To say that this was a beautiful day would have been to understate things to a great degree ... it was glorious!
In late spring, it was warm, with just a hint of a breeze, just enough to tussle one's hair. The air smelled sweet ... not overly floral ... but just a general sweetness in the breeze. This day was a gift; one that makes you feel good to be alive.
She was very pretty!
She was sitting alone on the park bench, reading. I was struck by the overall look of her; her blonde hair and clear blue eyes that seemed to have captured the sky in them. She had such delicate features and was lithe of figure and limb.
The breeze would occasionally lift her hem of her yellow sundress just enough to see a flash of thigh. Her dress had thin shoulder straps, which showed just enough cleavage to give you a hint at how lovely her breasts might be. They seemed to be firm, round, and a little larger than you might expect with such a diminutive girl.
I fell in love with her instantly—I had to know her. My heart quickened as I approached her. As I sat next to her, I started with a casual comment,
"Good morning, lovely day isn't it." She said nothing, but kept her attention fixed on her reading. I frowned a little at my complete lack of success in capturing her attention.
"May I ask what you are reading, Miss?"
Nothing! I decided to be more insistent,
"May I ask what you are reading, Miss? I said loudly enough to catch the attention of a man fifty yards down the path. Without raising her eyes, she took out a little writing pad in a well-used leather cover, opened it and scribbled a note. It was then that she slowly raised her eyes to me, as she handed it to me with the slightest of smiles. It read,
"There is no need to shout, but if you are patient with me, I read lips!"
Oh my God, she is deaf, I thought. But, I was too taken with her and was insistent on at least the pleasure of a simple conversation with such a stunningly gorgeous creature. So I moved in front of her, sitting on my haunches and wearing a sheepish smile as I said,
"Hello ... Miss. My ... name ... is ... Michael!" I said with kind of an exaggerated articulation.
She covered her mouth with her hand to hide a giggle. Then she raised an eyebrow slightly as she wrote,
"I am deaf, not an imbecile Michael! Nice to meet you, I'm Elsa."
A little embarrassed, and now speaking normally, as I would to anyone else I said,
"I'm sorry Elsa. You are very pretty."
"She said "Thank you Michael, you have a nice face."
She gestured the same message in American Sign Language (ASL) also. I was to learn that she does this so that people with whom she communicates regularly will start to recognize the signs. She uses the note pad only sparingly when she doesn't care to speak, or is embarrassed by her voice. Non-hearing people cannot hear their own voices, and so cannot correct the sound of their voice like hearing persons can.
"I'm glad you like it. I did inquire about the book you were reading, just as a conversation starter.
She smiled, and turned the book up to show the title. She was reading
Mansfield Park
by Jane Austin. I had always considered Jane Austin novels to be books for women ... I think most men do. A former girlfriend insisted that I read
Pride and Prejudice
and I just get into the story.
What a terrifically well-defined character Elizabeth Bennett is! She was a strong and independent woman for her time. The somewhat dark and brooding Mr. Darcy was the perfect foil for her disgust at his arrogance. His pride and her prejudice against him made you wonder if they would ever get together.
I told Elsa,
"I have read it. It is a great read ... but I am certain that you have read it before. That's the thing I learned from her novels, that you see something different in them with each reading ... I have read
Pride and Prejudice
twice!
I saw the most beautiful smile cross her face as she said carefully,
"Michael, I agree with you completely. I feel the same way. I have indeed read this one several times as you suggested."
I smiled back at her and decided to go for broke,
"I was just on my way to a nice little coffee shop down around the corner here (pointing). Would you care to join me?"
She looked me up and down, and I thought, "Shit! I struck out with a pretty girl ... again!" Then she smiled and nodded yes, snapped her book closed, and stuffed it in her carry bag with her notebook. I took her hand to help her up, and we walked the block and a half, with her arms wrapped around mine.
She liked me!
We had a nice little conversation over coffee and raspberry scones. She is quiet, but intelligent, and seemed to be well educated. I found out that she is twenty, and finishing her studies as a librarian, a profession where she would not have to over-use her voice.
I also found out that she has a very devilish and somewhat bratty sense of humor, and teased me when she thought I was becoming too full of myself. She does not have a boyfriend or—what is the euphemism—a 'significant other.'
She told me that a girlfriend had given her a couple of concert tickets she couldn't use, and asked if I was interested in going with her. It was for a concert by the local chamber orchestra, playing a Brahms and Shubert, program. I wondered why a deaf girl would be interested in concert tickets. I said,
"Yes, sounds like fun!"
She breathed a sigh of relief with a pretty smile, and gave me a peck on the cheek. Then she lowered her eyes, and blushed. That little touch of crimson on her cheeks made her look incredibly beautiful.