His grandmother came into the room with a thin middle-aged man with a friendly face. "Doctor Pfaff came early. Amanda's not home yet. He figured he could just get started with Matty. Is that ok with you Mike or do you want to wait for Amanda?"
His dad smiled, "It's fine. I'm Michael Winthrope. You must be Doctor Pfaff." The doctor had a friendly face and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you Mr. Winthrope." "You can call me Mike." "I see the family resemblance. You look very similar to Lee but with darker hair. I bet if you cut your hair and shaved, you would look just like him except for the hair color." His dad nodded. "I have heard that before."
Then Doctor Pfaff turned his attention to Matty. "Hello Alex. I have to say it is very nice to see you again. I know you don't remember me. But we were friends when you were little. Every time one of your parents brought you in. They would always stop in my office so you could get an ice cream. I don't specialize in children. But I have worked with your mother before with some other Karbala kids. Now let's get started, shall we?"
Matty nodded yes. "Let's start with when did you stop speaking? Do you remember?" His dad answered. "It was after the explosion. Amanda told me that he was speaking when Lee and her found him in the warehouse. He told them what orders to yell to get the other children to get out." Doctor Pfaff nodded. "And Amanda was in the warehouse when it exploded. Is that when he lost his hearing as well?"
"Yes, he lost his hearing in the explosion. Some shrapnel got in his good ear." Then Doctor Pfaff turned to Matty, "I know this is a silly question, but have you tried speaking?" Matty nodded yes. "Yes. Just nothing comes out. The last time I talked was when I told my parents what orders to yell to get the other kids to leave the warehouse. It was gyerekek visszavonulnak és takarodnak which means children retreat and take cover. "
Doctor Pfaff said, "This tapping thing you're doing. Is it Morse code? That's very impressive how fast you are doing it and how fast your uncle is interpreting it." His dad nodded. "When I first took Matty. He was newly deaf, couldn't lip read yet and he was not speaking. I needed to find quick way to communicate with him. There are not always paper and pencils around. I thought Morse code would be the fastest for us both to learn. We did not do it this fast in the beginning but I have been doing it with him for almost five years now."
Doctor Pfaff smiled, "That sounds like something Lee would have done as well. I can tell you are related to him. Now I think the main trauma that caused Matty to stop speaking is the explosion. Especially because his mother was inside of it. Or if he witnessed his father's death as well. It could be a combination of both. Matty did you also see your father's death?"
Matty tapped on his dad, "I don't know how to answer that one dad. Make something up."
His dad said, "I was running off with him. I saw Lee die. Matty didn't. Last week he did see me get shot and thought that I was dead for a little bit. That is another trauma you will need to work with him on. Also the Agency taking him and Agent Henderson almost killing him with his interrogation."
Doctor Pfaff nodded. "Well, this young man has been through a lot. I don't normally work with children, and I am going to need to consult with a speech therapist, but I will take him on as a patient. I know Amanda does not want to bring him back to the Agency. But I am willing to come here on the weekends as long as she provides food."
Just then his mother came into the room. "Doctor Pfaff you are early." Doctor Pfaff turned to his mother and smiled. "Yes, I am sorry about that, Amanda. I had an errand to run before I came here, and it did not take as long as I expected."
"Well, there is a sandwich upstairs with your name on it when you're ready. I also got some fudge pops for you." Doctor Pfaff smiled. "Thank you. Well like I was just telling them. I am willing to work with Matty here at the house. I will work out the times with Amanda. Mr. Winthrope will need to be available as well to interpret. I will brush up on my sign language as I am going to want to talk to the boy alone at some point."
His dad spoke, "Matty doesn't know ASL. He just knows BSL. They are different. But he's a quick learner. I'm sure Matty will pick up ASL quickly." Doctor Pfaff nodded. "That is good to know. Matty here is in good hands with Amanda. She really is the best with kids like him. We will be getting this little man talking again in no time." He ruffled Matty's hair. "It really is nice to see you again Matty, and it was good to meet you, Mike." He shook his dad's hand.
Doctor Pfaff and his mother left the room. He was alone with his dad again. "Are you alright with talking to him again?" Matty nodded yes. "I want to be able to talk and be normal." His dad hugged him. "You will never be normal kid. You are too amazing for that."
His dad flipped on the television in the bedroom. He flipped around until he found an old western. Matty watched with him for a while. Then his mother came into the room. "You fellas doing ok down here? Doctor Pfaff left. He was really impressed with how well adjusted Matty seems considering everything he has been through."
His mom got on the other side of the bed next to Matty and put her arms around him. "We are going to have to start figuring out school and other things for you soon as well. Sweet boy. But for right now I am going to need you to go upstairs. I need to talk to your daddy alone for a little bit. Do you mind going upstairs and hanging out with your grandma?"
Notes:
Yes he minds going upstairs. Don't do it Matty. Stay down there.
Next chapter - Pot Roast and Succotash. How did Phillip's meeting with Doctor Smyth go? Does Phillip still have a job?