I Can’t Hear You
Daniel was a writer. An exceptionally good one. At the age of twenty-four, he managed to attract an agent and get a book deal. He had just arrived in Franklin, a small town in the midst of “renewal.” He was planning on spending a week in Franklin to do some research on small towns and their residents.
Daniel entered the Lunchtime Diner and took a seat at a booth. The diner was a charming place, like something out of a 1950s movie set. It only took a minute before a young woman in her mid-twenties walked over to the table and said, “Hi, I’m Jenny, what can I get for you?”
Daniel took out a small notebook and wrote down a note. Then he handed it to Jenny. It said:
I’m new in town. What do you recommend? I am deaf, so you will need to write your response.
Jenny smiled, and using sign language, signed, “I recommend the BLT and some lemonade.”
Daniel pointed to the notebook and reached out his hand. Jenny handed the notebook back, and Daniel wrote:
I don’t know sign language, I am newly deaf. The doctors don’t know why it happened.
Jenny took the notebook and wrote:
Sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed. I recommend the BLT and some lemonade.
Daniel wrote his reply, handed Jenny the notebook and smiled.
That sounds wonderful.
Jenny smiled and nodded, handed the notebook back, then turned and headed for the kitchen.
While he waited, Daniel took out his laptop and began doing some work on his novel.
When Jenny returned with his sandwich and drink, she picked up the notebook which Daniel had left on the table and wrote:
Are you a writer?
Yes. I am doing research for my novel. It is set in a small town. Daniel wrote in response.
Wonderful. Let me know if you have any questions.
I will. Thank you.
The following day, Daniel had lunch at The Smokehouse BBQ Shack. The food was good, but the wait staff was busy and didn’t have time to engage in written conversation. He decided he would eat dinner at the Lunchtime Diner.
Jenny was there when Daniel arrived. She quickly came to his table and handed him several pieces of paper. Daniel looks at the top page, and on it was written:
I thought you might want to know more about Franklin, so I wrote some of its history and notes about a few of the residents.
Daniel leafed through the pages of hand-written notes. Then a written exchange began.
This is amazing, Jenny. Thank you!
You’re welcome. I usually have free time between lunch and dinner, so I decided to do some writing of my own.
I am going to have to keep an eye on you. You may put me out of work.
No chance. I hope it is helpful.
I am sure it will be. Thank you again. What do you recommend for dinner?
Daniel ate the rest of his meals that week at the Lunchtime Diner. Each day, Jenny brought a few more pages of notes for Daniel. Daniel had never met anyone so kind and helpful. He found himself drawn to her, and equally uneasy.
His week-long visit was soon over, but Daniel wasn’t ready to leave. Daniel emailed his publisher and told him he was staying in Franklin for a while. He said he was inspired, and the novel was flowing. He found a room to rent for a month, which turned into four months.
There was no denying the chemistry between Jenny and Daniel. They fell in love. Jenny began teaching Daniel sign language, a skill she learned due to her sister, Janice, being born deaf. Jenny took over caring for Janice after their parents died when Jenny was eighteen, and Janice was fourteen.
One afternoon, Daniel was sitting in the park writing.
Early in his stay, Daniel had found a quiet spot off the main path by a huge oak tree. He would spread a blanket on the ground and sit against the tree while he worked on his novel, occasionally stealing glances at the lake the park was adjacent to. Most of the townfolk left Daniel alone while he was writing. He had become a sort of a minor celebrity, and people liked having him around.
Jenny knew Daniel was at the park and decided to surprise him with a picnic lunch. She packed his favorite BLT and chips in a bag, along with a big cup of lemonade, and headed for the park. When Jenny got to the park, she knew where to find him — by the big oak tree. She approached him from the rear. Just as Jenny was about to say, “Surprise,” she saw Daniel pick up his phone and talk into it. She dropped the bag and lemonade and stared at Daniel in shock.
“Thank you, Bill. I am feeling very inspired. [pause] No, I haven’t told anyone. They still think I’m deaf. It is surprising the things you hear when people think you can’t hear them.”
Jenny walked up to Daniel, and angrily said, “No one is more surprised than me. I can’t believe you lied to me. To the whole town. It was all a game to you, wasn’t it?”
She turned and stormed away.
“Wait, Jenny, I can explain,” Daniel yelled. “Bill, I have to call you back, “he said as he got up and put his phone in his pocket. Daniel followed Jenny back to town. He caught up to her just before she entered the diner.
“Jenny, I’m sorry. Let me explain.”
“Explain why you pretended to be deaf? Did you know about Janice? Was this a trick to play on my sympathy?”
