Regarding Jamie: Sound and Fury

by mlea7675

Summary:

Marine Lieutenant Matthew Santos has just been transferred to Corpus Christi from California after returning from the Gulf War. Back in his old stomping grounds, he meets a deaf boy who warms his heart-and his mother, who stops it. But little does he know, she is faced with a decision that could change their lives.

Helen Miller, a deaf woman who became a mom at 16 and learned at 17 that her son was profoundly deaf, is determined to do whatever she can to broaden his horizons. So when she learns about a new technology that could improve his life, she grapples with allowing her son the best of both worlds-even if it means minimizing his Deaf identity.

Told in flashbacks, with present-day being the Santos/McGarry campaign trail.

Notes:

Hello, everyone! So, this is my stab at a solo Matt/Helen AU, having written them before in conjunction with larger ensemble fics. This also tackles an issue that was new in the 90s but is very relevant today-cochlear implants and their impact on Deaf culture. It also features a couple other West Wing characters. I hope you enjoy!

Just a writing note-pure italics is American Sign Language, italics with quotation marks is a character signing and speaking at the same time.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 

 

December 2005

 

Josh Lyman stood outside the two-story house in suburban Houston. He couldn’t believe he was chasing Congressman Santos to his home, but he didn’t have time to wait. He was on a deadline. 

 

He rang the doorbell. From the front window, he could see a light blinking. That’s weird, He thought. 

 

A young man with blonde hair answered the door. Josh immediately noticed he wore hearing aids. But not just hearing aids. The kind of hearing aids one wore when they had cochlear implants. 

 

“Can I help you?” He asked with a distinctive Deaf accent. 

 

“Yeah. I’m looking for Congressman Santos.” 

 

He turned away from the door. “Dad!” 

 

Josh looked at him. 

 

“My stepdad,” He explained. “He adopted me when I was 8.” 

 

Matt came to the door. “Hi.” 

 

“How you doing?” 

 

“You lost?” 

 

“Could be.” 

 

“Come on in.” To the young man, he said and signed, “ Go help your brother and sister. Make sure they haven’t broken anything.” 

 

He grinned, then walked off. 

 

“So…he’s deaf?” 

 

“Yeah.” 

 

“Hmm. Listen, I'm sorry to bug you at home, but there wasn't time to wait for you to get back.”

 

“I'm there next week.” 

 

“I'm on a bit of a deadline. It's a filing deadline.”

 

“Oh, Josh, Josh, Josh.”

 

“It's a little crazy, I know.”

 

“I'm not running for Congress again. Now, you came a long way. I'm sorry about that. But it's just…” 

 

“I'm not talking about Congress.” 

 

Matt stood there, stunned. Just then, Josh and Matt turned to see a blonde woman on the stairwell getting their attention. More specifically, Matt’s. 

 

“ What is it, sweetheart?” Matt spoke and signed. 

 

The box for the tinsel, where is it? She responded with her hands. Josh’s eyes widened as he watched them converse in American Sign Language, which he hadn’t seen since Joey. 

 

“ Try our bedroom. I shoved a bunch of stuff back there.” 

 

Helen flashed him a thumbs-up, then disappeared up the stairs. Josh turned back to Matt. 

 

“I didn’t know your wife was deaf, too.” 

 

“You never asked. Look, Josh. I don’t think so. It’s not for me. I’m done with politics.” 

 

Josh blew out a breath. “You’re right. It was a stupid idea. Sorry to interrupt your Christmas Eve. You’re making the right choice.” 

 

“Good.” 

 

Josh turned to leave. 

 

“Josh.” 

 

“Yeah?” 

 

“You got a plan?” 

 

“A nine-point one. To make you win.” 

 

“Wow,” Matt breathed. 

 

Just then, Helen came downstairs. 

 

“Helen, this is Josh Lyman, from DC.” 

 

“Nice to meet you,” She said softly in a similar Deaf accent to her son, signing quickly. 

 

“You, too,” Josh signed awkwardly.

 

Helen smiled at him. 

 

“Well, I’ll get out of your way.” 

 

Late that night, Matt told Helen the real reason why Josh had come to Houston. At first, Matt told her he had dismissed it out of hand. But Helen could see in his eyes that he wanted it. And she got him to admit as much. 

 

That night as she lay in bed, her three children asleep, she thought about when she had been a young single mother, the day she first laid eyes on a handsome Marine for the first time. 

 

… 

 

March 1991

 

Streams of light woke 21-year-old Helen Miller as she stirred in her bedroom in Houston, Texas. She climbed out of bed and put on her housecoat. It was a Sunday-Easter Sunday, as it happened. But before she could truly enjoy the holiday, there were a million things she needed to do. She reached over and picked up her silver hearing aids. They didn’t do much, but it still made her parents happy if she wore them, so she did. 

 

There was a knock on the door, and her 19-year-old sister Becca poked her head in. 

 

“ He’s up, just so you know. He’s going to come barrel-rolling in here any second ,” She said, making sure she was facing Helen so her big sister could read her lips. 

 

Helen grinned. I’m ready. 

 

A ball of energy with blonde hair came running in as if on cue and threw himself at her. 

 

Helen picked him up and settled him on her bed. 

 

Good morning ! She said to him, bringing her hand up to her chin and bringing it down before bringing her arm up around her other one, pointing straight up. 

 

Her four-year-old son mimicked her before beginning to sign at a frantic pace. 

 

Whoa, whoa, slow down a little , Helen cautioned him. Her own hearing loss meant that she often depended on lip-reading, especially since she was fluent in ASL, but definitely not speedy. Even without that, sometimes his hands could barely keep up with his brain. 

 

He slowed down. Mommy, is there candy for me? He had obviously seen the Easter basket intended for him on the counter. 

 

Helen smiled. After breakfast, baby. Then you can have one piece before church. 

 

His shoulders visibly slumped. Okay. 

 

Becca laughed. “ Come on, Jamie. Grandma’s making cinnamon rolls. Your favorite.”

 

He hopped off the bed and zoomed to the kitchen without waiting for his mother. 

 

Helen sat on the bed and reflected on the little life she had brought into the world almost five years earlier. She had been in her junior year of high school at a little school for the deaf in Houston, heavily involved, when she found out she was pregnant after her first time over the summer. The father, who was hearing, had looked at the situation and decided his baseball scholarship carried more weight than fatherhood. Initially hesitant to keep the baby, she fell in love when she saw her son on an ultrasound screen for the first time. Her parents were initially upset (dreams of an Ivy League education and an accredited teaching career with a Master’s flying out the window), but eventually resolved to find a new dream. She gave birth a month before her 17th birthday to a young boy named Addison James Miller. Addison for Bruce Willis’s character on the 1980s detective show Moonlighting, James for her father. She applied to more local schools as she started her senior year, found a job working in the kitchen at a local Tex-Mex restaurant, and the family began to adjust to their older daughter becoming a mother. Until baby Jamie (as coined when he was born) was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at eight months old. 

 

After reeling from the news that her son was completely deaf like her, Helen resolved that her son would never have a barrier to the hearing or deaf world ever. She began to teach him sign language and lip reading. Four years later, they couldn’t imagine life without Jamie. 

 

Helen changed into her brand-new Easter dress before walking down to a familiar heartwarming sight on Sundays. Katherine “Kathy” Miller was making breakfast at the stove, while Jamie signed animatedly to his grandfather and aunt. 

 

“ Here you are,” Kathy spoke as she placed a plate of eggs and toast and a cinnamon roll in front of the four-year-old. “Eggs just the way you like them .”

 

Thank you, Jamie signed. Helen was secretly grateful that with everything Jamie had against him in life, he wasn’t a picky eater. 

 

Kathy looked up at Helen. “My! Don’t you look pretty!” 

 

Helen tried not to read into the fact that her mother only spoke, and didn’t sign, leaving her just to read her lips. From the time she was a little girl, though her father made a concerted effort to become fluent in ASL when he realized it was what she preferred, her mother had learned only the basics, preferring to pretend that her deafness didn’t exist. As long as she wore her hearing aids and spoke, she was as hearing as everyone else. And now she was doing the same with her grandson. As a result, the relationship between Helen and her mother was strained. 

 

“Thanks, Mom,” She spoke aloud. 

 

“You’re wearing your hearing aids,” Kathy noted. 

 

Helen nodded. 

 

“Good.” 

 

You look beautiful, Jamie signed, encircling his face. 

 

Helen walked over and kissed his head. Thank you, baby. 

 

Jamie ate his eggs and cinnamon roll in record time, then held out his tiny hand expectantly. He remembered and signed, Please? with an adorable grin. 

 

Helen couldn’t help but laugh. She reached behind her for his Easter basket and handed him a chocolate egg. 

 

Jamie thanked her, then wolfed it down.

 

A few minutes later, she carried him upstairs to wash his hands and face and change him into the suit she had picked out for him. Then, they got ready to leave for Easter Mass. 

 

… 

 

Mass had gone about how everyone expected. Jamie was quiet as a mouse throughout the proceedings, paying rapt attention as his grandfather signed to him and his mother. After Mass, there was a picnic to celebrate the Easter season. Amusement park rides and games covered the field. Becca offered to watch Jamie to give Helen some time to herself. Helen walked around the grassy field and bought a snack for herself. Getting caught up in a conversation with her college classmates, she scarcely noticed when twenty minutes had passed. 

 

Helen wandered back to her sister but quickly realized that something-or rather, someone-was missing. 

 

Becca, where’s Jamie ? She signed. 

 

Becca looked over from where she was talking to her best friend. “What?”

 

Your nephew. Where is he? 

 

“I don’t know. I-he was right here.” 

 

“He ran off?!” Helen blurted out. 

 

“I wouldn’t say ran.” 

 

Helen scoffed at her sister’s poor comedic timing . Oh, my God, Becca, how could you? 

 

“How could I what? He’s a kid. Kids get bored.” 

 

He’s deaf! Do you have any idea how long it’s going to take to look for him? It's not like we can call for him.

 

“Okay, is there security?” 

 

It’s a church picnic, not the state fair. 

 

“Good point.”

 

Did he say anything? Was there a ride he wanted to go on?

 

Becca looked up. “That model train ride!” 

 

Come on, let’s go!

 

They ran across the field, running smack into their parents. 

 

“Where’s the fire?” James joked, then noticed the panicked looks on their faces. “What?” 

 

Kathy noticed first. “Where’s Jamie?” 

 

“He’s…he wandered off when I was talking to Emma,” Becca admitted. 

 

“What?!” James demanded, just as Kathy scolded, “Rebecca!” 

 

“I think he got bored and went on that train ride.” 

 

James nodded. “ Split up. Becca, you and your mom retrace your steps. Helen, you and I’ll hit the train ride .” 

 

James and Helen weaved through the crowd, looking for a familiar head of blonde hair. Finally, they spotted him at one of the games. A young Latino man was kneeling before him, trying to comfort him. 

 

Helen rushed over and scooped him up. After peppering his head with kisses, she set him down and began to sign to him frantically. 

 

Where did you go? Why’d you run off? Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?

 

Jamie lowered his head, his lower lip trembling. I’m sorry, Mommy. 

 

Baby, I just want you to be safe. And you cannot wander off like that again, understand me? No matter how much you’re being ignored.

 

“You worried us, little buddy,” James signed and spoke. “ It’s easier for you to get lost than some of the other kids. So you have to stay right where we tell you unless you tell us where you’re going.” 

 

Jamie nodded. 

 

Helen kissed him again. She then stood up to face the man who had been comforting her son. 

 

“Thank you,” She said with her voice, signing at the same time. 

 

His eyes held surprise at the sound of her voice, at the realization that they were both deaf. 

 

“It was no problem,” He smiled warmly, remembering to sign his words. “ I’m just glad Jamie here found his family .” 

 

Still, I really appreciate it, Mr…  

 

“ Santos. Lieutenant Matt Santos .” 

 

Lieutenant. Thank you . 

 

“Army?” James asked. 

 

“Marines. Just got transferred here after my tour in the Gulf.” 

 

“Thank you for your service.” 

 

“You’re welcome.” 

 

Helen looked back and forth, trying to follow the conversation. 

 

Matt got the hint and looked right at her. “ What’s your name?” 

 

Helen Miller, She fingerspelled. 

 

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Helen.” 

 

“How do you know sign?” She asked curiously.  

 

“ My youngest sister is pretty much completely deaf. I learned for her .” 

 

“ That’s very sweet .” 

 

“ Yeah. I’m pretty much fluent .” 

 

“ Honey,” James said, gaining his daughter’s attention , “why don’t I take Jamie and let your mom and Becca know we found him? ” 

 

Helen nodded, and soon she and Matt were left alone. 

 

“ Have you always been deaf? ” Matt asked her. 

 

Helen nodded. I have a severe hearing loss. If they still counted it in percentages, which they don’t, I’d be about 75, 80% deaf. So right on the cusp of what’s considered legally deaf. I can hear some things. But only sounds like a door slamming. Really loud sounds. 

 

Matt gestured to her ears. “ I see you wear hearing aids.” 

 

Helen shrugged. They don’t really work. I wear them to make my parents happy, to make them think they’re doing something to bring me into the hearing world. 

 

“Your parents don’t sign?” 

