Love Is Deaf, Not Blind

M.u.l.a.n is you favourite movie? Andrew asks a look of shock on his face as we sit on the old futon in his tiny house. I can see pillows and a blankets in a messy pill near the TV, which makes me wonder if it’s used as a bed.

I hold my pointer, middle and ring finger (the fingers used for M) in my other hand and strike like I’m holding a sword, ‘Jace and I made up the sign for M.u.l.a.n when I little. It’s one of the only signs my mom actually knows.’

’I would have picked you for B.e.a.u.t.y and the B.e.a.s.t or the little people fish, girl’

I can’t help but start laughing.

’What![/]

With my hand in a first with just my pointer finger out I run my finger down my nose twice the sign for people before placing the sides of my wrist like a cross with straight hands I wiggle my fingers the sign for fish.

’I didn’t know how to sign M.e.r.m.a.i.d and I don’t like finger spelling.’

I laugh again, ’Well it’s part of your job.

’I know doesn’t mean I have to like everything about it.’

‘What do you like about your job?’

‘I get to meet amazing people like you.

’Thanks’ I smile feeling bubbly inside.

It’s true. I think your amazing.

I slap him playfully, ‘Stop it.

He laughs and rolls his eyes, ’fine but you are amazing. So we are watching Mulan?’

I nod my hair bobbing, ‘Yes please.

I can’t help but look over at Andrew a lot he’s watching the movie but also talking. It takes me a while to work out he’s saying all the lines.

“Thought…you…did…not…like…Mulan.”

‘No I love this movie. It’s one of my favorite my other are T.a.r.z.a.n and H.e.r.c.u.l.e.s. I just thought you’d be into the more girly movies’

I smile because there are also movies that I love. ’Why do you think that?’

’You curl your hair, I only see you in dress. You’re a girly girl.’

’I’m not a girly girl! And I don’t curl my hair it just falls this way.’

He laughs and picks up on of the perfect ringlets and raises his eyebrow in question Really?

Yes…I think my put to many hot rollers in my hair as a kid.

He just laughs a small shake of his head. He turns back to the movie and I do too. But I’m not actually watching, I can’t stop thinking of how easy it is to be around Andrew. So natural, I’d never been comfortable around anyone other than my brother like I am with Andrew.

We end up watching both the Mulan movies.

’Hungry?’ Andrew asks. I just nod. Good I can show you my awesome cooking skills. Which consisted of Mac and cheese and Cheese toasties.

I laugh again and try to work out how many times this afternoon he’d made me laugh. I’ll cook.
‘Can’t argue there. The kitchen this way.’ He leads through a door tucked away in the corner of the room.

The kitchen is cramped, you wouldn’t be able to open the oven standing in front of it but I don’t let that stop me.

I open the fridge to find eggs, bacon, milk, cheese and not much else and there the cupboards aren’t much better.

I end up finding all the ingredients to my jalapeno Poppers. I get Andrew cut slices in the jalapeno peppers to create a pocket while I start the beer batter. We both work to stuff them with cheese and bacon.

I coat them in batter and shallow fry them in a pan.