“No. I swear, I didn’t know about Janice. I was just doing some research on how people in a small town would react to a deaf writer.”
“I guess you found out. What about us? Were you planning on keeping up the charade forever?”
“No. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I figured it might hurt you. And I was scared of losing you. I love you, Jenny.”
“You have a strange way of showing it. I have to get back to work. You got what you wanted. Just leave.”
Jenny went back inside the diner. Daniel noticed that several people were staring at him now. He walked back to the park, got his laptop and blanket, and headed back to his rented room.
Shannon, the other server in the Diner, saw Jenny talking to Daniel through the window and said, “Did I just see you talking to Daniel?
“Yes. He lied to us. He’s not deaf. It was all pretend, for his stupid book. I feel like such an idiot.”
“It’s not your fault, Jenny. He fooled us all. I really thought he loved you.”
“He says he does, but how can I believe him now?”
“Oh, Sweetie, I am so sorry,” Shannon said and took Jenny in a hug.
Once back in his room, Daniel thought about leaving. He figured he had blown his chance with Jenny, but he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. He didn’t know what to do. He broke down and cried for a while and then decided to go for a walk. Daniel often got his best ideas while walking, so he figured it was worth a try.
While he was walking through the park, Mrs. Adams, one of the senior members of the Franklin community, spotted Daniel and walked over to him.
“I saw you talking to Jenny outside the diner. I went in to check on her, and she told me what you did. That was a stupid stunt, young man. Jenny is the sweetest soul you will ever meet. Many of the boys in town tried to win her hand, but she was busy working and caring for her sister, so she put love aside. When you arrived, something in her changed. It was like she finally allowed herself to care about someone. You hurt her deeply. And that hurts all of us.”
“I know. And it’s breaking my heart. I can’t express how sorry I am.”
“Sorry doesn’t change what’s been done.”
“I know. I love Jenny more than I can say. Do you think she could ever forgive me?”
“Hard to say. Love can overcome a lot. But it ain’t easy. What are you planning to do?”
“I don’t know. Keep begging her for forgiveness, I guess.”
“May be better to give her some time.”
Daniel took Mrs. Adams’ advice. He didn’t eat at the Lunchtime Diner anymore. But he did slip a hand-written note under the diner door every day with variations of:
Jenny, I love you with all my heart. I am so sorry I lied to you. Daniel
Daniel kept working on his novel. He sat in the park, hoping that Jenny would show up and they could talk. But she never did.
After a couple of weeks, Daniel finished his novel. He went to the office supply store and printed out a copy of it.
The next morning, Daniel packed his suitcase and got in his car. He stopped at the Lunchtime Diner and went inside. He looked at Jenny, and his eyes started to well up. Before Jenny could say anything, Daniel said, “Please don’t say anything. This is for you. I love you, Jenny.”
He placed the novel on the counter and left. As he drove away, Jenny picked up the novel. It was titled I Can’t Hear You. Jenny bristled a little and handed the book to Mrs. Adams, who was seated in the booth by the window.
“You read it. I can’t,” Jenny said to Mrs. Adams.
“That boy really does love you. I saw it in his eyes,” Mrs. Adams said. “Be a shame to let love that strong go.”
Then Mrs. Adams turned the cover page and began reading the novel aloud.
Tony’s life was words. He was a writer, and he was deaf.
As Mrs. Adams read, everyone in the diner listened. The novel told the story of a budding writer who moved to a small town to work on a novel. It painted a glowing picture of the town and its residents.
After reading for about an hour, Mrs. Adams said, “Let’s meet here tomorrow for lunch, and I will read more.”
Each day the diner got more crowded as others heard about the novel. Soon they had to set out extra chairs.
As the story continued, the writer met a young woman who was a server in a diner, and they fell in love. It followed their romance, and the novelist’s experiences with other town residents. Each side story was a charming delight.
Those listening to the novel-reading got excited and said, “That’s me,” when they were mentioned in the book. Although Daniel had used aliases, and some of the stories were slightly embellished, it was apparent that the book was more fact than fiction.
Finally, the day came when they reached the end of the novel. The writer revealed that he was not actually deaf, and the couple broke up. Mrs. Adams read the final sentences.
Tony had his novel. But at what cost? As he drove away, a printed copy of the novel he no longer cared about sat on the seat next to him. In his rearview mirror was the town he grew to love and the woman he would never get over.
Then Mrs. Adams looked up at Jenny and said, “There is a hand-written note for you, Jenny.” She handed the manuscript to Jenny.
Jenny looked at the note.
If you want to change the ending, please call me.
Love Daniel.
Jenny put down the novel and picked up her phone.