 

My dad and sister do. My mom doesn’t. I think she thinks if she doesn’t, I’ll wake up one day hearing. 

 

“ And now?” 

 

I transferred to a deaf school in 9th grade. Best decision I ever made. She still won’t sign to me or Jamie. Except for the basics.

 

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Matt smiled at her. “But I’m glad you found your identity. Your community.” 

 

Me too. 

 

“Do you use the telephone?” 

 

TTY. 

 

“I’d like to call you sometime.”

 

Helen smiled warmly. I’d like that.

 

“Well, I’ll see you around. I hope.”

 

I hope so too.  

 

Matt waved at her. She waved back and went to find her family. 

 

That night, after their traditional Easter dinner and putting Jamie to bed with two storybooks, Helen came downstairs to find her dad fiddling with the TV. 

 

“Dad, what are you doing?” Helen signed and spoke. 

 

“ I have a surprise for you.” 

 

Helen sat in front of the TV, as James turned it on. The variety sketch show In Living Color was on. 

 

James switched a few buttons. To Helen’s surprise and delight, the closed captions flickered on. 

 

“ No more box,” He grinned. In previous years, though Helen used the TV to practice lip-reading, they also had a box that transcribed the captions. Now, the technology had finally caught up to where it was no longer needed. 

 

Thanks, Dad! This is the best!

 

James smiled. “ You’re very welcome, sweetheart.” 

 

They settled in to watch Jim Carrey and others. Halfway through the show, Becca walked in. 

 

“ Helen. Someone called for you on the TTY .” 

 

Still on the line? 

 

“Yeah.” 

 

Helen disentangled herself from her blanket and walked into the kitchen, where their TTY hookup was. Sure enough, a message was blinking. 

 

HELEN-MATT SANTOS-GA 

 

Looking at the “go ahead” abbreviation, Helen took a deep breath and then began to type out her response. 

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

 

January 2006: 

 

It had been three weeks since Josh Lyman had turned Matt and Helen Santos’s life upside down. 

 

Three weeks earlier, Helen had had a comfortable life in suburban Houston, raising her two children (both of whom were hearing), as well as her son Jamie, who was a sophomore at the California State University of Northridge, a neighborhood of Los Angeles. It was a school known for having a large Deaf population. Though she missed him terribly, he called home via Skype at least once a month. Helen was a stay-at-home mother, with a background as a teacher at the tiny charter school for the Deaf where she was an alumna. Her life wasn’t perfect; her relationship with her mother wasn’t the best, and Matt constantly being away in DC didn’t help. But she was hoping that things would settle back down to normal once Matt retired from Congress. 

 

But then Josh Lyman knocked on their door, and suddenly Matt was in front of her the day after Christmas, urging her to at least consider the idea. 

 

“When am I ever going to get another chance like this?” He had told her. “ I know I was done with politics before, but I can’t just stand at the edge of the water, wondering what’ll happen if I jump. But it’s your call, baby. I’m not doing this unless you’re 100% behind me.” 

 

Helen looked at him. The truth was, she believed in him more than anything, and she couldn’t stand the idea that he might have regrets later in life. She had discussed the idea with her sister the day before, her close friend Joey Lucas via email. As a lifer in politics, she knew Joey would have valuable insight. 

 

Both Becca and Joey had told her the same thing, albeit in different ways: that they would still be a family, no matter what. And Joey also told her that she had known Josh Lyman for years, and if anybody would make sure Matt stayed true to who he was, it was him. Just look at what he had done for Jed Bartlet. 

 

So Helen sat there with an encouraging smile, taking Matt’s hand and squeezing it before letting go to sign to him. 

 

Then let’s jump and see what happens. 

 

Matt kissed her. “ Let’s jump.” 

 

Now, three weeks later, after a somewhat frustrating day at the Iowa Corn Expo-sick kids, an inexperienced interpreter Ned had hired, Ronna finally replacing the interpreter, and Matt jumping onto the ethanol pledge even with Helen telling him to go with his gut-Helen was left wondering if this truly was the best decision, if Matt really was going to have to compromise his values to win the election. If that happened-if Matt stopped being the man she married-she didn’t think their marriage would survive the campaign. 

 

Which is why, when she saw Josh sitting by himself in the hotel bar, she took it upon herself to talk to him-one on one. 

 

Josh looked up as she sat across from him. 

 

“Do you read lips?” He asked carefully. 

 

Helen nodded. She took out her pad of paper and began to write. “I was hoping to talk to you.” 

 

Josh read it and nodded his assent. 

 

Helen wrote again. “Joey Lucas told me about you.” 

 

Josh looked surprised. “You know Joey?” 

 

“High school friend.” 

 

“Oh, okay. So what did she tell you?” 

 

“That you wouldn’t compromise my husband’s morals.” 

 

Josh looked up. “He’s doing what he has to to win.” 

 

“Why are we even in Iowa? Shouldn’t we be focusing on Texas? California? Places where we might actually get some…I don’t know, votes?” 

 

“We're letting people know there's an alternative to Hoynes and Russell. Matt Santos.” 

 

“Making sense, talking about ideas?” 

 

Josh started to talk to Helen about the ethanol pledge. But he was talking too fast and not looking at her enough. She waved to get his attention, then wrote on the pad again. 

 

“I can’t read your lips if you don’t look at me.” 

 

“Sorry.” He repeated the last part of what he said. “We don’t have to worry about Russell. Hoynes will take him down.” 

 

“This is the Josh Lyman nine-point plan? Wait for the dominoes to fall while I watch my husband turn into a stranger compared to the man I married?” 

 

“I won’t let that happen, Mrs. Santos.” 

 

“Call me Helen,” She said with her voice. 

 

“You talk?” Josh asked.

 

“Not a lot. I used to, when I was a kid.” She went back to writing. “I’m trusting you with my family’s life here, Josh. From what I saw today, I think my husband can pull this off. But I just want you to remember that.” 

 

Josh read that part, and nodded. “I’ll try not to let you down.” 

 

She spoke again, this time signing in the hopes that Josh would know at least a little ASL. “ I'm going to bed. Don't keep him up too late. He's tired. Good night, Josh .” 

 

Josh nodded again. “Good night, Helen. We’ll, um….we’ll find you a better interpreter next time.” 

 

“ Thank you.” Helen walked toward the elevators, reflecting on the day and looking forward to cuddling with her kids. She couldn’t help but flash back to the first time she knew that she was in love with Matt-their first date. 

 

… 

 

April 1991: 

 

Two nights later, Matt was adjusting the collar of his golf shirt in the mirror. The TTY conversation-his first solo with a deaf woman that wasn’t his sister-had gone well, and he had gotten Helen to agree to go out for dinner to the Tex-Mex restaurant where she worked. It was just one block on the road that had taken Matt through his entire life. 

 

Born the second eldest of seven kids, he had grown up the closest to his youngest sister Rosa, born deaf. Rosa had taken the hardships life had thrown her with grace. Rosa was in college now, majoring in business. She wore hearing aids and was fluent in ASL and English, exposed to total communication when she was younger. 

 

While all of the Santos family knew and utilized ASL, Matt found himself interpreting the most for Rosa and was a natural protector for her. The others weren’t around as much as him. 

 

When he joined the military, he wanted to serve his country. Getting a college scholarship allowed him to save money to help with the bill for Rosa’s hearing aids. 

 

Rosa knocked on the door. Ever since Matt had asked to use the TTY, she had been dying to know all about the deaf girl who had captured her big brother’s heart. So, tell me more about this girl. 

 

“ There’s nothing to tell ,” Matt explained. “ She’s a single mom, I met her and her son at the church, and we’re going out to eat, that’s it .”  

 

I think you’ve got a crush. 

 

“Okay, you know what?” 

 

What? 

 

Matt’s hand wilted. Never mind. 

 

Rosa chuckled. Are you picking her up? 

 

Yeah. 

 

Good luck. 

 

“ Thanks,” Matt replied. He headed downstairs, told his parents he’d be back later, and headed to the address Helen had given him. He pulled up to the house, noticing how nice it was compared to his. He hopped out of his 1978 Mazda Miata and knocked on the blue door without thinking. He also rang the doorbell, figuring that they probably had something rigged. Sure enough, he saw a light flash so Helen could see. 

 

“Coming!” He heard. 

 

Just then, a teenager with blonde hair answered. “Hi, you must be Matt.” 

 

“Yeah. Are you Helen’s sister?” 

 

“Mm-hmm. Becca. Come on in, Helen’s expecting you.” 

 

“Thank you. Sorry about the double announcement, I sorta knocked without thinking.” 

 

“No worries. That happens a lot.” 

 

“Hmm.” Matt looked around the hall at the framed photos. Some of Helen and Becca when they were younger, some of each of them by themselves with either parent. Matt noticed that in several photos, Helen wore the old-fashioned bulky hearing aids Rosa used to have, complete with a box that went around her waist. Thank God for technological advancement. 

 

“Helen’ll be down in a minute,” Becca said to him. 

 

“Thanks.” 

 

“So…Helen said you have a sister who’s deaf?” 

 

“Yeah. Her name’s Rosa. She’s actually right around your age.” 

 

“Wow. I’d love to meet her sometime.” 

 

“I think she’d like that.” 

 

Just then, Helen descended the stairs, and Matt drew in a breath. Her long blonde hair was swept to one side in a ponytail, she was wearing a red velvet sweater and jeans, and she smiled as she reached the bottom. 

 

“You look nice,” Matt signed and spoke. 

 

Thank you, She replied. 

 

“ You ready to go?” 

 

Helen nodded. 

 

Becca got her attention. “ What time will you be home?” 

 

Tell Dad 10:00. 

 

“Okay. Have a good time.” 

 

Thanks, Bec. 

 

Matt opened the door and let Helen leave first. He shut the door behind them. 

 

The car ride was quiet, and once they arrived at the restaurant, they got a table quickly, mainly because of one of the hostesses recognizing Helen. 

 

Matt was pleased for Helen to see a handful of the staff knew ASL. As they sat down, he realized they were sitting right below one of the speakers. 

 

Helen looked up. Do you want to move? 

 

“ No, no, it’s not that loud ,” Matt reassured her. “ I guess you’re not bothered.” 

 

Yeah, but I can still feel it. 

 

“Feel it?” 

 

Helen took Matt’s hand, and they stood up. She placed his hand underneath the speaker, and Matt could immediately feel what Helen was feeling: the vibrations and the beat of the Latin music. 

 

“ Wow,” Matt said. “That’s pretty incredible.” 

 

Isn’t it? 

 

They sat down. “So…you said you had some hearing?” 

 

Not much. And not without my hearing aids. 

 

“Understood.” 

 

What about your sister? How much hearing does she have? 

 

“Not much. I think she’s pretty much profoundly deaf. She wears hearing aids, but only when she’s out of the house.” 

 

So’s my son. He wears hearing aids, but since I’m Deaf, I don’t know how effective they are. 

 

“Jamie, right? How old is he?” 

 

He’ll be five in a month.

 

“Wow! A big little guy.” 

 

You can say it, you know. It’s fine. 

 

What? 

 

I had him young. 

 

“I wasn’t gonna say that.” 

 

Everyone always says something. People do the math, realize I was 16. People act like it was some big scandal, that I got pregnant on purpose. But I didn’t. Jamie’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but he wasn’t planned, not by a long shot. 

 

“I’m not one of those people.”

 

You’re not?

 

“No. I don’t care how old you were. Jamie’s a great kid, and I can already tell you’re a great mom.” 

 

Helen smiled shyly. Thank you. 

 

“In fact, I was thinking that next time we go out, we could take Jamie with us.” 

 

You mean that? 

 

“Absolutely. Helen, I don’t know where this is going, but I know that I want to be in both yours and your son’s life.” 

 

The waiter came over, and they ordered. Once he was gone, Helen set down her glass. 

 

I’d love to get to know you better. 

 

“Me too.” 

 

Matt smiled at her, and got a smile back. 

 

A connection was made that day, and there was no going back. 

 

… 

 

A few days after Helen and Matt’s first date, James drove Helen and Jamie to the audiologist’s office for their annual hearing test. For both, it made sure that their hearing hadn’t worsened, and that their hearing aids continued to be helpful for them. 

 

Jamie had fought a little when it came time for him to put his hearing aids in; Kathy thought he should wear them to the test so there was less chance of them getting lost. He didn’t like wearing them any more than his mother liked wearing hers. At least they weren’t bulky and strapped to their chests anymore. But Helen told him the doctor needed to see if they still worked. Jamie made a face but begrudgingly agreed. Helen suspected they were even less effective for him than Helen’s were for her. 

 

Jamie sat on Helen’s lap in the waiting room as she signed a book to him while James sat next to them working on grading. 

 

Dr. Colleen Mackenzie, Helen’s audiologist since she was 16 and Jamie’s since he was born, walked into the waiting room. 

 

“Hi, guys!” She said. “ How is everything?” 

 

Good, Helen signed. 

 

“All done with school?” 

 

One more month. 

 

“Good for you! And Jamie, how are you?” 

 

Jamie hid his face in Helen’s skirt, suddenly shy. 

 

James picked up Jamie’s chin. “ Can you say hi to Dr. Mackenzie?” 

