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Silent Knowlegde (III)
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 Created on 6-16-07
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The comforting aroma of baking bread greeted my senses as I entered the Hamcott residence. Tabby leaded me to her living room, as Alison ran off into the hallway and disappeared. Her living room was full of reds, oranges, and browns. It was a museum of candles and religious icons. Nothing to be touched, everything fragile and everything clean. I wondered if Alison was even allowed to play in there.
Tabby sat in the orange-brown recliner across from the coffee table and I. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and then clasped on to her necklace.
“As you, Mrs. Hamcott, I’m here to work and spend time with Alison” I began to say.
“All she needs is prayers and family…” she paused.
“Yes, that is what she needs, but I’m simply here to help you; the family, along the way,” I smiled gently at her. “I’ve worked with many children who have been through horrible things like this, all of my cases have turned out great”.
I took a sip of the hot tea that she had placed in front of me, “For the time being, she is my number one priority”.
Tabby shifted in her chair. The living room had a dark cabinet that detained a statue of the holy family; Joseph, Mary, and of course, Jesus. Three display lights made it the focal point of the case. To the right was an antique bible and the to left were crosses with biblical passages written in gold lettering. After reading them I realized they were the beatitudes. Only three out of the eight were there, the rest were lined on a shelf on the opposite wall.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”I thought to myself, there is no better one than that. At least the woman believes in something, hope is already a step towards progression after a death.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God”Throbbing pain lingered in my knees. The coffee table was rather close to the couch. My legs were scrunched together and after about five minutes of this discomfort I angled myself to stretch my legs along the side of the table. Screw manners. I glanced down at my feet, one over the other and smoothed my skirt out.
“I’ll be her friend, if she lets me, I’d like to know, if you know any of her favorite shows, interests, I mean, I’m sure she’s like any other four-year-old girl, but still” I spoke.
“Of course I know” she exclaimed. “I did help raise her, I baby sat, I did a lot! Heavens, I did more than most would”
“You sound like a very good aunt” I replied.
“I am more that an aunt, I’m also a grandma” she added, “I’m her only family, and well my husband. From child hood, my brother, Alison’s father and I were abandoned”.
I sighed, “Oh”.
“Well, Vince was my little brother, and it was up to me to take care of him, I always have and I always did, right to the end”, she said proudly.
“Wow that is really great”.
“Yes, well, now he’s gone” she began to tear up.
“And his wife,” I added, “ her name was Heather, right”.
“Oh yes, and her, Heather”.
The room fell quite as Tabby sobbed to herself. I knew she was on the sterner side, so trying to comfort her wasn’t my position, but it nearly frustrated me to my grave.
“Uhh…” I began disturbing the silence, “so what can you tell me about Alison”. She looked back up at me, and wiped her emerald eyes with her apron.
“She won’t speak” she exclaimed.
“That doesn’t surprise me, but she was seen by a psychologist, he should have told you the reasons behind her muteness” I informed.
“Some trumped-up illness with anxiety, but I’m her aunt she knows me” she said gravely.
I nodded, “Selective mutism. To put it easily, Alison is confused and is unable to cope with a feeling that scares her. This feeling comes when someone wants her or expects her to speak. Understand”.
“If yes is what you want me to say, then yes”
“Okay”
“She also needs pull-ups again”
“That’s not a surprise either”
Just then Alison emerged from the dark hallway. She stood off into the corner, hands behind her back, looking curiously at me. I beamed at her, “Hey, you can come and join us” I called. She walked over to us, lips firmly pressed together. I could tell that she was nervous. Because her lips where almost a sickening white from pressure, I knew she was afraid she was going to be pressed to talk. “Come here Alison”, Tabby instructed, patting her lap. Instead she sat on the opposite side of the couch from me. I turned to her gently.
“Alison, I can’t wait to get to know you,” I put my hand on the middle cushion; between us, “We can play games, and watch T.V., or even play house, your pick”.
See looked up at me, eyes so big, and slightly smiled. “That’s better,” I said.
Tabby lifted out of her chair at the sound of the oven’s timer going off. “Good, our supper’s done” she chimed. As she stood in front of me, waiting for me to get up, she glared down at my right ankle. I looked down too, and realized she was staring at my tattoo. The zodiac sign for cancer was on my ankle, and took up about half of the one side. The two almost connected swirls were pink with a black outline. We all have had our “moment” in college; the tattoo was my moment. This symbol was different for me, not only because it was my zodiac sign, but also, it symbolized the sensitivity to other’s emotions.
Tabby kissed the cross on her necklace then crossed her arms, “ What is that?” she screamed.
“Oh its nothing huge, just a small tattoo,”
“ What else do you have on you? Satanic symbols? Piercings?”
“ No, no just that its cancer, the zodiac-”
“I don’t care, it was nice meeting you, see you again”.
Then she walked away. Leaving me to let myself out. Alison smiled at me again, and then was called to the kitchen. I sat up, my knees cracked, and I made my way to my car.
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