When the woman, behind the ticket counter, looked up from her computer Justin could see the surprise and pity in her eyes. He knew what his face looked like, but it always angered him when he saw pity. He didn't want pity. He didn't need pity.
"Can I help you, sir?" he lip-read.
He figured if he could get a piece of paper and a pen, he could write down what he wanted. But he didn't see either object laying around. Holding his left hand flat, plam up, and pretending that his right hand was holding a writing instrument, he mimed writing.
"Excuse me?"
He tried again. Seeing the confusion on her face, he mentally sighed. Sometimes, he really hated being deaf! But, then again, how smart did you have to be to understand what he wanted? Feeling a light tap on his right shoulder, he turned slightly and saw a pretty Afican-American young woman.
Need some help? she signed.
He felt himself breaking into a big smile and nodded. I need a ticket to Pittsburgh, Pensylvania. One-way.
She repeated what he had signed, to the woman behind the counter. After a few minutes of typing something into the computer, the woman spoke. "There is seating available on a bus that will be leaving in twenty minutes. The ticket is fifty dollars."
Justin slid the fifty dollars over the counter. That only left him fifty dollars, but oh well. He'd just have to figure something out when he got to Emmett's. After accepting his ticket, he made his way to the bus. Luckily, it wasn't crowded, so he could sit anywhere he wanted. After choosing a seat in the back, he sat down and proceeded to get comfortable for the ride. A couple of minutes later, he saw the same young woman that had helped him heading his way.
Can I sit here? she signed as she indicated the seat next to him.
Sure.
She sat down, turning slightly so they could face each other. I'm Daphne Chanders.
Justin Taylor. I'm curious, how do you know sign language?
My grandmother is deaf. She can read lips pretty well though. Do you?
Justin nodded. Yes.
Do you live in Pittsburgh?
I live here. But my cousin lives in Pittsburgh. Something happened and I have to leave.
I'm a great listener if you want to talk.
Justin didn't know why, but he felt that he could trust Daphne. He had a feeling that they were going to end up being great friends. I'm gay.
Alright. There's a happening gay scene in the Pitts.
Justin laughed. He had never heard himself, but he knew that he was. That's what my cousin says. My father is not a very nice man. Never has been. He's always resented the fact that I'm deaf. I have been all my life. I guess finding out that I'm gay was the last straw, and he kicked me out.
That's not all. Daphne stated and he knew that she was talking about his face.
Justin shrugged. It's nothing new. Wanting to change the subject, he signed, How old are you?
She went along with him and signed, Seventeen. I go to Saint James Academy. I always come to Mississippi to visit my grandparents every year when it's summer vacation.
I'm seventeen, too. I've always had tutors and I was able to graduate a year early.
Daphne gave him a playful shove on the shoulder. Lucky dog!
Justin laughed as they continued to talk about anything and everything. After a while, they were both forced to admit that they were tired when their eyes started to droop. As he laid his head back and closed his eyes, his last thought was, 'Maybe this won't be so bad.'