 

Jamie looked up and waved. 

 

Dr. Mackenzie waved back. “ Well, Helen, you want to go first?” 

 

Helen nodded. She kissed Jamie’s head. Stay with Grandpa. I’ll be back soon, and then it’ll be your turn. 

 

Okay. 

 

Helen followed the audiologist into the testing room. She sat on a chair in the soundproof room, and Dr. Mackenzie put on a set of earphones. 

 

“ Okay, Helen, you know the drill. Raise your hand when you hear the beep.” 

 

Helen nodded. Dr. Mackenzie sat in the next room behind the window, and the pure tone audiometry test began. 

 

As usual, Helen heard a precious few of the beeps that came through the earphones. Same with the test of word recognition, though it was a tiny bit better when she was tested with the hearing aids. After twenty minutes, Dr. Mackenzie came to take off the earphones. 

 

“ You did great. I’ll do Jamie’s test, and then I’ll talk to all three of you, okay?” 

 

Helen nodded, then walked with Dr. Mackenzie out to the waiting room. 

 

Hi, baby, Helen signed. Are you ready for your test? 

 

Jamie stood up, then looked at James for reassurance. 

 

“ It’s okay, little buddy,” James reassured him. “ You remember Dr. Mackenzie, she’s nice. Mom’s going to be right with you the whole time. And I will be right here when you finish. We can go pick up some ice cream, how does that sound?” 

 

Jamie grinned. 

 

Come on, honey, Helen gently urged. 

 

Jamie let her pick him up, and they walked back to the room. This time, Helen sat on the side with Dr. Mackenzie. The doctor fitted him with earphones and then explained that she was going to have him put a block in the bin every time he heard a sound. Helen peered in as she signed the instructions carefully. 

 

Dr. Mackenzie walked in and began the test. It took twenty minutes for her to test Jamie’s hearing. Jamie came running out of the room when it was over, jumping into Helen’s lap. 

 

You did it! Helen cheered. I’m very proud of you. 

 

Thank you, Jamie signed. 

 

“Okay,” Dr. Mackenzie said and signed, “ let’s go into my office and we’ll talk, okay?” 

 

Helen set Jamie down on the ground and offered her hand. Jamie gladly took it, and they walked back out to James. 

 

He stood immediately. “ How’d it go?” 

 

I was brave, Grandpa! Jamie exclaimed. 

 

James laughed. “ I just bet you were. Let’s go hear what Dr. Mackenzie has to say about your hearing.” 

 

In previous years, it would’ve taken a few days to read the tests, and some audiologists in the office still made families wait. However, Dr. Mackenzie believed in delivering results as soon as possible. She felt it wasn’t fair on families to make them wait for the inevitable. Particularly when they were unsure if their child had a hearing loss. 

 

They all sat in front of her desk. Jamie played with a few toys at a table nearby, particularly a bead maze and Matchbox car that lay in wait. 

 

Dr. Mackenzie pulled out the pair’s audiograms. “ So, Helen, your hearing is pretty much stable as it has been. Pretty much nothing below 80 decibels registered. With the hearing aids, we only got about a 5-decibel difference.  As we’ve discussed, you’re right on the border of severe and profound hearing loss. You’re what we would call legally deaf. Now, are you still wearing your hearing aids?” 

 

Helen nodded. “ Yes.” 

 

“ Do you notice any difference?” 

 

Helen looked thoughtful. “ Not really. I only wear them because it’s what my mother wants.” 

 

“I see. Mr. Miller, have you noticed any difference this past year since we adjusted things?” 

 

“No, not really. I have to agree with Helen.” 

 

“Okay. So, let’s talk about Jamie.” 

 

James and Helen leaned forward, James in interest, Helen so she could clearly read the doctor’s lips. This was about her son, after all. 

 

“Jamie’s hearing is a little worse than yours. He didn’t register anything below about 100 decibels, which means he is legally and profoundly deaf. Mr. Miller, how has his hearing been? Have you noticed any difference since we adjusted the settings on his hearing aids?” 

 

James looked at his daughter. “ Well, no. He doesn’t really respond to any sound at all.” 

 

“I see. At home, sign language and lip reading work well for him?” 

 

“Yes.” 

 

“Good! Well, I’ll see you back here in a year, unless something comes up before then.” 

 

“Actually, Doctor,” James spoke up. Helen looked at him in surprise. “ I did want to ask about something.” 

 

What is it, Dad? Helen asked. 

 

James looked at his daughter, then at his grandson, blissfully playing in his own little world. He was completely unaware of the drama that was about to begin in his life. 

 

“What do you know about cochlear implants?” 

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

 

August 2006 

 

Helen Santos watched her husband Matt as he revved up a crowd in Brayburn, Michigan. Even without being able to hear the crowd, she could tell he had them in the palm of his hand. That was what she loved about him, his ability to draw people into his beliefs, his ideals. It made him an ideal politician and meant he could talk her into anything. 

 

Josh walked over to her. He got her attention and began to sign. What little sign he knew, anyway. 

 

He’s doing great. 

 

“I agree,” Helen signed back, speaking. “ He’s always known how to command people’s attention. It’s half the reason I married him.”

 

Josh laughed. “ I want to talk to you about something.” 

 

What’s that? 

 

Just then, someone commandeered Josh’s attention. 

 

Josh smiled at her. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back. “

 

Helen watched him walk off, but she never did find out what he wanted. But she would soon find out. 

 

The next day at the campaign headquarters, after meeting with the campaign staff, Matt and Helen came across a short woman with blonde hair and a large, friendly smile. 

 

“ Mrs. Santos,” She said. “ I”m Annabeth Schott. I’m your new interpreter.” 

 

“ My what ?” Helen asked with her voice while signing. The expression on her face said it all.

 

Annabeth’s expressive face turned into one of confusion, then disbelief with a hint of annoyance. 

 

“He didn’t tell you,” She said simply. “I’m gonna kill Josh.” 

 

“Tell us what?” Matt asked. “ What did Josh do now?” 

 

Josh ran up. “Congressman, Helen, I see you’ve met Annabeth.” 

 

“Josh, what is this?” Matt asked him. He looked around, seeing that they had an audience. He urged Helen and Josh into his office and closed the door. Helen wasted no time. 

 

What’s going on? Why is there a woman out there telling me she’s my new interpreter? 

 

“I talked to CJ.” Josh began to explain, careful to let Helen read his lips. “Annabeth was her Deputy Press Secretary, but she’s also a certified ASL interpreter. I asked if we could have her for the general campaign, to interpret for Helen when she starts doing solo events.” 

 

Helen shot a glance at Matt, who signed the gist of what Josh said. 

 

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” Josh said. 

 

What? Helen demanded. 

 

“You automatically turn to the Congressman whenever you need something interpreted.” 

 

True, but-

 

“You’re going to have to start doing solo events. The Congressman can’t interpret for you 24/7.” 

 

“ We know that,” Matt said. 

 

“So…hence the interpreter. I think you’ll really like Annabeth once you get to know her.” 

 

“Josh, Josh. You can’t just randomly hire an interpreter for someone. It’s different than someone for a one-time event. They have to have a rapport.” 

 

“Okay.” 

 

Helen sighed. I’ll meet her. But no promises. 

 

Josh looked at Matt. “This will hopefully be the last time I ask this. What did she say?” 

 

Matt turned to his wife and urged her to sign it again. She complied, and Matt translated. 

 

Annabeth was still waiting outside the office. She saw Helen come towards her and steeled herself for the possibility that she could get fired. 

 

Helen began to sign to her. So, I think we got off on the wrong foot. You said your name was Annabeth? 

 

Yes, ma’am. 

 

Please, call me Helen. 

 

Okay! So, were you born deaf?

 

Yes. So was my son. 

 

The one that wears cochlear implants?

 

Yeah. But he signs and reads lips, too. 

 

Total communication. Interesting. You don’t hear that too much anymore. 

 

I want you to know that I understand Josh’s reasoning, but…

 

You don’t want one. I get it. I’ll stay out of your way except for events. 

 

Helen smiled. Deal. 

 

As she and Annabeth talked some more, Helen thought about when she first learned that her son would benefit from a cochlear implant. 

 

… 

 

April 1991 

 

“What do you know about cochlear implants?” 

 

The question reverberated in Helen’s head. Granted, her father had been asking the audiologist, but still. What did she know about cochlear implants? 

 

She knew they were still a new technology that had been approved for adults in the 1980s, for kids over 2 last year. They gave people who were deaf the ability to hear, or so she had heard. 

 

She saw Dr. Mackenzie hesitate with her hands. She turned to face the audiologist as she began to speak. 

 

“ Cochlear implants are still a new technology. They’ve only been approved for kids a little less than a year.” 

 

James looked over at Helen. “ I’ve been doing some research.” 

 

On cochlear implants? Helen asked him. 

 

“ Yes. I was reading that they can restore some semblance of hearing.” 

 

“Yes, that’s true. But they also aren’t a cure for deafness. That’s often a misunderstood part of the implants,” Dr. Mackenzie explained. “When he doesn’t wear them, he’s still deaf.” 

 

“If there’s a chance my grandson can hear…even a small chance that he can be like other kids…then shouldn’t we take it?” 

 

“Dad!” Helen protested. 

 

James and Dr. Mackenzie looked at Helen, startled. James only heard her voice on the rare occasions when she spoke to her mother at home. Dr. Mackenzie had never heard it at all. 

 

Helen began to sign rapidly. My son is Deaf, yes, and I want him to be proud of that. But isn’t getting him these implants asking me to think that he’s broken? That his deafness is something that has to be ‘fixed’?

 

“No, honey. It’s not about taking that identity away from him. It’s about giving him options.” 

 

I understand that. But I’m just not sure it’s the right thing for him. She hesitated. How do you do the implants? 

 

“ Well,” Dr. Mackenzie explained, “ there’s two parts to the implant. One is the magnet, and one is the implant that we put inside the cochlea-” 

 

Wait, wait. You have to cut him open? 

 

“It’s a very simple procedure.” 

 

But my baby has to have surgery? 

 

“ Yes.” 

 

Helen looked at James. 

 

“I think it might be worth it,” James said again. 

 

Helen nodded in confused agreement. 

 

“ And Helen?” Dr. Mackenzie said. “ Just so you know, this is an option for you too.” 

 

Me? 

 

“ Yes. Cochlear implants are available for adults and kids, with success.” 

 

Helen was stunned. And she could tell that her father felt the same. 

 

The ride home was quiet, but that was nothing new. What was new was Helen staring out the window, her head completely in outer space.

 

James got her attention as they walked in the front door of the house, Jamie immediately running to go play. 

 

“Are you okay, sweetheart ?” He asked. 

 

Helen turned to him. I don’t know about these implants. 

 

“ It was just an idea, Helen.” 

 

An idea that could change his life.

 

 “ In a good way.” 

 

They walked into the kitchen, where Kathy and Becca were fixing dinner. 

 

“ Hey,” Becca greeted. “ How was the appointment?” 

 

“ Fine. Our hearing hasn’t changed.” 

 

“Oh,” Kathy replied, trying not to sound disappointed. Helen caught the expression. When would her mother finally accept that there wasn’t going to be some miracle cure? 

 

“Where’s Jamie?” Kathy asked her. 

 

Helen gestured with her thumb towards the backyard. From the kitchen window, they could see Jamie playing on the playhouse equipment that had been left over from the people before them. Helen and Becca were too old for those kinds of playthings when they moved to Houston, but the saying “things happen for a reason” was brought to life when there was suddenly a little boy in their life very eager to play on the slide and swing on the swing set. 

 

They all smiled as they watched him. Then James put a hand on Helen’s shoulder. 

 

“ Let’s get dinner on the table,”  He said. 

 

They all split up into their usual dinner prep tasks. James and Kathy prepared the main meal, Helen made the salad and dessert, and Becca set the table. 

 

When their dinner of lasagna, garlic bread, and salad was prepared, they all sat down at the dining table. Helen went outside to find Jamie. He was happily swinging on the swing set, happy to be absorbed in a solitary activity. Helen hated to interrupt him, but gently placed a hand on his back. The swinging motions stopped immediately, and he twisted to face her. 

 

Hey. Dinner’s ready. Are you hungry? 

 

Jamie nodded emphatically. 

 

Well, let’s go. Come on, your food will get cold. 

 

Jamie obediently hopped off the swing and reached for his mother’s hand. Helen smiled down at him, wishing that these days could last forever, the days when he wouldn’t ever get tired of holding his mother’s hand. 

 

Together, they walked into the house and toward the dining room, where everyone else was already sitting. 

 

“ There he is!” James exclaimed. “ Did you have fun, little buddy?” 

 

Yes! Jamie replied. What are we eating?

 

“Lasagna.” 

 

Jamie grinned, clambering onto one of the chairs. As soon as he was settled, they said grace over the food, Becca signing the words to Helen and Jamie. They crossed themselves, and Kathy picked up the serving dish. 

 

“Rebecca, will you help serve Jamie, please?” 

 

Becca spooned a piece of lasagna onto her nephew’s plate, and Helen reminded him to put his napkin in his lap. Only after her son was served did Helen take a helping for herself. They began to eat as soon as everyone had food. 

