Amanda went straight to Kurt and the X-Men. After explaining everything to Kurt and the others, Amanda asked Kurt "So, Kurt, which plan should I use?" Kurt thought about it and said "Any plan zat makes you zo uncomfortable, iz always ze wrong plan. If ve must, ve vill find anuzzer vay." Amanda hugged Kurt and snuggled into his arms where she felt so safe, and loved."Amanda? If ziz man from ze 'Friends of Humanity' bozzers you, just call uz. OK?" Amanda looked sad and said "They confiscated my cell phone too, Kurt."
At this point Kitty said "Like, just by one of those cheap pay-as-you-go phones. They don't cost much, and if you only use it when you need to, it could last quite a while!" Kurt nodded in agreement with the perky teen.
On the way home, Amanda stopped in a store that she had seen carrying the phone she wanted. After picking it, and a 120 minute phone card,she got herself home, quickly. Amanda had just plugged the phone in, to charge it, when she heard a car pull into the driveway. Peeking out of her window, Amanda saw it was the Sisko pervert. What was he doing here alone? Amanda turned on her new phone, and called Kurt. She had memorized his number since the Sadie Hawkins Dance. As soon as he picked up Amanda harshly whispered "Kurt! That Bigot Perv is outside my house! Come quick, I'm not feeling safe!" Kurt's heart lurched in his chest and he said "Ov course, Amanda. I'm on my vay!" Putting the cell in her pocket without thinking, Amanda saw that creep take out a bottle and a small rag. She didn't need to read minds to know what he had in mind!