#learn american sign language

[learnasl]

Does American Sign Language Really Have Accents?

American Sign Language (ASL) records its ancestry back in the 19th century in France. And also like any spoken or signed language, ASL has evolved as time passes to represent users’ cultural and regional distinctions.

American Sign Language isn't really a rendition of English. Actually, it’s a specialized language that has its very own pronunciation, word formations, grammar, sentence structures, and idioms. Like various other natural languages, ASL has evolved spontaneously in humans through long use and repetition devoid of conscious planning. It’s the primary sign language utilized by Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in the United States Of America and the most of English-speaking Canada. ASL is really a complete, methodized visual language with both non-manual and manual features.

Public speakers of American Sign Language also have their accents or communication patterns. And similar to every various other languages, ASL is characterized by regional variants and alterations in tone. In sign language, an accent or style is observable in exactly how words are signed differently. It is a lexical distinction, similar to how certain US citizens say “pop” while other people say “soda” when mentioning a soft drink.

Regional and Cultural Variations of American Sign Language

Individuals who use spoken languages have got different accents or variations in how they converse based upon where they are coming from. Additionally, even within one country, people’s accents change from region to region. For example, in the United States, people from New York have New York accents, and those coming from the South have Southern accents. In the same way, accents, also called styles, occur in ASL.

An individual’s ASL accent or style is determined by their behaviors, expressions, gestures, phrases, speed of execution, and hand movements. ASL accents, as a whole, are expressed by users’ physical condition, age level, culture, place of birth, and use of idioms and slang. An excellent ASL user can often distinguish exactly what region or culture an individual is coming from depending on how they sign.

Black American Sign Language (BASL)

This language developed due to the fact that US schools for the Deaf within the late 19th century didn't acknowledge Black students. So, BASL emerged from the Black culture to meet the students’ necessities. It includes Black idioms and slang in conjunction with standard ASL components.

Regional ASL Styles or Accents

On the level of word meaning, the exact same signed gesture in ASL can denote various things in different parts of the United States. As an example, within the western states, particularly California, the B hand shape, with the palm facing outward and shaken vertically, signifies the city of Berkeley. In contrast, this particular sign usually signifies the city of Boston in the eastern states.

Northeastern ASL Accents/Styles

New York - Much like their Hearing counterparts, Deaf/HoH ASL users from New York City sign rather quickly. ASL users from New York sign a lot quicker and employ several body language and facial expressions than those from different regions of the US. Additionally, they use New York slang and are also inclined to use more profanity!

Philadelphia - The Philadelphia area features some unconventional signs because of the city’s long reputation of teaching Deaf/HoH individuals to communicate through speech and lip-reading. This has created a number of home-grown signs that have become a part of that region’s ASL accent or style.

Southern ASL Accent/Style

Southern ASL users express their signs to imitate the well-known Southern drawl. Southerners even touch their chests as well as the lower part of their faces more frequently when signing, and these expressions have become a part of the South’s ASL accent or style.

Midwestern ASL Accent/Style

While signers from the Northeast are generally quick with regards to their signing and Southerners are slower and meticulous, Midwesterners lie somewhere in the middle. For instance, American Sign Language users from Ohio are generally calm and relaxed with their signing, not very fast or too slow.

The Impact of ASL Accents/Styles on Communication

Accents mirror people’s unique backgrounds, and a lot of them take pride in their style and accents. Even so, as with spoken English, possessing a distinctive ASL accent could potentially cause difficulties in communicating with other native users in work, educational, and social settings.

Because of this, a number of ASL users learn how to modify or eliminate their accents to enhance signed communication skills. Another way in dealing with this problem is through standardization of ASL to help users communicate better.

[reasonsforhope]

"As a Deaf man, Adam Munder has long been advocating for communication rights in a world that chiefly caters to hearing people. 

The Intel software engineer and his wife — who is also Deaf — are often unable to use American Sign Language in daily interactions, instead defaulting to texting on a smartphone or passing a pen and paper back and forth with service workers, teachers, and lawyers. 

It can make simple tasks, like ordering coffee, more complicated than it should be. 

But there are life events that hold greater weight than a cup of coffee. 

Recently, Munder and his wife took their daughter in for a doctor’s appointment — and no interpreter was available. 