 

“So, good doctor’s appointment?” Kathy asked. 

 

“I suppose. If you call the fact that Jamie’s and my hearing hasn’t worsened good news,” Helen said. She adjusted her hearing aids. 

 

“Yes. That is good news. What did Dr. Mackenzie have to say this time?” 

 

James turned to his wife, signing so that Helen knew what he was saying. “ I asked her about the surgery I heard about at school.” 

 

“The cochlear implants? The ones that one of your students at school wears?” 

 

“ Yes. He was implanted three years ago, and his speech has already improved since before the implant.” 

 

“He learned total communication like Helen did?” 

 

“ Yes. Now, Dr. Mackenzie thinks that both Jamie and Helen might be candidates for an implant.” 

 

“ Wait, wait ,” Helen said. “ Who said anything about me?” 

 

“ The doctor said you’re a candidate, honey.” 

 

“ Who said I even want one? I speak, and I lip-read. I get along just fine without one.” 

 

“It’s just the planning stages. We haven’t looked into how much something like this costs.” 

 

“ Well, if we do it, it’ll be for Jamie, not me.” 

 

Kathy started to speak, then hesitated. 

 

“Mom?” Helen asked. “What is it?” 

 

“Well, I think maybe you should consider it.” 

 

You would think that. 

 

“Excuse me? What did you say?” 

 

“I said, you would think that. Since you’ve been denying that I was deaf since the day you first found out in 1969. And Jamie, too. Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, Mom.” 

 

“ We’ll discuss this later,” James said. “ Rebecca, how was your day? Your classes go okay?” 

 

The conversation turned to Becca, and the subject was dropped for the time being. 

 

…

 

The next day, Helen had another date with Matt. He met Helen and Jamie at the park, where he spent most of his time pushing Jamie on the swings. Once Jamie had gotten tired of the swings, he passed out on the picnic blanket, and Matt and Helen were able to talk. 

 

You’re really good with him. 

 

Thanks. 

 

He’s never really had a dad figure in his life, other than my dad, so I’m glad he and you connected right away. 

 

“What about his bio dad?”

 

Helen smiled sadly. Not in the picture. He decided his baseball scholarship to Duke was more important than being a father. He came around a few times when he was little, but stopped after we found out he was deaf. Not that he ever wanted to be involved with a deaf girl in the first place. 

 

“Then why…” 

 

Why’d we go out and conceive him to begin with? Galveston, summer break, and a lot of tequila. 

 

Matt laughed. 

 

But you know what? It’s his loss, if he doesn’t want to be involved. And I know that there are a lot of guys who will be male role models for Jamie. 

 

“Including me?” 

 

If you want. 

 

Matt took her hand, circling the air with his index finger pointed upward. “Always.” 

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

September 2006

 

It was three weeks into the general campaign, and Helen was at home doing some housework when her computer flashed a green light, signaling an alert. She couldn’t believe that thirty years ago, some of these handy tools and technologies for the Deaf and hard of hearing either didn’t exist or were very primitive. 

 

She turned off the vacuum cleaner and walked over to her computer, where she was pleasantly surprised to see Jamie attempting to video-chat her. She accepted the Skype call and was soon greeted by her son’s face. 

 

Hi, baby! Helen signed. 

 

“ Hi, Mom! How are you?” 

 

I’m okay. I’m home in Houston, and I’m trying to spend time with Peter and Miranda. I’m going back on the road with Dad tomorrow night. 

 

“How do his numbers look?” 

 

They look pretty standard. We’re lagging behind, but Josh says to expect that. He worked for the White House, so I guess he knows what he’s talking about. 

 

“Yeah. How are Peter and Miranda? Are they adjusting okay?”

 

They seem to be. They miss your dad-we all do-but they seem to be adjusting to their lives changing. And what about you? Are reporters mostly leaving you alone? 

 

“Yes, Mom. They’re leaving me alone. Maybe a little less than before the Convention, but they seem to be respecting my privacy.” 

 

That’s so good to hear, babe. 

 

“Mom?” 

 

Yeah? 

 

“Do you think my cochlear implants will come up?” 

 

Helen was quiet. They may, or they may not. 

 

“What do you think they’ll say?” 

 

The same thing that’s always said. The Deaf community will say that I betrayed you by not allowing you to live up to your potential as a Deaf person-completely unfounded, by the way. The hearing community will say I did the right thing, but that encouraging you to sign is still setting you apart. 

 

“Mom, I’ve always felt comfortable in both worlds.” 

 

You know that and I know that. Tell that to the voters. 

 

“And to Grandma Miller.”

 

The mention of her mother caused Helen to snap to attention. Though she doted on her hearing grandchildren through Becca, the two hadn’t spoken since Jamie’s cochlear implant, with the exception of a brief truce after James died. Once Helen married Matt and moved to his neighborhood, the rift became larger. Except for that brief truce (because Helen had decided to take the upper road that family came first), they had only spoken through Becca and James for several years. Many people were surprised they didn’t let bygones be bygones after the funeral, but sometimes life just didn’t work that way. 

 

“Did you and Grandma stop speaking because I got the cochlear?” 

 

Helen looked him in the eyes. No. We stopped speaking because she did something unforgivable. 

 

“That’s what you always say. Like what?” 

 

I’ll tell you, but not now. Maybe someday when this mess of an election is over. 

 

“Okay.”

 

How’s everything else? Classes are okay? 

 

“They’re fine. The poli-sci kids are pretty impressed that my dad’s the Democratic nominee for President.”

 

I’ll bet. You just keep your head up, all right? Don’t let anything anyone says get to you.

 

“I won’t, Mom. As long as you don’t listen to the people who drop you into an interracial, interabled relationship bracket.” 

 

Inter-what?

 

“I-N-T-E-R-A-B-L-E-D,” He fingerspelled. “It’s where one partner has a disability but the other doesn’t. It means you might get questions on whether Dad married you for disability checks, or you married him for his insurance.” 

 

None of which is true. 

 

“I know that. But you might have to tell the voters that.” 

 

Helen nodded. Thank you. 

 

“No problem.” He looked at his watch. “ I gotta go. I have class.” 

 

Okay. Have a good day, sweetheart. 

 

“I will.” 

 

I love you. She signed in the familiar handshape. 

 

I love you. He signed back. 

 

The call ended, and Helen sat back. She opened the video browser Skype and went through her contacts until she found the name she was looking for. 

 

Katherine Miller 

 

Her name hovered over the CONTACT button. Then she closed out of the browser as quickly as she had clicked on that. Helen was a realist. She knew life was short, and that no one was promised tomorrow, but still…she wasn’t ready for today to be the day of reconciliation. 

 

But still…

 

She opened the browser again and again hovered over her mother’s name and contact information. She opened an IM window and typed in two words. 

 

Hi Mom. 

 

The olive branch was out for the first time in over fourteen years. 

 

… 

 

July 1991

 

Helen walked out of the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin. She hated that the only schools within driving distance, like at the Texas Hearing Institute, taught Deaf students only how to speak. She needed something that would teach Jamie all the fundamentals of total communication, just as she had learned-especially if he was getting an implant. 

 

She hadn’t yet decided if it was something she wanted to do. She felt pressured, one way or the other, to make a decision. She hadn’t spoken to Matt about it yet, but she knew he might understand. Or not. 

 

She rushed over to a local coffee shop where she was meeting Matt, who had driven her to Austin. She waved as he stood to greet her. He kissed her cheek, and she let him. She would be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy how it felt. 

 

“ How’s the job hunt going?” Matt asked. 

 

Helen shrugged. Not great. Most schools aren’t looking to hire a Deaf teacher, even one who can speak. And they aren’t keen to enroll a profoundly Deaf kindergartener either. 

 

“What about schools for the Deaf?” 

 

If there was a school in Houston that actually focused on more than the oral method, do you think we’d be here in Austin right now? 

 

“Good point. Are you hungry?” 

 

A little bit.

 

Matt flagged down a server and ordered for the two of them. They continued to chat. Suddenly, Matt looked up and got Helen’s attention. 

 

“What about your old school?”

 

Helen’s eyes lit up. If they’re hiring, that would be perfect. 

 

“And even if not, you can get Jamie into kindergarten there.” 

 

He’ll have to test in. At least I think he will. But I think he can do it. 

 

“Yeah, he can. He’s smart, he’s already reading.” 

 

Helen smiled. 

 

“ What?” 

 

Look at you. Talking about Jamie like he’s your own son.

 

“He feels like mine already.” 

 

Helen stood up. Come here. 

 

He stood up, confused but suddenly felt pleasure flooding his body as she pressed a soft kiss to his lips. 

 

He pulled back, stunned. What was that?

 

That’s for…well, that’s for being so sweet to me and my son. And because….

 

“Why?” 

 

Because…I think I love you. 

 

Matt smiled. “That’s funny. Because I think I love you too.” 

 

He leaned forward and kissed her. 

 

“ That’s for allowing me into your life. And trusting me with decisions regarding your son.” 

 

You’re welcome. 

 

… 

 

The next day, Helen drove over to the Foster-Clerc School for the Deaf in Houston. A small K-12 charter school with less than 300 students, it had been the place where Helen had found her community and claimed her Deaf identity after years of being forced to lip-read and to speak. Though she had known ASL all her life, it was at Foster-Clerc that she truly flourished. It was the only Deaf school in the city that placed equal emphasis on ASL and lip-reading. 

 

She parked and stepped out of the car, walking up to the cheery front entrance. She looked around as she entered-elementary and middle grades on the left, high school classrooms on the right. She could see students milling in the halls between classes, getting books from their lockers, the elementary school students walking along the hall to lunch, all vividly signing to their classmates. Just then, lights flashed in the high school hallway, signaling the warning bell for classes. The hallways emptied as the period switched over. Helen took a breath and walked on. The front office was just down the main hall. 

 

She opened the door and got the attention of the secretary. Good morning. Is Dr. Faulkner in? 

 

One moment, please. 

 

The secretary disappeared behind a door, and Dr. Faulkner stepped out. 

 

Helen Miller! She exclaimed. How are you? She remembered Helen, as Helen had been heavily involved with the school when she was a student. Student body President, a member of the swim team, and a founding member of a support group for Deaf and hard of hearing teen parents had made her well-known to everyone at the small charter school. She was one of their success stories. 

 

I’m well, Dr. Faulkner. I just graduated from the University of Houston. 

 

Congratulations! And you came back to bask in your success? Let us know how well you’re doing? 

 

Actually…I was hoping you might be hiring. I just got my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with a minor in Deaf Studies. 

 

Dr. Faulkner looked serious for a moment, and Helen’s face fell. 

 

Then, she smiled. You’re in luck. One of our first grade teachers just left, and we were getting ready to start the hiring process. Do you have a resume? 

 

Helen handed it over with a smile. 

 

Dr. Faulkner scanned it. Why don’t you come back to my office? 

 

Helen nodded, then followed her former principal back to her office. 

 

… 

 

Helen arrived back to her house later that day, watching as Jamie tossed a ball with his grandfather. 

 

James waved as Helen got out of her car. Jamie turned and ran to Helen, jumping in her arms. 

 

“ How was your visit to the school?” James asked as he walked over. 

 

Great! I start teaching at FCSD in September. 

 

“Helen, that’s wonderful! Congratulations!” 

 

Thanks. 

 

“What did they say about Jamie?” 

 

I asked, and they said I can just enroll him after the traditional kindergarten screening. 

 

“That’s great.” 

 

They walked in, and Kathy smiled at them. 

 

“What’s so exciting?” She asked. 

 

“Helen got a job teaching at her old school.” 

 

“A deaf school? Really?” 

 

“ I thought you’d be happy I found a job ,” Helen said, signing. 

 

“Helen, you know how I feel about you signing.” 

 

“Because you never bothered to learn!” 

 

“This is why I think that a cochlear implant would be what’s best for Jamie.” 

 

“Best for Jamie, or best for you?!” She snapped. 

 

“ All right, calm down, both of you,” James tried to intervene. 

 

“ Your son is at a disadvantage.” 

 

“ Because you see deafness as a disability, and yes, it’s a challenge, but not something that has to be fixed.” 

 

“Can’t we go for a consult?” 

 

“I don’t need a consult to tell me that I don’t want my baby cut open for something that could damage his self-esteem in the long run! Period!” She hit her hand on the counter for emphasis. 

 

James placed a hand on her shoulder. “ Let me talk to your mother for a few minutes. Take Jamie and go to your room.” 

 

Helen obeyed, picking Jamie up and walking out. 

 

James walked over to Kathy. “Do you want to lose her?” 

 

“Excuse me?!” Kathy said, taken aback. 

 

“Do you want to lose her? Because that’s the precedent you’re setting here. Whether you like it or not, Jamie is her son, not yours. And if she doesn’t want him to get the surgery, then he won’t get it.” 

 

Kathy considered it. “I see what you’re saying. I do. But I can’t let them make a mistake.” 

 

The next day, Kathy called her attorney and filed for guardianship and legal custody of her grandson. 

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

 

September 2006

 

It was the night of the one and only presidential debate between Matt and Senator Arnold Vinick. Josh was walking down the hall with Matt, Helen, Lou, and Annabeth. Helen helped him smooth his tie while Lou went over the debate. Annabeth signed what Lou was saying for Helen’s benefit. 

