Balloons

Author's Note: This story was inspired by this video:

http://youtu.be/pRFfJJjLpqw

Enjoy.

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Fifteen­ year­ old Nova Lesedi turned her face to the fading afternoon sunlight. Rose-pink clouds made their casual way across the sea­colored sky. Nova sat under her tree, marveling that the sky took on her favorite color, as if it existed only for her.

Andrew Anwell is looking for you, a girl in her class informed her. Nova shrugged. She didn’t understand a single word the girl had said, and Nova didn’t bother to read her lips. So when Andrew Anwell came up behind her tree, Nova didn’t notice him. When Andrew Anwell came around the other side of her tree, Nova didn’t know he was there. When Andrew Anwell plunked down next to her and signed hello, Nova started, and signed back that he’d frightened her. He shrugged. She shrugged.

What do you want to do? He signed, careful to check with the Sign Language book he carried with him before asking.

I don’t know, Nova signed back.
What?
I. Don’t. Know. Andrew consulted his book.
You don’t know?
Yeah, Nova signed.
You do know? Nova exhaled.
NO.
Oh. Sorry, Andrew signed self­consciously.
It’s okay. You’re getting better.
Thank you. I’m bowtie. Nova laughed.
You what?
Hang on. Andrew palmed through his book again, flipping pages back and forth. Nova watched his hands, hard on the outside but soft on the palms. Softer on the inside. Just like Andrew. Nova smiled.

I mean I’m trying.
Apparently not hard enough.
What? Andrew’s eyebrows scrunched together.
Nothing.
Okay. They sat and wondered. Nova broke the silence she couldn’t hear.
It’s hot, she signed.
You want something to drink?
No, I said it’s hot.
Oh, hot. Yeah, it’s hot. More silence that Nova couldn’t register. Nova didn’t mind beingDeaf. It wasn’t Deafness she minded; it was the inability to communicate with her best friend.

Nova.

What? Andrew couldn’t find the sign in his book, so he mouthed it slowly. “We should make water balloons.”

Watermelon? Nova signed.

“No, water. balloons.” Nova’s eyebrows scrunched adorably for a moment, then understanding slapped her. She nodded.

Water balloons. Sounds fun. They laughed at their favorite joke.

Tomorrow. We’ll play water balloons.
You mean with, Nova signed.
What? Andrew’s eyebrows asked.

We’ll play. With. Water balloons.

Yeah, yeah. Andrew nodded.

Okay, Nova signed.
Okay.

See you tomorrow. Nova waved.

Yeah. Andrew stood and left self­consciously, checking behind him to see if she was still looking. She was.

The day after that became the Day of the Water Balloons in Nova’s mind. Andrew met
her at her tree as usual, startling her in a way only a boy can startle a Deaf girl. In his hands were two huge baskets of water balloons, all...Nova couldn’t believe it. Every balloon was blue, Nova’s favorite color. Nova had signed this to Andrew exactly once, four years earlier, when they met.

How did you remember? Nova asked.
How can I forget? Andrew answered, and Nova’s smile matched the sun.
Let me see, she signed. Andrew handed her a basket. Nova pretended to have a look, then took off with the basket, pelting Andrew with balloons behind her as she went. She wished she could hear Andrew’s laughter.

Two hours later, they were out of balloons and breath. They laid under the tree, trying to breathe.

What now? Andrew signed. Nova sighed.
I don’t know. A silence Nova didn’t mind not hearing.
Nova.
What? Andrew propped up on one arm and looked at her.
I love you.
No you don’t. Nova rolled her eyes.
I’m serious, Andrew signed.
You’re only fifteen, Andrew, Nova signed back.
So?
So you don’t know what love is. Andrew looked at her, confused.

Slowly, he signed. Nova sighed.

You. Don’t. Understand. Love.
And you do? Andrew signed.
No.

So you know I don’t? Andrew signed slowly.

Nova hesitated, before signing, No.

Exactly. Silence sat between them.

I do like you, Andrew, Nova signed.

You do?

Yeah, Nova signed again. Andrew grinned and handed her his last hidden water balloon.

Nova Lesedi walked down the stairs, decked out in a prom dress her favorite shade of blue. At the bottom, her father stood with Andrew Anwell.

Nova, you look beautiful, Andrew signed.

Thank you, Nova signed back. So do you. Andrew laughed, looking self­consciously down at his slightly rumpled suit.

Let’s go.

Wait, wait, signed her father. Pictures first. Nova’s father directed her to the mantle of their fireplace. Andrew slipped a strong arm around her waist. Nova’s heart flew.

Perfect, her father signed. Now you can go.
Thanks, dad.
Have fun, sweetheart, he signed back. Andrew directed her outside to his dad’s car.

Fancy, Nova signed. Andrew rolled his laughing eyes.
Shut up, he signed back.
The ride was silent because Andrew couldn’t sign and drive at the same time.
Oh, I brought you something, Andrew signed as they pulled into the parking lot of the Ritz­Carlton.

What? she signed. Andrew held up a blue water balloon.
Don’t you dare, she signed. Andrew grinned.
I won’t, I won’t. I just wanted to celebrate today.

Three years is a long time.

I agree. Nova took the water balloon. And pelted Andrew with it. “AAAARRRGHHH!” Nova laughed, and, after a moment, so did Andrew.

You are insane, Nova Lesedi, Andrew signed. Nova’s shoulders shrugged.

Nova Lesedi came down the aisle, wearing her favorite shade of blue ribbon around her white wedding dress. On the end stood Andrew Anwell, who stood stock­still, absolutely captivated. Nova’s eyes said everything her voice couldn’t.

You look beautiful, Andrew signed.
So do you, Nova signed back. Andrew’s face was too nervous to laugh.
Several hours later, Nova and Andrew stood at their reception table. Andrew decided to break protocol and give his own toast.

When I first met Nova, he signed. I had no idea I would marry her one day. It wasn’t until we were fifteen that I realized I loved her. She didn’t believe me when I told her. But I bet she believes me now.

Andrew turned toward his new wife, took a blue water balloon out of his pocket.

When I first told her I loved her, Andrew signed. I gave her this. Now, it’s become a promise. My promise to her that I will always love her until I die.

The tears in Nova’s newly wedded eyes couldn’t help but dance for joy.

Nova Anwell, now 72, stands before Andrew Anwell’s grave, holding a blue water balloon. Thank you, she signs. She places her promise over his heart, and walks away.