To their surprise, their doctor said: “It’s alright, we’ll just have your daughter interpret for you!” ...

That day at the doctor’s office came at the heels of a thousand frustrating interactions and miscommunications — and Munder is not isolated in his experience.

“Where I live in Arizona, there are more than 1.1 million individuals with a hearing loss,” Munder said, “and only about 400 licensed interpreters.”

In addition to being hard to find, interpreters are expensive. And texting and writing aren’t always practical options — they leave out the emotion, detail, and nuance of a spoken conversation. 

ASL is a rich, complex language with its own grammar and culture; a subtle change in speed, direction, facial expression, or gesture can completely change the meaning and tone of a sign. 

“Writing back and forth on paper and pen or using a smartphone to text is not equivalent to American Sign Language,” Munder emphasized. “The details and nuance that make us human are lost in both our personal and business conversations.”

His solution? An AI-powered platform called Omnibridge. 

“My team has established this bridge between the Deaf world and the hearing world, bringing these worlds together without forcing one to adapt to the other,” Munder said. 

Trained on thousands of signs, Omnibridge is engineered to transcribe spoken English and interpret sign language on screen in seconds...

“Our dream is that the technology will be available to everyone, everywhere,” Munder said. “I feel like three to four years from now, we're going to have an app on a phone. Our team has already started working on a cloud-based product, and we're hoping that will be an easy switch from cloud to mobile to an app.” ...

At its heart, Omnibridge is a testament to the positive capabilities of artificial intelligence. "

-via GoodGoodGood, October 25, 2024. More info below the cut!

To test an alpha version of his invention, Munder welcomed TED associate Hasiba Haq on stage. 

“I want to show you how this could have changed my interaction at the doctor appointment, had this been available,” Munder said. 

He went on to explain that the software would generate a bi-directional conversation, in which Munder’s signs would appear as blue text and spoken word would appear in gray. 

At first, there was a brief hiccup on the TED stage. Haq, who was standing in as the doctor’s office receptionist, spoke — but the screen remained blank. 

“I don’t believe this; this is the first time that AI has ever failed,” Munder joked, getting a big laugh from the crowd. “Thanks for your patience.”

After a quick reboot, they rolled with the punches and tried again.

Haq asked: “Hi, how’s it going?” 

Her words popped up in blue. 

Munder signed in reply: “I am good.” 

His response popped up in gray. 

Back and forth, they recreated the scene from the doctor’s office. But this time Munder retained his autonomy, and no one suggested a 7-year-old should play interpreter. 

Munder’s TED debut and tech demonstration didn’t happen overnight — the engineer has been working on Omnibridge for over a decade. 

“It takes a lot to build something like this,” Munder told Good Good Good in an exclusive interview, communicating with our team in ASL. “It couldn't just be one or two people. It takes a large team, a lot of resources, millions and millions of dollars to work on a project like this.” 

After five years of pitching and research, Intel handpicked Munder’s team for a specialty training program. It was through that backing that Omnibridge began to truly take shape...

“Our dream is that the technology will be available to everyone, everywhere,” Munder said. “I feel like three to four years from now, we're going to have an app on a phone. Our team has already started working on a cloud-based product, and we're hoping that will be an easy switch from cloud to mobile to an app.” 

In order to achieve that dream — of transposing their technology to a smartphone — Munder and his team have to play a bit of a waiting game. Today, their platform necessitates building the technology on a PC, with an AI engine. 

“A lot of things don't have those AI PC types of chips,” Munder explained. “But as the technology evolves, we expect that smartphones will start to include AI engines. They'll start to include the capability in processing within smartphones. It will take time for the technology to catch up to it, and it probably won't need the power that we're requiring right now on a PC.” 

At its heart, Omnibridge is a testament to the positive capabilities of artificial intelligence. 

But it is more than a transcription service — it allows people to have face-to-face conversations with each other. There’s a world of difference between passing around a phone or pen and paper and looking someone in the eyes when you speak to them. 

It also allows Deaf people to speak ASL directly, without doing the mental gymnastics of translating their words into English.

“For me, English is my second language,” Munder told Good Good Good. “So when I write in English, I have to think: How am I going to adjust the words? How am I going to write it just right so somebody can understand me? It takes me some time and effort, and it's hard for me to express myself actually in doing that. This technology allows someone to be able to express themselves in their native language.” 