 

“The worst thing you can do is struggle with the moderator,” Lou told him. 

 

“Oh, no,” Matt laughed. “The worst thing I can do is forget everything I came here to say; every debate point I’ve memorized, every word of my opening statement.” 

 

Helen tugged his sleeve. Matt turned to her before he realized Annabeth hadn’t interpreted and she hadn’t been able to read his lips. 

 

“ I’m sorry, honey. I guess I’m nervous.” 

 

It’s okay. You’re going to do great. 

 

“I don’t feel great.” 

 

You have been through so much worse than this. 

 

“Like what?” 

 

Combat. Helen gave him a knowing look. 

 

Lou interrupted. “Flashing light means you’ve got 15 seconds, red light means…” 

 

“ Let me guess.” 

 

Lou continued to talk as they approached the stage, Annabeth continuing to interpret for Helen. 

 

They were there waiting for Matt to be introduced. Annabeth got Helen’s attention. 

 

We should go take our seats. 

 

Okay. Come here. Helen kissed him soundly. You’ll be fine. I’ll be right out in the audience cheering you on. I love you. 

 

I love you. Matt flashed back. 

 

Annabeth and Helen walked to the front row of the auditorium, where seats had been reserved for Helen, Peter, and Miranda. Annabeth took her place by the side of the stage. 

 

“Good evening, and welcome to the first Presidential debate with the Republican party's nominee, California Senator Arnold Vinick, and the Democratic party's nominee, Texas Congressman Matt Santos.”

 

Helen smiled and applauded as Matt and Senator Vinick strolled onto the stage. 

 

The debate went completely off to the races when both of them agreed to nix the carefully prepared rules in order to have a real, intellectual debate. 

 

Helen leaned forward as Annabeth frantically tried to keep up. The first issue on the table was border patrol, followed by tax cuts, health care, and even a debate on the use of the term “liberal”. 

 

“What did Liberals do that was so offensive to the Republican Party, Senator? I'll tell you what they did. Liberals got women the right to vote. Liberals got African Americans the right to vote. Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty. Liberals ended Segregation, Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Liberals created Medicare, Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act. What did the Conservatives do? They opposed every one of those programs. Every one. So when you try to hurl that word 'liberal' at my feet as if it were something dirty, something to run away from, something that I should be ashamed of, it won't work, Senator. Because I will pick up that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor.” 

 

Helen smiled satisfactorily and proudly. Her husband was standing up for what he believed in, and she had never been prouder. 

 

Then, the conversation turned to education, and the Americans With Disabilities Act. 

 

“Congressman Santos, you have made education and accessibility for persons with disabilities a primary tenet of your campaign. What will be the first thing you do in office if elected?” 

 

Matt smiled. “I will push for greater enforcement of the ADA. Wheelchair users will have ramps everywhere they go. People with visual impairments will be able to read all signs in Braille. ASL interpreters will be mandatory at all events. No more of them being on the outside. My wife and son will be able to go anywhere they please, and know exactly what’s going on.” 

 

Everyone applauded as Helen smiled. The day the campaign began, Matt had told Josh that he was getting into this so that he could make sure that all persons with disabilities were taken care of, protected, and given the proper education and accessibility they deserve. More importantly, he was making sure that his wife and son had what they needed. 

 

“But your wife, even though she chose to be part of the Deaf community, chose to raise her son in the hearing world, is that right?” 

 

Matt turned to look at Senator Vinick. “She chose to raise him in both. I’m not against cochlear implants. I’m against people using them as a chokehold to force Deaf people to choose.” 

 

“But he wears cochlear implants and primarily communicates via speech. That, by definition, is shunning the Deaf world.” 

 

“It’s the furthest thing from it. Yes, my son has cochlear implants, but he also signs. He signs with his mother and his siblings. Both his brother and sister are fluent in ASL. He attended a charter school primarily for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children. My son is still legally and culturally Deaf, as is my wife, and so I work to make the world a better place for them. All people with disabilities, not just the Deaf, should be protected the same as everyone else.” 

 

Everyone applauded. Helen beamed as Annabeth finished signing what Matt said. She knew that he had always been a supporter of her decisions regarding Jamie. He had always treated him like his own son. He legally was Matt’s. 

 

But little did Helen know, something he said was going to be taken out of context to the point where even Helen was no longer sure where the truth was. 

 

… 

 

July 1991 

 

Jamie splashed happily in the water of the neighborhood pool, doing dog paddles towards his mother, who was waiting at one end of the pool. 

 

Come on, baby, you can do it. Kick your legs and use your arms. You can do it, Jamie! 

 

Jamie started to use his arms and kicked a few feet toward his mom’s waiting arms. 

 

I did it! I did it! 

 

You certainly did! I’m proud of you. 

 

Thanks, Mommy. 

 

Helen kissed his temple. Just then, she saw Matt coming up out of the corner of her eye. 

 

Jamie, look who’s here. 

 

Jamie turned around, waving mightily. 

 

“ Hey, buddy, how are you? How you doing?” Matt crouched at the side of the pool and let Jamie engulf him in a soaking-wet hug as he jumped out. 

 

Helen put her arms on the side of the pool, her purple two-piece suit stretching over her thin frame. What are you doing here? I thought you were working.  

 

“I came to see you. I wanted to know if you wanted to have dinner tonight.” 

 

Thanks, but I’m meeting one of my school friends for dinner. Then I’m taking Jamie back to school shopping. 

 

“Already? School doesn’t start for, like, another six weeks.” 

 

I want to make sure he has everything he needs. 

 

“Fair enough. Want me to help you out?” 

 

Helen nodded and let Matt pull her out. She shivered involuntarily, and Matt thought quickly and got her and Jamie towels, wrapping the white towel around her in a warm hug. 

 

I could get used to this. She signed flirtatiously. 

 

Matt laughed. I hope so. 

 

“Helen Miller?” Matt heard an official voice ask. They turned to see a woman in a suit approach them. Jamie had run off in search of his toys. 

 

“Can we help you?” Matt said, suddenly feeling protective of Helen. 

 

“Are you Helen Miller?” The woman signed carefully. She clearly wasn’t fluent, or even experienced, but whoever this was knew that she was deaf. 

 

Helen nodded. 

 

The woman handed her a manila envelope. “Have a good day.” 

 

She walked away, and Helen turned to Matt in confusion. What was that about? 

 

“Look and see.” 

 

Helen tore open the envelope to find official-looking papers. She scanned the contents, then gasped. She read them again and again, hoping she was wrong. 

 

“Hey, hey, look at me,” Matt said, picking up her chin. “ What is it?” 

 

Tears began to stream down Helen’s face. My mom…she wants to take custody of Jamie. 

 

“What?!” Matt snatched the papers. “She can’t do that.” 

 

She can. She feels that strongly about Jamie getting an implant. And you know the worst part? 

 

“What?” 

 

Helen’s eyes were haunted. She’ll win. 

 

… 

 

Matt got home after dropping Helen and Jamie off, thoughts running through his head. He couldn’t believe Kathy. Not signing to her daughter and grandson and forcing her daughter to lip-read and speak was one thing, but this was a new low. Helen was a good mother. Kathy had no grounds to do this. 

 

Rosa was sitting on the couch, reading. When she saw Matt’s expression, she got his attention. 

 

What’s wrong, Matt? 

 

“Helen’s mother wants to sue Helen for full custody of Jamie.” 

 

Rosa stood up. “ That’s crazy. What kind of mother does that?” 

 

“A mother that wants to pretend that her daughter and grandson aren’t deaf. Like it’s something that has to be fixed.” 

 

“How’s Helen?” 

 

“Not great. She’s meeting one of her friends tonight after she takes Jamie shopping. I’m hoping she’ll be able to talk to her, and get some perspective.” 

 

“Hearing friend or Deaf friend?” 

 

“You know, I didn’t ask.” 

 

“So, her mom wants the kid to be implanted, and Helen doesn’t. That makes sense.” 

 

“You know,” Matt said, sitting down. “I never asked you. Are you for or against cochlear implants?” 

 

Rosa sat back down, deep in thought. Finally, she spoke. 

 

“ I think it’s every family’s individual decision. And it definitely shouldn’t be dictated by the medical community. I was raised in total communication. Do I think Mom and Dad would’ve gotten one for me if they had been available? Probably. But they would’ve done it only so all avenues of communication were available to me.” 

 

“ So you’re not against them?” 

 

“No, I’m not against them. But it has to be for the right reasons. And Mrs. Miller wanting to force an implant on Jamie because she wants him to hear, not for the sake of hearing but because she wants him to be ‘normal’? He is normal, Matt. He just can’t hear.” 

 

Matt nodded. “ I couldn’t agree more.” 

 

… 

 

After back-to-school shopping with Jamie that evening, Helen had arranged to meet one of her school friends, Joey, for a late dinner. Jamie was sound asleep in bed at her parents. James had smiled at her sympathetically as she dropped off a sleeping Jamie. She hadn’t spoken to her mother at all. 

 

Joey Lucas was one of the first Deaf friends she made in her neighborhood once she started ninth grade at Foster-Clerc. Like Helen, Joey had been raised in an oral world with hearing aids until junior high school, when she finally began to use sign language outside of the house. Her mother and four of her siblings were hearing, while her father and sister were Deaf. 

 

She could see Joey sitting on the veranda of a local outdoor restaurant. She waved over to Joey, who waved back. 

 

Joey hugged her. How are you? 

 

I’m okay, I guess. I got some bad news today. 

 

What happened? Joey asked as they sat down. 

 

My mom had me served papers today. 

 

Papers? 

 

Official court papers. She wants to sue me for custody of Jamie because I don’t want to get him a cochlear implant. 

 

That’s ridiculous. You’re his mother! That should be your choice, not hers! 

 

Tell me about it. 

I think you’re making the right choice. 

 

Thanks, Joey. I mean, why should my kid be cut open for no reason? It’s not like he can’t communicate. He can! My mom just chooses to ignore him when he signs. And you know something else? Maybe I would consider the implant. 

 

Why?! He’s not defective! 

 

No, he isn’t, but maybe the implant would give him more opportunities in life. I made a promise to myself that I would broaden his horizons as much as I could, and maybe this is what’s next. 

 

Except? Joey asked knowingly. 

 

Except I know that’s not what my mother’s thinking. My mother’s thinking, ‘Why did I have to have this happen twice, and why is Helen so dead against making his life better?’ But her definition of making his life better? Making him a more technologically improved version of me.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6: 

 

September 2006

 

Matt was on his way home for the last time before Election Day, as his staff had taken great pains to remind him. But he couldn’t wait to see his wife and kids again. 

 

They pulled outside the house, campaign aide Bram having the press ready to get the perfect photo. The kids ran outside as he approached the house. His younger two kids were remarkably well-adjusted, not to mention trilingual-they were fluent in English, Spanish, and ASL. Well, Miranda wasn’t quite fluent in ASL yet, but she was getting there. 

 

“Hey, buddy, how you doing?” Matt said as he scooped Peter up. 

 

“Welcome home, Daddy,” Miranda said primly. 

 

“Thank you, angel. I’m glad to be home.” He set Peter down and kissed Miranda’s head. 

 

Helen came up to them, signing something Matt didn’t quite catch. 

 

“What, honey?” 

 

Helen smiled fondly. Welcome home. 

 

Matt grinned. “ Thanks. I’m glad to be home.” 

 

He kissed her sweetly on the lips before pulling her in for a hug. 

 

They pulled apart. 

 

“ How are the kids?” Matt asked. 

 

They’re both sick. I’m not sure what they came down with. 

 

“Come on. Let’s go inside.” 

 

They headed back into the house, away from the reporters. Little did they know the weekend was just getting started. 

 

It ended up being frustrating for Matt to divide his time between the kids, his wife, and the campaign. The precious few minutes of alone time he got with Helen were interrupted when Miranda came in crying with a fever, and he was stung by Miranda’s refusal to allow him to comfort her. And besides that, Helen was growing frustrated with the protocols and changes in her life since the Secret Service protection had begun after the convention. At least one of the requirements of being on the detail was having at least an elementary knowledge of ASL. Helen knew that if Matt got elected, she would make that same requirement of her staff. 

 

Then Sunday came, and with it, a storm. 

 

Jamie had flown down from California for the weekend, and he was signing animatedly with his siblings as they walked in the door after Mass. Josh and Donna met them in the foyer with distressed looks. 

 

Matt sent the kids to go change, then turned to them. “What’s up?” 

 

Can this wait? Helen asked them. It’s Sunday. 

 

“What?” Josh asked. 

 

“ She asked if whatever this is can wait until it’s not interrupting the time I have with my family.” 

 

“You’re both going to want to see this,” Josh said, looking directly at them as he spoke. 

 

Helen exchanged a glance with Matt as they followed Josh into the kitchen. There were newspapers scattered around the kitchen table. Matt read one of the headlines, and his heart dropped into his stomach. 

 

Santos bashes cochlear implants, says they’re a “chokehold”

 

“What?” Helen spoke aloud. 

 

“Helen, that’s not what I said.” Matt signed to his wife, then turned to his campaign aides. “This is taken out of context, and I want whoever prints it to be discredited.” 

