The Bishop strode to the closet and pulled the door open. Amon was hiding behind the coats, his legs sticking out at the bottom. The Bishop reached a gentle hand between two coats, grasped the frightened boy by the upper arm, and pulled him back into the room.

"This is your new family, Amon." The Bishop tried to communicate using hand motions, but Amon seemed not to understand at all. "They've come to take you to your new home."

Paul walked up to the young boy and patted his shoulder. "Hi, Amon. I'm Paul, and this is my wife Elizabeth and your cousins Max and Laura. You'll be living with us from now on. I know we can't take the place of your Mama and Daddy, but we'll do our best to take good care of you."

Elizabeth stepped up next to her husband. She gave Amon a warm smile as she caressed his cheek. He flinched and pulled away as if her fingers were on fire.

Paul took Amon's hand, and the family walked outside to the car. Amon got into the back seat between Max and Laura, and Paul began the long journey home.

"We'll have to have some way to communicate with him," Paul remarked as they rode along.

"When I was a little girl, my family took in a deaf child for a little while," Elizabeth replied. "Her name was Holly. The doctor gave Mama and Daddy a pamphlet about sign language, and Mary Ellen used blocks with letters on them to teach Holly words. Let's stop by for a visit on the way back home. I'll bet Mama and Daddy still have the pamphlet."

Olivia watched the family park and get out of the car. Elizabeth had told her about the family's plans for the day, so she knew Amon would be with them when they came back. She went to the door and let them in.

"Hi, Mama," said Elizabeth as she and her family entered the house. "This is Amon."

"Hello, dear," said Olivia. "You must be tired and hungry after your long car ride. Come on over to the table. I'm sure I can find something for you."

Five minutes later, Amon sat at the table eating leftover biscuits with butter and honey while the rest of the family sat in the living room, talking.

"I thought maybe you still had the pamphlet about sign language and the blocks you used to help Holly all those years ago," Elizabeth told her parents.

Olivia frowned. "Hm. I think the pamphlet was in a box of papers I rescued from the fire. I'll go check."

"Would you like for me to help you look?" asked Elizabeth.

"Oh, no, that's all right. I think I remember where I put them."

Olivia went to the closet and returned a few minutes later with a box that still reeked a little of smoke. She sat it on the floor in front of the sofa. She and Elizabeth began to sort through the papers inside.

"Here it is!" Elizabeth held the pamphlet up. It was slightly singed around the edges but was still perfectly legible.

"Take it with you," said Olivia.

"Thanks," said Elizabeth.

"I think I still have my blocks from when I was little," Laura chimed in.

By the time the family got back home, it was very late. Elizabeth had prepared a meal in her slow cooker, so she served it up. Everyone ate in a hurry, Amon almost inhaling his portion. When they were finished, Elizabeth took the boy by the hand and led him to the bathroom, where she filled the tub, then undressed him and helped him into it. He made no sound and put up no resistance. When she was finished, she dressed him in new underwear and pajamas and put him to bed in Max's room, thinking what a shame it was she couldn't read him a bedtime story.

That night, Max awakened to hear sobs coming from Amon's side of the room. He slipped out of bed and padded across the floor until he was standing beside the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed, pulled the child into his arms, and held him tight until he heard his even breathing and knew he was asleep. He told his parents about the incident the following morning.

"Poor little boy!" said Elizabeth. "He's in a strange place with people he barely knows, and he misses his parents and his home. It's going to be very hard for him, and we're all going to have to be there for him."

It was Sunday, and Elizabeth dressed Amon in his new navy blue dress pants, white button down the front shirt, and black patent leather dress shoes.

"Oh, you look so cute!" Laura said when she saw him.

"He sure does," her mother agreed.

At the Lutheran church that morning, everyone gave Amon a warm welcome. He just stared with wide eyes as Elizabeth explained that he was deaf and people offered condolences. She remembered Sarah's story of how her ancestors in Germany had been persecuted by the Lutherans and tried her best to put it out of her mind.

During the service, Amon sat between Paul and Elizabeth, clinging tightly to both their hands.

"I see you have an addition to your family," Reverend Haber remarked as he shook hands with Paul and Elizabeth as they were leaving.

"This is Amon Gindl," Paul told the minister. "He's the son of my cousin in Pennsylvania. His parents just died of the measles, and he's deaf now."

"Why, the poor child! He's fortunate to have good folks like you to take him in and care for him."

That afternoon after lunch, Elizabeth got out the pamphlet, and the whole family spent the rest of the day learning sign language and teaching it to Amon. By bedtime, they were able to communicate with him on a very basic level.