Page 95 of Give Me a Sign
“What’d he say that time?” my dad asks.
“Oh, drive home safe,” I translate.
“He seems nice,” my mom says, smiling. “I see why you’re extra eager to improve your sign language.”
I blush. “One of many reasons.”
Chapter Thirty
Ethan gathersus around after the last of the campers leave. “All right, it’s almost one,” he says and signs. “We need to clean and pack up. But I wanted to announce our plans for tonight.” He pauses for dramatic effect. “We got donations specifically for our counselor celebration fund, so we’re bringing back the end-of-the-season reward night. To thank you for all your hard work this summer, we’ve got tickets for the concert at Wrigley Field.”
“Awesome,” I sign to Isaac, who nods enthusiastically.
That afternoon when we board the Amtrak train, Natasha flips one of the pairs of seats so she and Jaden can sit directly across from me and Isaac.
“I hate this shirt,” Jaden signs. He’s wearing one of Natasha’s #44 Rizzo T-shirts that she usually wears as a large pajama shirt, but it’s a little snug on Jaden.
“You have to wear it,” she signs. “We’re going to W-r-i-g-l-e-y.”
“I don’t like the Cubs,” he signs. “None of you are wearing Cubs shirts right now!”
“I like the Cubs,” Isaac signs.
“Me too,” I sign.
“And you’re already in the shirt,” Natasha signs.
Some of the other people on the train are watching us. It bothers me for a little while, but soon I’m so invested in our conversation that I don’t notice them anymore. It’s nice not having to struggle to hear above the noisy train.
With Isaac nearby, attuned to my comprehension, I’m confident. I never feel lost in the conversation when he's by my side.
The skyline finally comes into view. I love going to Chicago. The tall buildings, the elevated train, the old historic bridges, and the cool breeze blowing in from the lake. The only thing better than the view from the train ride into the city is driving down Lake Shore Drive at night, when the whole view is illuminated by city lights while the lake is an expansive darkness to the east.
We get into Union Station with a few hours to kill before the concert and take the L to Wrigley. I feel like I’m really holding my own in the real world with the older counselors—until they head to a bar with bouncers posted at the door.
Natasha and Jaden keep conversing in sign while handing their fakes to the bouncer. Is the goal to distract him enough so he doesn’t notice the IDs are fake? Or do they want to make him think that communicating with them would be too much of a hassle so he doesn’t bother turning them away? Either way, it works.
I realize I’m not positive if Mackenzie is twenty-one yet, but she makes it into the bar as well, along with Ethan, Simone, and Bobby, leaving me and Isaac alone on the sidewalk.
“I don’t have a f-a-k-e,” I sign.
“I don’t have a fake, either,” Isaac signs.
“What do we do?”
“I know a place,” Isaac signs.
“You two okay?” Ethan asks. When Isaac nods, he pulls out his own ID and goes inside.
Isaac grabs my hand and we cross the intersection. Wrigleyville isn’t as busy as on a game day—at least not yet. There’s still time before the concert opener, though the crowd is slowly gathering. The noise and chatter are overwhelming. I’m still readjusting to wearing my hearing aids, which I’d considered leaving at camp. I’ll be signing with Isaac all night, and they won’t make much of a difference when it comes to hearing the loud music. But it felt like the best choice for tonight to put them back in.
Isaac leads me over to a two-story brick building decorated with baseball iconography on the outside. The restaurant has a large bar, but Isaac heads upstairs, straight toward some batting cages.
“Oh, fun,” I sign when he lets go of my hand.
“I’ll get baseballs, you get sodas?”
I turn to go get our drinks, but he grabs my arm. “Later. Play first.” He steps into the box and selects some settings on the pitching machine. He’s just about to put in the money when he turns around and notices I’m waiting outside. He waves for me to join him.