 

“All due respect, sir, we can’t do that. We need as much press on our side as possible, especially going into the last 30 days.” 

 

“Why not?! They just had to bring up the ADA at the debate.” 

 

“Because it’s part of your platform.” 

 

“Who did this?! Was it Vinick? Trying to take the story off the VP debate?” 

 

“No. It wasn’t him.” 

 

“How dare they? How dare they accuse me of not loving my wife because she doesn’t have an implant? How dare they accuse me of not caring about my son’s best interests? And he is my son, whether he was born to me or not.” 

 

Helen hit a newspaper against the counter to get their attention. 

 

Matt looked at her. Guilt consumed him as he realized he had completely shut his wife out of the conversation. This was about her, after all. 

 

Before anyone could figure out how to explain the complicated situation to Helen, Donna raised her hand and began to awkwardly sign, “ The quote was taken out of context.” 

 

Helen stopped in her tracks, more than a little impressed. But then, she began to sign in reply. 

 

“You think I don’t know that, Donna?” Matt said, interpreting as her hands flew. “I was there. I heard the whole quote. Ask Annabeth what she interpreted if you don’t believe me.” 

 

Donna was momentarily taken aback by Helen’s bluntness but understood that she was upset. But she had damage control to do. 

 

“What exactly did you say, Congressman?” Donna asked. “Exactly.” 

 

“ I said that I wasn’t against cochlear implants, but that I was against people using them as a chokehold to force the Deaf community to choose between oral speech and ASL.” 

 

“Okay,” Donna replied. 

 

“We can spin that,” Josh added. 

 

Thank you, Helen said. It was a universal sign that both Josh and Donna understood. 

 

Later that afternoon, Josh and Matt holed up in his office to try and figure out what to do. Matt wanted to tear the publisher to pieces, but Josh talked him out of it. They needed a strategy, a statement. They got Bram and Lou on the line. 

 

Meanwhile, Donna went and found Helen in the backyard. 

 

“ I didn’t get a chance to say…you have a beautiful home .” 

 

You know sign?

 

“I’m…learning. I figured at least one of us on the campaign besides Annabeth should be able to talk with you.”

 

“I…really appreciate that, Donna. Thank you.” 

 

“Your voice sounds nice.” 

 

“I don’t talk often. Just when I’m dealing with a bunch of hearing people without an interpreter.” 

 

“That makes sense,” Donna replied. “Am I signing all this right?” 

 

“Yes. Sorry I bit your head off in there.”

 

“No worries. So when did your son get an implant?” 

 

“Fourteen years ago. I looked into it myself, but…” 

 

“What happened?” 

 

“My mother happened.” 

 

… 

 

September 1991: 

 

The courthouse was wood-paneled and large. Helen sat on a wooden bench in the hallway, watching the proceedings as everyone moved about at too fast of a pace for her. Lips moving fruitlessly, people rushing around with an assortment of colored clothing. Helen looked down at her simple blue velvet suit. She felt woefully underdressed. But at least she would look presentable when she went up to the stand to testify. 

 

She was interrupted by someone sitting next to her. She looked over to see Matt, who she immediately hugged. 

 

“ Jamie’s at school?” He asked. 

 

Yeah. I didn’t think he needed to be here for this. 

 

“It’s deciding his future.” 

 

Yes, it is. But he’s young, and he should be focusing on kindergarten, not who he’s going to live with. 

 

“Speaking of which…”

 

What? 

 

“I was thinking that maybe we could move in together.” 

 

Helen looked up. You want me to move in with you? In Corpus Christi? That’s three hours away. 

 

“Only if you want. I know you have a job and a life here in Houston. But under the circumstances, it might be better for you and your mother to live apart.”

 

I’ll think about it. 

 

James walked up to her with an older woman at his side. “ Honey, this is the court-appointed interpreter assigned to your case.” 

 

I’m Tabatha Fortis. The woman fingerspelled. 

 

Helen looked up and offered a friendly smile. Nice to meet you. I’m Helen Miller. 

 

I’m going to do whatever I can to support you and your attorney, but I’m really just the interpreter. 

 

I know. Thank you. 

 

Just then, James’s attorney, who agreed to represent Helen in the custody case, walked up. “Are we all set?” 

 

Helen looked at James. He took her hand. 

 

“Ready,” She signed and spoke. 

 

They walked into the courtroom, where they could see Kathy sitting to one side. Matt sat in the back with his sister Rosa, who had already gotten them seats. Their attorney led Helen and James to the opposite side. Helen sat down, barely making eye contact with Kathy. 

 

There was movement behind her, and Becca sat down. Becca put a hand on her shoulder. 

 

Helen turned and looked at her. Her face lit up. Then, she looked over. Should one of us be on Mom’s side? 

 

“And give her an ounce of belief that what she’s doing is right? No way.” 

 

Helen squeezed her hand. You’re a good sister. 

 

I love you. 

 

I love you too. 

 

“All rise!” The command thundered through the courtroom. Tabatha repeated the command via ASL, and Helen stood as the judge entered and sat behind the desk. 

 

“We are hearing the custody case between Katherine Miller and Helen…Miller.” The judge looked up at the similarity in the names. “Which one of you is Addison Miller’s mother?” 

 

“I am,” Helen said, standing up. “Jamie is my son.” 

 

“And I understand that you’re Deaf?” 

 

“Yes, Your Honor.” 

 

“Your Honor, I’m Tabatha Fortis, the court-appointed interpreter,” Tabatha said, standing up. 

 

“Very good.” 

 

The attorney stood up next. “Your Honor, Addison was born to my client when she was 16. At eight months old, he was diagnosed with a profound hearing loss. Recently, her family became aware of the procedure known as cochlear implants, and she began to consider them for herself and her son. However, upon learning more about the procedure, she decided not to subject her five-year-old son to trauma. Now her mother, Katherine, is threatening to remove custody of her son as a means to force her hand on a medical decision that is Helen’s to make. Not Mrs. Miller’s.” 

 

“Your Honor, if I may?” James asked. 

 

The judge nodded. 

 

James stood up. “Katherine is my wife, and Helen is my daughter. Kathy never learned to sign, at least not beyond the alphabet and a few elementary signs. She always felt that if Helen used hearing aids, learned to lip-read and speak, then one day, Helen would wake up as hearing as the rest of us. She never fully accepted that Helen was different, and it got worse when Jamie-that is, Addison-was born. And I’ve never felt comfortable having to play mediator between them. But…even I know when a line’s been crossed.” 

 

“Thank you, Mr. Miller.” 

 

James sat back down. 

 

Then, the witnesses began. Kathy spoke on her own behalf, and they called Dr. Mackenzie as a witness for Kathy. Dr. Mackenzie had called James, apologizing, but James told her not to worry about it. Someone had to play devil’s advocate. The audiologist held her own on the stand, arguing both the benefits and the detriments of cochlear implants. 

 

James and Becca spoke on Helen’s behalf, while Matt also testified. 

 

He spoke about how long he and Helen had been going out, how he and Jamie had grown close, to the point where they spent many weekends together while Helen worked. He would read to him, or help him with his kindergarten homework. They were pals, not unlike Jamie and James. Jamie loved Matt, and Matt would do anything for Jamie. 

 

“Jamie, for all intents and purposes, is my son. I’ve only known him for five months, and I’ve done more for him than his biological father’s even tried to do in five years. I want to build a life with both him and Helen. Helen is a fantastic mother. She only wants to do right by her son.”  

 

Helen smiled with tears in her eyes. 

 

“Thank you, Lieutenant Santos.” 

 

Matt stepped down from the witness stand. He walked over and kissed Helen’s cheek before taking a seat. 

 

Helen was called to the stand next. Tabatha stood behind the attorney. 

 

“Ms. Miller, when did you first learn about cochlear implants?” 

 

“When my audiologist brought them up,” Helen replied through Tabatha. 

 

“And what was your first reaction?” 

 

“That I wasn’t willing to put my son through surgery for no reason. That was my first reaction.”

 

“And now?” 

 

“I’m considering it.” 

 

There were murmurs in the courtroom. 

 

“I’m not doing it because my parents want me to.” 

 

“What is your relationship with your mother like?” 

 

“It’s very strained.” 

 

“Thank you, Ms. Miller. No further questions.” 

 

Kathy’s attorney stood up next. “How is your relationship strained?” 

 

“She never learned to sign. She’s always looked at me as a disappointment-that she didn’t get the perfect hearing family she always wanted. She always forced me to be hearing. Thank God for my Dad. He learned to sign. He just wanted me to be me.” 

 

James smiled proudly. 

 

“Thank you, Ms. Miller. You may step down,” The judge said. 

 

The judge shuffled her papers. 

 

“Well, after hearing the evidence, I am ready to rule. Cochlear implants are a minefield. They can be used as a tool, yes, but they can also be used as a chokehold to force Deaf people to choose between the hearing and Deaf worlds. I believe that children who are given cochlear implants can be given the best of both worlds. Under his grandmother’s care, he will get the implant, yes, but he will be forced into a box. But under his mother’s care, whether he ultimately receives the implant or not, he will thrive in both. It is my order that Addison Miller remain in the custody of his mother Helen. I wish you both the best of luck.” 

 

“Thank you, Your Honor,” Helen said in relief. 

 

James and Becca embraced her, while Kathy looked on, finally approaching. 

 

“Congratulations,” She said. 

 

“ Thanks, Mom. You can still see him.”

 

“ Thank you for that.” 

 

They looked at each other, knowing that the relationship between mother and daughter had been fundamentally altered. 

 

… 

 

That night, James joined Helen on the porch swing as Jamie slept on her shoulder. 

 

“ What a day,” He said. 

 

Helen nodded. I just needed him close. 

 

“I understand.” 

 

Matt asked me and Jamie to move in with him in Corpus Christi. And I think I want to do it. 

 

“What about the school? You looked hard to find a place that would take you both.” 

 

Which is why we wouldn’t move until the summer. Then I’ll take a year off. 

 

“ What about Jamie?” 

 

I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out.

 

James smiled. “ Well, I’ll miss you and my little buddy, but I think you’re making the right decision.” 

 

Why do you call him that? 

 

“Well, he’s kind of the Gilligan to my Skipper.” 

 

Helen laughed. Then she sobered. There’s a surgeon at Texas Children’s that Dr. Mackenzie recommended. I’m going to take Jamie for a consultation next week. She has an opening. 

 

“Consult for what?” 

 

A cochlear implant. 

 

James looked at her. “So after all that, you’re going to go through with it anyway.” 

 

Yes. But it’s my decision. Not Mom’s. I want Jamie to reach his full potential. And if that means getting him a cochlear implant, then so be it. 

 

“What about you?” 

 

Helen sighed. I’m getting the consult, too, but…I don’t think I’m getting one. 

 

“Why not?” 

 

Because I already have an identity and community. It’s the decision that’s right for me. 

 

James nodded. “ Okay. I support you.” 

 

Helen smiled. You have no idea how much that means to me. 

 

Though her relationship was strained with her mother, she would be close to her father for the rest of his life. 

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

 

October 2006: 

 

It had been one week since the quote was published out of context, and Matt’s numbers had already taken a beating. The campaign staff got together and decided that the best way to handle everything was to do an interview on 60 Minutes, both him and Helen. But before they could do that, Helen needed to have a conversation with Jamie. It was a conversation that was long overdue, but that Helen decided couldn’t wait until Election Day. 

 

Helen and Jamie sat in the greenroom. 

 

So…I think it’s time to tell you what happened with Grandma. Helen began. 

 

“Why now?” Jamie asked. 

 

Because it has a direct bearing on what happened with Dad. When you were five years old, after I heard about cochlear implants for the first time, Grandma wanted you to get them, because then you would be normal, or at least normal in her eyes. I hated that she felt like you weren’t. I didn’t want you to go through the trauma of surgery when they might not even work. 

 

“So you said no, and then what?”

 

Grandma sued me for full custody of you. 

 

“What?! Over this?” Jamie pointed to his cochlear implant. 

 

Helen nodded. 

 

“Is that why we moved in with Dad? Why he got out of the Marines early?”  

 

Part of it. 

 

“ I didn’t know that.” 

 

I didn’t want you to hate her. But that’s the reason why Dad took you over there most of the time. 

 

“Fair enough. But what made you change your mind?” 

 

Because I wanted to give you everything I could. I couldn’t understand why everything had to be so black and white. Why couldn’t you be part of both worlds? And…that’s worked out for the most part, hasn’t it? 

 

Jamie nodded. “ Yeah, it has.” 

 

Yes, you wear them 90% of the time, and yes, you speak. But you also sign, and you don’t always wear the implants when you’re out with your Deaf friends. And I really admire how you’ve made the balance work for you. I didn’t think I could do it. That’s why I decided not to get it for myself. I didn’t think I could get much benefit from it at my age, and I felt like I would have to choose.  Plus, Dr. Mackenzie said that she thought I had too much hearing to risk damaging what was left. 

 

“Even though you can’t hear much even with hearing aids?” 

 

Even then. 

 

“Would you get it now? Knowing what’s been like for me?” 

