CHAPTER FIVE
~Through Will's Eyes~

I sighed, not even hearing myself as I fixed the Robot's computer. I glanced upward to see the Robot's taller half light up, knowing he was saying something. I looked back down, anger and frustration seeping out onto my emotional face. I was tired and angry. I didn't want this to be this way. I wanted to talk to my good mechanical friend like I usually did when I fixed his computer banks...but I couldn't.

I could never talk to him again. I could never hear Penny's hysterical screams when I played pranks on her. I could never hear my own voice sing with my guitar like I used to with Judy. I was never going to hear the Jupiter 2's ignition again or the warning sirens.

How was that going to work out anyway? The sirens had always been noise and never lights. I wiped my forehead with my sleeve when a hand touched my arm. I jumped to my feet, startled to see Penny looking at me worry on her face. I didn't even dare look into her eyes. It was like Dad, Don, Mom, Penny, Judy and even the Robot looked at me like it was tragedy that I lost my hearing. Penny caught my attention again and I could read it in her eyes: "Are you okay?" I nodded and started to turn back to my cabin but she grabbed my arm. She held up a piece of paper.

'Mom and Dad want to talk to you on the upper deck'

I nodded again and turned to the elevator. I pressed the button, but I didn't really want to. I didn't want to go to up there where Mom and Dad would ask questions on paper. Or where they would stare at me with pity in their eyes. It was unbearable. I ran the opposite direction, straight into Dr. Smith's half open cabin. He jumped, taking off his reading glasses.

"Oh, Will," He sighed and got up from his bed that he was sitting on. I sat down, stress getting the best of me. I was tired and exhausted of this 'silent' treatment. Dr. Smith closed his cabin door and sat down beside me with a weak smile.

"How are you feeling?" I had learned over the past few days how to read lips. I was learning it on my own... I hadn't told anyone about it. I kinda wanted it to be a surprise. I shrugged answering his question. His eyes widened but I took the little notepad from his desk and began to write on it.

'I'm trying to learn how to lip read'

Dr. Smith mouthed an 'O' and nodded understandingly. He took the paperpad from me and wrote,

'The only thing I can think of .. for communication between your family is sign language'

I gulped thinking about it. That would be a good way of communicating but it would not be the same. Dr. Smith scribbled another note that made my heart sink lower than before.

'But I do not know sign language, Will. We would need a teacher and we don't have one.'

I let out a groan when I felt a loud vibration of the cabin door open wide. Don was standing there with Judy. He was angry while my oldest sister was trying to calm him down.

"Come on, Will. Mom and Dad need to talk to you." I shook my head, rubbing my forehead.

"You shouldn't be with Doctor Smith anyway!" I read Don's lips as he spoke. I shook my head again and leaned my head against my friend's shoulder. I felt Dr. Smith stiffen before relaxing as he patted my shoulder gently and awkwardly.

"He doesn't want to go out there right now, Major West,"

"Then what should I tell John?"

"He's exhausted,"

"Fine," I opened my eyes to see Judy and Don close the cabin door shut. I took the notebook again and began to write:

'We're still friends right'

Dr. Smith's eyes watered as he read the note and looked back at me.

"Yes," He choked. "Of course we are, dear William,"

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