Senor Navarro had explained to Alejandro and the boy that Felipe's memory lapses, inability to hear, and muteness were due to the trauma he had experienced. He thought it was possible that these internal blockages could be released. The explosion had acted as a trigger - so certain events could also partially or possibly completely reverse this negative effect.
Felipe still stared in the direction he had seen the rose. In his mind's eye, however, he saw not reality, but a young black-haired woman standing in front of him. The flower in question was attached to a fashionable hat she was wearing. She was also wearing a burgundy dress with ruffles on the skirt - it was a bit like those worn by dancers in the better establishments - and matching high boots. Maria, that was the beautiful lady's name, had seen the dress in Mexico and was immediately smitten. Fashionable and beautiful.
However, she was frugal and modest and would never have been able to afford it. It was her husband, Federico, who convinced her otherwise and gave her the dress.
Maria, a kind and friendly woman.
Federico, who often seemed grumpy and stern, probably because he had been taught not to show his feelings openly. Once you got to know him, you soon realized that he had a heart of gold and helped people when they were in need.
Frederico Saez and Maria Saez, man and woman, husband and wife, father and mother.
His father, his mother.
He had seen them dimly in his dreams, but suddenly he saw them clearly in front of him. Sitting together at the table, his mother's loud laughter. His father grooming his horse and teaching Felipe to respect people and animals. They attended church together and made the unspeakable decision to leave for Los Angeles. Caught between the fronts of two warring factions, misfortune had taken its course.
The boy did not know the real reasons why they had embarked on this journey. Didn't it have something to do with his father's brother? And where was his Uncle Dario?
Surely it would be better if Dario stayed away and never came back. A harsh word, but Felipe had never liked his uncle. Dario had always seemed devious to him, even though his uncle had always been friendly. However, Felipe remembered Dario's dark and cunning look when he thought he was unobserved.
Maria and Frederico had thought the boy's worries were the exaggerated imagination of a child.
Were they right?
He would probably never know. He would never hear his mother's warm voice and his father's friendly hum again.
How he wished he could hear them again. One last time.
Unfortunately, he would not be granted that, and she would only speak to him in his head. Never again would she stroke his head and say in a friendly voice:
"Hey, boy, why are you staring in my direction?"
What was that? She had never said that. Besides, the unfriendly voice wasn't his mother's. He didn't even know that voice.
Confused, he grabbed his forehead as the images in his head faded.
Reality had returned to him and he saw a woman coming toward him in a huff.
The woman was wearing a hat with a rose on it and a fashionable dress. Everything was red. Everything resembled his mother's clothes at that time. Maybe it even came from the same tailor.
Felipe stared at the rose. That flower! He had seen it before the memories had returned. Obviously, that had been the trigger for that.
But the boy didn't have time to think about it, because the woman continued to scold him: "You're still staring! Are you stupid or what?"
She was talking! To him!
Not friendly words, but he heard them. Loud and clear!
He could hear her!
H E A R!
Stunned, he stood motionless, as if paralyzed, completely in shock.
"Excuse me, senorita. The boy can neither speak nor hear," a male voice rang out. One of the merchants had come closer and pushed himself into his field of vision. "As far as I know, he can read lips, can't he, boy?"
He nodded automatically, not really understanding the question.
The stranger woman scowled at him. "So stupid, like I said. I don't need this. Where did we end up, George?"
The young gentleman addressed - obviously her husband - nodded in agreement without answering. This was obviously not expected, for the lady continued her tirade without waiting.
Felipe stopped listening. Still confused and shocked, he felt overwhelmed by the situation. He didn't care what this woman thought of him and ignored the merchant who tried to calm him down. He stood up awkwardly and tried to get away. Away from this evil person. He desperately needed an undisturbed place and peace and quiet to process everything.
.
Felipe finally found that peace and quiet a short distance away from the pueblo, near an old ruin that he sometimes visited when he needed time to think. It was a good hour's ride away and offered enough shade for a pleasant break. The previous owners had abandoned the land long ago - it was too poor to farm successfully. Since then, the place had been abandoned and was an ideal place to retreat and be undisturbed. Just what the boy needed to think things over.
Later, he could not remember how long he had been there. Time no longer seemed to matter. While he had initially feared that he might go deaf again, and had therefore absorbed the few sounds around him, he was relieved to discover that this did not seem to be the case. His hearing never left him, and he listened with fascination to the gentle sounds of nature.
For the boy, however, they were anything but. After a few years of complete silence, even the quiet sounds seemed unnaturally loud to him, and it took time for him to adjust to the point where he no longer felt the constant urge to cover his ears to block out the "noise" around him. Yes, it would take some time before it would be normal for him to hear.
Full of anticipation, he mounted his horse. The unpleasant encounter with the lady was long forgotten. He was eager to share the news with Don Alejandro and the others.
"Telling" still meant demonstrating it with gestures. He was still unable to speak. He had tried, hoping briefly that he would now be free of this handicap as well. Unfortunately, this had not been the case. But Felipe didn't let his disappointment get the better of him - who knows, maybe he would be able to speak again in a short time?
In a good mood, Felipe urged his animal on. He still felt like he was in a dream. He was very curious about Alejandro's reaction.
When he arrived at the hacienda, he didn't tend to his horse first, as he usually did, but hastily tied it to a beam provided for that purpose. It was very quiet and most of the people were obviously out in the fields. At least he hadn't seen or heard anyone yet.
He entered the building unnoticed. At least some of the servants should be here.
And indeed - he heard voices in the distance. They were two women talking.
Curious, he approached. It was so wonderful not to be deaf anymore.
"I like the boy. But I think Don Alejandro is exaggerating a bit. He's too fond of the boy, if you ask me."
Did they talk about him?
"He even wanted to send him to Mexico, to the university there."
Felipe paused. He didn't know anything about that. To Mexico? Away from Los Angeles?
"Yes, he's helping out in the tavern instead. That's probably better. A deaf and dumb student alone in a university? That can't work."
"Si, that was probably the reason why our patron put this plan on hold. Don Alejandro has already complained several times about the bad school here in Los Angeles. Maybe he'll hire a tutor for Felipe."
"We'll see. In any case, the boy will stay here. Unless he learns to hear and speak again."
"I think that's nonsense. Why should it change after so many years? I'm telling you; the boy is mute and deaf and will remain so for the rest of his life. As tragic as that is."
Felipe had heard enough. He slipped away unnoticed.
Were these rumors true? Was the old Don planning to send him to Mexico?
He thought it was possible. Don Alejandro had complained several times about the underfunded school. It would be logical to send him away.
Still, he couldn't imagine it - he didn't want to imagine it! Despite the odds, he loved Los Angeles and didn't want to leave. Would Don Alejandro send him to Mexico now that he could hear again?
Maybe it was wiser to keep his new hearing to himself for now, until he could see more clearly.
.
.
A/N:
A new chapter as a little gift for Christmas for your readers, I hope you like it!
It always bothered me in the show that Felipe was able to hear for a very long time and never told anyone. Of course, it made sense as a helper for Zorro, but it seemed too contrived. That's why it's a little different in my story.
Felipe is a bit older in my story, but actually too young for university. A boarding school would be more appropriate. So you shouldn't take every piece of gossip at face value, but Felipe doesn't know that.