 

That’s a loaded question. The truth is, I’m very happy being Deaf. I know that probably seems strange to a lot of hearing people, but I am. And I don’t need to be able to hear, to experience that world of sound, to be happy. 

 

“You ever wish you could hear?” 

 

Only a couple of things. I wish I could hear Peter play the piano. I wish I could’ve been able to hear you speak for the first time, or hear Dad’s or your siblings’ voices. But I realized, I could find ways around those things. 

 

“Like what?” 

 

Sometimes, when Peter’s practicing, I put my hand on the piano so I can feel the vibrations. And the first time I told your dad I wished I could hear his voice, he put my hand on his throat so I could feel what it sounded like. I can have a rich and fulfilling life, even without hearing. 

 

“Wow!” Matt said as he walked in. “ Go out there and say exactly that, and we just might be able to salvage this campaign.” 

 

Helen smiled. 

 

“ It’s almost time for us to go on camera.” 

 

Helen nodded and stood up before pulling Jamie in for a hug. I love you. 

 

I love you too. 

 

The interview went as smoothly as it could. It drew great viewership numbers, and it got tons of support in the media. Little did Helen know that someone else had watched the interview. 

 

Two mornings after the interview, there was a knock at their hotel room door in Florida. Matt answered it to find his mother-in-law on the other side. 

 

“Kathy,” He said, stunned. 

 

“Hello, Matt. Did my daughter come with you?” 

 

“Yeah, she’s here.” 

 

Helen came to the door. “ Mom? What are you doing here?” 

 

“I was hoping we could talk.” 

 

Helen nodded. “ Come in.” 

 

Kathy walked in, and the two sat on opposite chairs next to the window. It was where Matt and Helen had eaten breakfast earlier that morning. 

 

“I saw your interview,” Kathy commented. 

 

“What did you think?” 

 

“ I thought it was very informative ,” Kathy said, signing her words. 

 

Helen was stunned. That was the most she’d seen her mother sign in 37 years. 

 

“I’ve known for years that what I did was wrong. I’ve just been too stubborn to reach out. Then I saw your IM.” 

 

“I just wanted to reach out the olive branch.” 

 

“Thank you for that. Once I saw that interview, it made me realize…other mistakes that I’ve made.” 

 

“Mom…” 

 

“Hear me out, please!” Kathy said. “I realized what I’ve done…how I’ve made you feel about having a hearing loss. You see, when you were born, I had dreams of the perfect daughter. And when we found out you were deaf, I felt all those dreams go away. I thought maybe if we raised you to be hearing, I could pretend you were hearing. But that was wrong of me.” 

 

Helen started to cry. 

 

“I almost missed out on having the pleasure of raising a sweet, caring, loving daughter. I love you. You are not broken. You are not defective. And I am sorry, I am so sorry that I ever made you feel different.” 

 

Helen began crying earnestly. Kathy came and sat next to her. 

 

Come here. She signed, pulling Helen into her arms. 

 

Jamie walked in. “ What is she doing here?” 

 

Jamie…I think you should hear her out. Helen told him. 

 

Jamie nodded and sat down. 

 

Kathy said and signed her apology for not always being there and anything she had done to damage their relationship. Jamie listened, and then hugged her tightly. 

 

For the first time, Helen, Jamie, and Kathy had formed a solid connection. And it was right in time for a major breakthrough in the campaign regarding the nuclear power plant at San Andreo. Matt’s statement regarding cochlear implants was pushed out of the headlines, and the controversy was forgotten. 

 

As the campaign wound down, Helen found herself wandering back in her mind to the first steps she, Matt, and Jamie had taken as a family. 

 

… 

 

January 1992: 

 

Matt and Helen quickly realized that moving in together in Corpus Christi wouldn’t work unless one of them made major changes to their career. Since Matt had a little more than a year on his commission, and since Helen’s career had just gotten established at the charter school, Matt took on the process of resigning his commission. It had taken several months, but Matt had successfully resigned his commission and transferred to the Marine Corps Reserves, which had a battalion in Houston. 

 

And three months after a consult with a surgeon Dr. Mackenzie had recommended, Helen and Matt waited in the surgical waiting room of Texas Children’s Hospital, as Jamie underwent surgery to place electrodes in his cochlea for the cochlear implant. 

 

Helen had both knees drawn to her chest in worry. Matt sat next to her, reading a magazine. 

 

What are you reading? Helen asked him. 

 

“People magazine. It’s an old issue. Elizabeth Taylor and Larry Fortensky’s wedding.”

 

Oh. What is she on, her fifth husband? 

 

Seventh. 

 

Helen laughed. I remember when Jamie was born. Becca wanted to cheer me up when I was in labor, so she bought all the latest editions of the teen magazines. 

 

“That’s sweet. Speaking of your sister, I’m surprised she’s not here.”

 

Just then, Becca and James walked into the room. Helen jumped up and hugged them. 

 

“ How is he?” Becca asked. 

 

Still in surgery. We’ll know something soon. 

 

Matt took her hand. “ He’s going to be okay, Helen.” 

 

You know, I understood the benefits of the cochlear implants, but my child is still being cut open, near his brain, no less. 

 

“Dr. Cochran is the best cochlear implant surgeon in Texas. I’m pretty sure she knows what she’s doing,” James reassured her.

 

I hope you’re right. Helen sat down. 

 

Becca sat on her other side. “ He’ll be okay, sis. I know it.” 

 

Just then, Dr. Heather Cochran came into the room. 

 

“ Ms. Miller? Jamie did great. You can see him as soon as we bring him back from Recovery. Once he can tolerate food and drink, you can take him home this afternoon.”

 

Helen smiled, nearly bursting into tears of joyful relief, hugging Matt. Thank you. Thank you so much. 

 

“You’re welcome.” 

 

“When will the implant be activated?” James wanted to know. 

 

“ A month. We have to give his inner ear time to heal first.” 

 

“ Understood .” 

 

An hour later, Helen, Matt, James, and Becca were waiting in one of the post-op surgical rooms. Just then, nurses wheeled in a groggy Jamie. A bandage and cotton were wrapped around his head, and Helen got in front of him and sat next to the bed as the bed was wheeled into place. 

 

Hi, baby! Helen signed. It’s all done. We can go home soon. 

 

A pout settled on Jamie’s face. 

 

Do you feel sick? Do your ears hurt? 

 

Jamie nodded. 

 

It’s okay, baby. Mommy’s here. And Matt and Aunt Becca and Grandpa. 

 

Daddy? 

 

Helen was taken aback. Jamie hadn’t asked for his father before. He hadn’t seemed like he missed him. The four adults looked at each other awkwardly. 

 

Then Jamie pointed his index finger towards Matt. Daddy? 

 

Matt gasped softly. Jamie meant him. He stepped forward and took Jamie’s hand. “ I’m here, pal. I’m right here.” 

 

James looked at Helen. It was obvious that Matt was in this family to stay. 

 

A month later, it was D-Day-activation day. Matt drove them to Dr. Cochran’s office, and Helen was understandably nervous. 

 

“ Whatever happens,” Matt said as he parked the car, “ it’s going to be okay.” 

 

Helen squeezed his hand. Thank you. 

 

“You’re welcome. I love you.” 

 

I love you too. 

 

It was not the first time they uttered those words, but it was the most meaningful. 

 

They went into the office, where Dr. Cochran met them. She took out of a plastic box a metal object attached to a hearing aid. 

 

“ This metal part is the speech processor,” She explained. “It’s what goes on the magnet.” 

Helen nodded. 

 

Then she held up the hearing-aid-like object. “ And this is the receiver that everything filters through.” 

 

She fit it onto Jamie, first one ear and then the other, explaining what she was doing. Then, she signed and said, “ I’m going to turn it on now. If you hear anything, you let me know.” 

 

Jamie nodded seriously. 

 

Using a computer, she turned on the left side implant first. “ I’m going to start with the left ear.” 

 

Dr. Cochran slowly started to turn up the volume, then hit a pure tone. Jamie looked up and began to react to the noise coming from the computer. 

 

“Jamie?” Matt asked carefully. He turned to Dr. Cochran. “Will he-can he hear me?” 

 

“ Not exactly. He’ll hear you, but he won’t recognize that it’s your voice. It’ll take time for him to distinguish the sounds that he’s hearing.” 

 

Helen nodded in understanding. 

 

“Jamie?” Matt said again. 

 

“Keep trying.” 

 

Suddenly, Jamie began to look over at Helen and Matt. His eyes held a look of confusion. 

 

It’s okay, Helen signed.

 

“Jamie, can you hear me?” Matt said and signed. 

 

Jamie nodded slightly. 

 

Matt smiled, and Helen watched as Dr. Cochran activated the other ear. 

 

It would take a while, but Jamie finally had another piece of the puzzle that would allow him to continue to thrive. 

 

… 

 

That night, Helen helped Jamie take off his implants, then he climbed into bed. 

 

Book, please? 

 

Helen smiled. Of course, baby. You pick. 

 

Jamie went over to his bookshelf and pulled out Make Way For Ducklings. 

 

Oh, good choice! 

 

After she read the book, she could tell Jamie was drowsy. Today was a big day, huh? 

 

Jamie nodded. Mommy? Do I have to wear my implants all the time? 

 

No. Not all the time. Only when you want to. 

 

Okay. 

 

Do you like the implants? 

 

Kind of. 

 

Once you get used to them, you’ll be able to hear a lot of things. 

 

Okay. Good night, Mommy. 

 

Good night, my sweet boy. Helen blew him a kiss, and he blew her one back. 

 

Closing the door behind her, she came into the living room of her and Matt’s shared apartment, where Matt was pouring two glasses of wine for them. He handed one to her, and they sat down. 

 

“He asleep?” 

 

Yeah. It’s been a big day for him. 

 

“A big day for all of us.” 

 

Yeah. My son heard today. For the first time. And I…I will never hear anything. Since I’m not getting an implant.

 

“You said you hear some things.” 

 

Yeah, but…not the important things. 

 

“Like what?” 

 

I’ll never hear Jamie’s voice. I’ll never hear yours. 

 

“Would you like to?” 

 

More than anything. 

 

Matt, without hesitating, took her hand and brought it to his throat. 

 

“Now you can,” He said. 

 

Helen smiled as she felt vibrations of his vocal cords-her boyfriend’s voice. 

 

“I have something to ask you.” 

 

Helen withdrew her hand. What? 

 

Matt looked at her nervously. “Will you marry me?” 

 

Helen’s jaw dropped. “ What? You want to marry me?” 

 

“I know we’ve only been dating nine months, but it feels like longer because you have changed my life. You and Jamie are the best thing that ever happened to me. You’re what I survived combat in the Gulf for, what I came home for. I want to spend the rest of my life with the two of you. So…will you marry me?” 

 

Helen nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. Hands shaking, she signed something. 

 

You bet I will. 

Chapter 8

Notes:

Sorry for the delay! Please enjoy the final chapter!

Chapter 8 

 

November 2006: 

 

It had been a long night for the Santos family. Peter and Miranda were at home with Matt’s parents, while Jamie was with Matt and Helen at the hotel where votes were still being counted at 5:00 AM. 

 

Josh walked over to Jamie. “So…it’s gonna come down to Nevada.” 

 

“Nevada?” 

 

“Vinick won California, so he’s in the lead. To win, we have to win both Oregon and Nevada.” 

 

“You know, Josh…my mom wanted to kill you at first.” 

 

“I know that.” 

 

“But…we’ve really come around to you.” 

 

“You have?” 

 

Helen walked over when she saw them talking, trailed by Annabeth. Annabeth had set aside her grief at discovering Leo to assist Helen through the rest of the evening. 

 

“So…I hear you’re okay with me now,” Josh said. 

 

“Yes,” Helen said through Annabeth. “What you’ve done for Matt, for our family…is extraordinary.” 

 

“Thank you.” 

 

“ No, Josh,” Helen said. “ Thank you.” 

 

Josh smiled. “You’re welcome.”

 

Matt walked over. “ Hi, sweetheart. Do you mind if I borrow Josh for a few minutes?” 

 

“Not at all.” 

 

Matt and Josh walked into the hall, and Annabeth turned to Helen. 

 

What a night. 

 

Tell me about it. In twenty minutes, my husband could be the next President of the United States. 

 

“I’m proud of him.” Jamie signed. 

 

Me too, baby. Me too. She turned to Annabeth. Annabeth….I can’t thank you enough for being part of this.

 

It was my pleasure, Mrs. Santos. 

 

I hope…that if we win, you’ll consider staying on as my Press Secretary. And my official interpreter. I know you were going to work with Leo, but now…I hope you’ll consider helping me out.  

 

Annabeth smiled. I would be honored. But, let’s not put the cart before the horse. We haven’t won yet. 

 

Helen laughed. 

 

Ten minutes later, they won Oregon. And a few minutes after that, the room exploded in excitement as Nevada was called for Matt. 

 

Jamie signed, “I love you.” before tightly embracing Matt. 

 

Annabeth signed the good news to Helen-not that she needed confirmation-and Helen waited for her son to let go before leaning in for a kiss. 

 

Congratulations, Mr. President-Elect.

 

Matt put a hand on her face, his thumb tenderly sliding across her cheek. 

 

I love you so much, Helen. He signed. 

