Chapter 7
There was a pounding on the door. I got up from reading my magazine and answered the door. I looked out the peephole to discover Marie.
"Lizzie, it's me, open the door," Marie said impatiently.
"Okay, hold on then," I told her as I opened the door. I held it and motioned for her to come inside. "Hello, Marie."
"No, I can't come in right now," she said quickly. "I just came ta tell you that Patrick wants you to meet him...right away."
"Wha? Marie, you're not making any sense." I'm confused by her troubled expression.
"At the coffeehouse, same place ya first met him...and hurry; it's important."
"Marie, this seems a little odd, don't ya think? Why doesn't he...?"
"Just hurry, Lizzie" Marie said pleadingly.
"Wait, Marie, I have ta think ..."
"She doesn't have ta think about anything, Marie. Tell him she'll be there," Nell's voice shouted from the livingroom.
I was infuriated once again with my mother's meddling. "Ma, would ya please stop doing that!" I shouted back at the livingroom.
Marie still stood there at the door. Frankie appeared by my side and smiled hello to Marie.
"So come on then!" Marie urged.
"Ma, you should go, Patrick's waiting." Frankie said.
"But…" and then I realized that my son just spoke…and then I woke up.
My head was in a fog partially from the dream and also from the wine. I tossed and turned still thinking about the dream and all that I learned from Marie. Patrick's waiting, Frankie had said. I suppose in his own way Frankie was waiting for Patrick as well. I sighed, fluffed the pillow again, and lay there thinking some more until sleep finally found me...
Frankie ran from the classroom as fast as he could. He ran through the building and outside and didn't stop until he was able to find a hiding place behind a tall tree in the schoolyard.
Catriona chased after him. "Frankie!" she shouted, waving her hands and hoping that he'd notice her out of the corner of his eye.
The determined girl looked around the schoolyard but didn't see him. She walked out and over to the tree. A look of relief flooded her face when she finally found him. Catriona bent down to Frankie's crouching body. She tapped his shoulder but Frankie didn't respond. Catriona shook her head and tapped his shoulder again.
Slowly Frankie looked up at Catriona. He had tears in his eyes.
"You can't listen to that eejit Ricky. Don't pay attention ta anything he says," Catriona told him.
Frankie sighed. He is glad she is his best friend.
"I'm serious, anytime he tries ta tell ya somethin' just turn away from him."
Frankie's eyes darted around the tree until he located a stick. He found a patch of soil and wrote, "called me mute."
Catriona read the words sadly. "Doesn't mean anythin', Frankie. There are worse things to be called. Ricky is just a bloody dobber." Catriona sat next to him and hoped she could get through to him. "He's just jealous of you, Frankie, that yer so much smarter than him."
Frankie shrugged his shoulders as he looked up at his friend.
"Anyway," Catriona continued, "Ya don't need ta speak…"
Frankie tugged on her sleeve. He wrote with the stick again, " I want to."
Catriona smiled at him and shrugged her shoulder. "So, why don't ya then?"
As if it were so easy, Frankie thought. He wrote quickly.
"I'm embarrassed," Catriona read. She sighed in response as they both sat there and thought about it for a moment.
Catriona's eyes brightened. "Frankie! I have an idea!" Catriona said excitedly. Frankie gave her a doubtful look. "I can help you!" Catriona was clapping excitedly.
Frankie pointed to her questioningly. "You?" he mouthed.
"Yah, it's perfect, Frankie. I'll help you. You can watch me and copy what I say and watch how I say it. Since ya can't hear, I'll tell you if yer moving your tongue and lips the right way." Catriona was bouncing up and down as she sat. She was excited she could help him.
Frankie thought for a moment, then looked at her and smiled. Frankie mouthed, "O k," to her and Catriona clapped her hands again grinning.
"Oh yah, Frankie, I forgot ta tell you. Remember that man in the picture ya showed me? He pretended to be yer daddy?"
Frankie nodded. Frankie signed P-a-t-r-i-c-k.
"Patrick, right. How do ya know his name?"
Frankie signed M-a-r-i-e. Catriona knew Marie from the chip shop.
"Right well, my ma and I saw him at the museum yesterday."
Frankie looked blankly at her.
"Frankie, don't ya know what this means? The man, Patrick is here in town!"
Frankie's eyes lit up. Frankie picked up the stick to write but Catriona stopped him.
"No, Frankie. How about you try to say it?"
Frankie nodded and opened his mouth to form the word.
"Good, Frankie. You can do this. I know you can."
A/N: the words dobber & eejit both mean idiot in Scottish slang.