 

I love you, too. 

 

Thank you. For everything. 

 

Helen smiled. I’d do anything for you. You know that. 

 

Matt pulled her close, kissing her crown. Across the room, he could see Josh hugging Donna and mouthed, “Thank you.” 

 

“You’re welcome,” He mouthed back. 

 

After some time for celebration, everyone made their way downstairs for the victory speech. Everyone crowded to see the first Latino President-Elect and the first Deaf First Lady-Elect—or the first Deaf woman in US political office, period. 

 

Matt stood in the ballroom, commanding the crowd with his speech. Annabeth interpreted the speech for Helen. And Helen watched proudly, remembering the first time she’d seen that light of pride in his eyes. It was when he saw her in her wedding dress for the first time. 

 

… 

 

February 14, 1993: 

 

Helen stood in the bedroom of her and Matt’s apartment, wearing an off-white dress she had picked out at a local store. It was an odd choice for a wedding dress, but nothing about this wedding was traditional. 

 

They were getting married at a church, but not the big Catholic wedding she had always pictured-they were marrying at the tiny chapel at the University of Houston, a wedding complete with a full Catholic Mass. Matt’s parents and siblings would be there, and Joey and Matt’s sister Rosa were going to stand up for Helen. But she wasn’t sure her family was coming. 

 

She and her mom still weren’t on great speaking terms, and despite Matt and Helen’s 13-month engagement, the wedding had been put together without much input from her side of the family. She thought she had told Becca the date, but that was no guarantee her family would show up. 

 

Helen saw movement in the doorway and turned to see Jamie. 

 

You look pretty, Jamie signed. 

 

Thank you, baby. Are you ready for today? 

 

Jamie nodded eagerly. He had a very important job as Matt’s best man, and he was going to do it well. 

 

Helen offered her hand, and Jamie eagerly took it. 

 

How do I look? Jamie signed, gesturing to his outfit. 

 

Very handsome. All grown up. 

 

Jamie grinned. 

 

They headed out of the apartment and got a cab to the campus. Matt was already there with his family.

 

Mommy? 

 

Yes, baby? 

 

Is Matt my daddy now? 

 

Helen looked at him. Not quite. Not legally, anyway. But in a few years, maybe Matt can adopt you. 

 

Do you really mean it? 

 

I really do. 

 

I’m excited for the wedding. 

 

So am I, sweetheart. So am I. 

 

Helen pulled him close, kissing his blonde hair and straightening his child-sized blue tie that matched Matt’s. It was their last moments as a family of two, and she was going to savor every second of it. 

 

They pulled up to the campus, and Helen settled Jamie happily against her hip as she weaved through the large campus. Finally, they came across the chapel, which was shared by several different faiths for Sunday services. The campus chaplain had offered to do the Mass while warning them that they might not have a pick of readings because it was a Sunday wedding. Matt and Helen discussed it and agreed to the stipulation. They had also spoken to the chaplain about a sign language interpreter. Tabatha Fortis, the interpreter from the custody hearing, agreed to do it as a last service before moving to DC to write poetry full-time. 

 

They entered the narthex, or the front of the chapel, where Rosa and Joey came over to meet Helen. Rosa and Helen had become good friends throughout Helen’s engagement. 

 

Helen, you look great! Joey signed. 

 

Thank you! Is everyone here? 

 

Yes. 

 

Rosa took over. But there’s someone who wants to see you before you go down the aisle. 

 

Who? Helen asked, looking genuinely confused. 

 

Just then, James and Becca walked over, formally dressed. 

 

Helen gasped, throwing her arms around her father. “ Dad, what are you doing here?”

 

“Did you really think I would miss the day my little girl got married?” 

 

Helen beamed. “I’m so happy to see you.” 

 

“What am I, chopped liver?”  Becca signed.

 

Helen pulled her into a hug as Jamie launched into his grandfather’s arms. “I’m glad to see you too.” She looked around. “ Mom didn’t come?” 

 

“She didn’t want you to be upset and have your big day spoiled,” James explained. 

 

“I don’t know whether to be happy or sad,” Helen admitted. 

 

James kissed her head. “ Just enjoy today, and worry about the rest tomorrow. Today is your wedding day, you look gorgeous, and it would be my honor to walk you down the aisle.” 

 

Her eyes filled with tears. It would be my honor to have you escort me. And Becca? 

 

Yeah? 

 

Will you stand up for me with Rosa and Joey? 

 

“But I’m not dressed right. I’m not dressed like the two of them.”  

 

Doesn’t matter to me. You’re my little sister. And there’s no one else I’d rather have up there. 

 

Becca smiled. “ I love you! Of course, I will.”  

 

Rosa walked over, her hearing aids visible in her ears. “ Are you ready to start?” 

 

Helen nodded. 

 

Rosa walked over and cued the pianist, who began the “Canon in D”. Rosa, Joey, and Becca began to file down the church aisle single-file. James turned to Jamie. 

 

“Are you ready, little buddy?” 

 

Jamie looked up at him and screwed up his face. He looked like he was concentrating. 

 

“Y-yes, Grandpa,” He finally said in broken speech. 

 

James’s eyes widened, and he looked up at Helen. Helen, unfortunately, had only seen his lips move but knew exactly what had happened. Jamie had said his first words. 

 

Helen leaned down and hugged him tightly. “ I’m proud of you.” 

 

Thank you. 

 

She kissed him. “ Now go in to Matt.” 

 

Jamie ran inside, walked down the aisle and parked himself at Matt’s side. 

 

James took Helen’s arm. “ You ready?” 

 

Yes, Helen signed emphatically. 

 

They began to walk down the aisle. As soon as Matt caught sight of Helen in her wedding dress, his morphed into one of pride, awe, and pure love. Jamie smiled at her from his place next to him. Helen could see Matt’s family standing on both sides, filling the aisle. They had become a second family for her and Jamie, and Helen was beyond grateful. 

 

Helen and James took the last few steps down the aisle, and Tabatha took her place just beyond the chaplain, within Helen’s sightline. 

 

“Dearly beloved,” The chaplain announced as Tabatha signed. “We are gathered here today in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to join Matthew Santos and Helen Miller in holy matrimony…” 

 

… 

 

November 2006: 

 

Jamie got Helen’s attention as Matt finished his speech to rousing applause. Mom, you okay? 

 

Helen nodded, smiling. Just going down memory lane. 

 

What day? 

 

The day Dad and I got married. 

 

Jamie smiled. You know what day I was thinking about? 

 

What’s that, baby? 

 

The day Dad adopted me. 

 

Helen savored the memory of their day in court. For various reasons, they hadn’t been able to finalize Matt’s adoption of Jamie until Helen was six months pregnant with Peter. They had gotten Jamie’s biological father’s rights terminated through charges of abandonment, and Matt had been able to adopt Jamie as his son. She remembered the pride that bloomed through her as the judge announced that Addison James Miller Santos was now the legal son of Matthew Santos. The look in Jamie’s eyes as he embraced his father. The photo of them taken on the court date was framed and prominently displayed on their mantel in Houston. 

 

Hey, She signed to Jamie, getting his attention. Jamie turned to her. 

 

You know how much I love you, right? 

 

More than all the stars in the sky, Jamie signed. You would tell me that every night before I went to sleep. 

 

Helen pulled him toward her. I am so proud of you and how far you’ve come. 

 

I love you too, Mom. Jamie said. I love you too. 

 

…

 

Two and a half years later 

Astoria, Queens, NY 

 

Helen, Jamie, Miranda, Donna, and Annabeth walked onto a very familiar TV set in Queens. The show was one all five of them hadn’t seen in years, and yet there was something about being on the familiar street that always had sunny days that made them all feel five years old again. 

 

The producer came right over to them. “Mrs. Santos, thank you so much for doing this! We are so excited to have you and your kids on the show. Welcome to Sesame Street!” 

 

“We’re happy to be here,” Helen signed with Annabeth translating. Annabeth was still her interpreter outside the White House, as well as her primary spokesperson. Over the last three years, they had become more like sisters. Donna and Josh had also become fluent and were her and Matt’s closest thing to couple friends they had since leaving Houston. 

 

“Well,” The producer said, leaning down to Miranda, “would you like to meet some of the Muppets?” 

 

“Yes!” Miranda smiled. “Come on, Jamie!” 

 

Jamie let his sister lead him over to the puppets, while Helen looked on fondly as the producer walked her through the segment. 

 

It had been nearly three years since they had taken office, and the couple’s kids had adjusted remarkably well. So well, in fact, that Helen had consented to Jamie and Miranda (Peter hadn’t wanted anything to do with it) appearing on Sesame Street with her to talk about the word diversity, deafness, and cochlear implants. As a teacher, she embraced the opportunity to teach others about the diversity of her family. The segment was being taped in advance of the show’s upcoming 40th season. 

 

After Helen and the kids went through hair and makeup, they took their places on the steps of the familiar brownstone. They would be doing the segment with Elmo, the newer character Abby Cadabby, and Zoe. Helen had lobbied for Grover, her favorite character when watching the show as a kid. However, the producers insisted the preschoolers would respond better to Elmo and the two female characters. 

 

“Lights, camera, action!” The director called. Annabeth took her place by the camera, thinking that America’s preschoolers weren’t ready to see an interpreter on their screen yet. Or were they? 

 

“Hi!” Elmo greeted, seated to the left of Miranda. Helen was between her kids, and Abby and Zoe were on either side of Jamie. “We’re talking with our very special friends from Washington DC, Jamie and Miranda, and their mommy, First Lady Helen Santos!” 

 

“Hi!” Jamie and Miranda greeted. Helen waved. 

 

“Miranda, would you like to introduce your family?” 

 

“Sure! This is my mommy, and my big brother Jamie. They’re both Deaf. They can’t hear.” 

 

“Then…then how do they talk to people?” Zoe wanted to know. 

 

“Well,” Helen began to sign with Annabeth interpreting, “Jamie and I both communicate with American Sign Language, or ASL.” 

 

“Oh! American Sign Language!” Elmo said. “Elmo doesn’t know American Sign Language.” 

 

“That’s okay,” Miranda said. “My dad and I can usually tell people what Mom wants to say, but today, Mom has her friend Ms. Schott, her interpreter. It’s her job to sign what we’re saying and to tell everyone what Mom is signing.” 

 

Annabeth looked toward the stage manager, who gestured toward the set. She took this as her cue and came on camera, waving from her place by the stairwell. 

 

“Cool!” They all clamored. 

 

Jamie spoke up for the first time. “ And I can speak for myself most of the time.” 

 

“Jamie, what is that thing on your head and in your ears?” Abby Cadabby asked. 

 

Jamie smiled, taking off one of his implants. “This is my cochlear implant .” 

 

“What’s a cochlear implant?” 

 

“It’s a special kind of hearing aid that lets me hear what’s going on around me. So even though I’m Deaf, when I wear these, I can hear almost as well as my dad and my brother and sister. But when I take them off, I’m Deaf like my mom.” 

 

“Does everyone who’s Deaf wear cochlear implants?” Zoe wanted to know. 

 

“Not everyone,” Helen answered. “Some Deaf people, like me, choose not to wear one. And that’s okay. It’s different for everyone.” 

 

“This is a very special family,” Abby Cadabby said. “And they’re here to teach us all about the word diversity!” 

 

“Um…what does diversity mean?” Zoe asked. 

 

“Diversity means to celebrate and recognize our differences, whether it’s the language we communicate in, the color of our skin, our families, what we wear, or where we come from,” Helen explained through Annabeth. “This is how you sign it.” Helen took her two pointer fingers and wiggled them apart. Her children copied the sign. “Can you sign that?” 

 

The three Muppets copied the sign. 

 

“Wonderful! Now, what makes all of us diverse?” 

 

“Well, we’re all monsters, but we’re different colors!” Elmo proclaimed. “Elmo’s red, Zoe’s orange, and Abby’s pink!” 

 

“I’m a fairy,” Abby proclaimed. 

 

“I’m a dancer!” Zoe said. 

 

“My mom and I have different skin colors, too,” Miranda spoke up. “And I can hear, but she can’t. Even Jamie and my mom are different, even though they look the same. He wears a cochlear implant and uses that to communicate sometimes rather than sign language, and my mom only uses ASL.” 

 

“Miranda, how are you diverse?” Zoe asked. 

 

“Well, because of my Dad, I’m part Latina, meaning some of my family’s from Mexico and speaks Spanish. I know three languages-English, Spanish, and ASL. And I can hear like my Dad and other big brother Peter. But even though my family has some differences, you know what?” 

 

“What?” 

 

“We’re still a family because…we love each other very much!” 

 

The three Muppets ‘aww’d” as Helen kissed Miranda’s head. 

 

“We’re all diverse,” Helen finished, “but we’re a family, and we’re friends with all of you.” 

 

“Yeah!” 

 

With that, the director yelled, “Cut! First Lady Helen Santos, everyone!” 

 

Everyone broke into sign-language applause, much to Helen’s appreciation. She was grateful for the love and support, and the opportunity to educate children worldwide. 

 

Jamie was all grown up, but between the two of them, they would always be educating. 

Notes:

Thanks for reading, everyone!

Notes:

Hope you liked this chapter! Thanks for reading!