Ultimately, Munder said that Omnibridge is about “bringing humanity back” to these conversations. 

“We’re changing the world through the power of AI, not just revolutionizing technology, but enhancing that human connection,” Munder said at the end of his TED Talk. 

“It’s two languages,” he concluded, “signed and spoken, in one seamless conversation.”"

-via GoodGoodGood, October 25, 2024

[persephonessugarbaby]

A fantastic resource for learning sign language FOR FREE is the ASL University website

Dr. Bill Vicars, who is deaf / hard of hearing, "has been offering online sign language instruction since 1997", and still adds to his websites to this day. After much research, he has determined the most commonly used words and created his lessons "moving from most frequently used to less frequently used" words and concepts. So what does this website offer?

Lessons that include a teaching video, vocabulary list, sentences containing words learned, practice quizzes, and information on deaf culture and asl grammar

A section on the 100 most commonly used signs

A dictionary that has (1) Written description of how to sign the word, along with pictures, gifs, and videos, (2) Sample sentences showing how to use the word, and the appropriate context, often with accompanying videos, (3) In-page links to signs with similar appearance or meaning, (4) Common variations of the sign, (5) Questions he's answered regarding that words

There's more on the website, including pages on signing the alphabet and one with deaf/HoH jokes that's got some gems, but those listed above are the features I find most helpful for beginners. GOOD LUCK 😁

[classical-bluess]

Thinking about all the hearing damage All Might probably has from his decades of hero work 🤟

[isawthe-sign]

I'm learning how to do websites in my Ed Tech class, so I made The Sign - Resource. It's a bunch of reasources for learning ASL and Deaf culture.

[tothelighthouse1]

i could write a book of poetry that isn’t poetry at all, just beginners of a new language

two weeks ago someone in my class asked “can you please turn the light on, it’s too dark for me to see”

they said “ask the small star look at me please. i have no eyes here.”

yesterday someone told me “the building next door to mine burned down last night”

they said “my home’s soulmate died last night. it’s death was red and orange.” i didn’t catch the last word so she spelled it out for me “O-R-A-N-G-E.”

[habitual-creatures]

Learn American Sign Language w/ HABIT !

THIS WEEK'S SIGN IS...

RABBIT

ENJOY THE LITTLE LESSON, RABBITS.

[ REGARDS, HABIT ]

[sincerely-astra]

Hiii <3

can i request Garnet with a s/o who uses ASL? like they can hear it's just their first/home language lol

☁️Garnet x reader who uses ASL☁️

As someone learning ASL, this request got me so excited! :)

Garnet first met you in a party supply store, Garnet getting party decorations for Steven's birthday party.

You were trying your best to communicate with the cashier, trying to return an item you had accidentally bought the day prior, but no matter what you did the cashier was still left utterly confused.

Nonetheless, you continued trying to communicate with them even over their growing frustrations. They kept asking for you to, "Just tell me what you want!" Refusing to look at any note you wrote to them.

The tension kept rising as the cashier was about to kick you out, thankfully though, Garnet was there just in time to stop a potential fight.

She stopped the cashier mid sentence and turned to you, calmly asking, "What excatly do you need?" Then quickly taking the note you handed to her, reading it, and turning back to the cashier.

"They are looking to return this item."

And after one frustrated grumble later, you managed to get your money back! ...In store credit-

A win is a win you suppose.

Garnet led you out of the store, having bought her supplies while the cashier processed the return.

The automatic doors closed behind you two, and you turned to face Garnet, signing, "Thank you!" And although Garnet didn't understand what the sign meant, she replied with a, "No problem." Before walking off to the temple.

After that, you hadn't seen eachother for a while. Garnet had missions, and you had life to deal with.

Garnet being busy didn't stop her from thinking about you though, infact, your interactions intrigued her. Of course, she's met deaf and hard of hearing people before, but something about you stuck out to her...

...

Maybe, it's because she thought you were cute.

When she came to this revelation, she thought it was as good as a time if any to learn ASL.

' It's an important skill. ' She tried to rationalize, just a tad in denial.

When you guys met again, this time at the Big Donut, you can only imagine your suprise when you asked Garnet about her day in ASL, and she signed back-

You were rightfully ecstatic!

Only a few people in Beach City knew ASL, so it was nice to actually be able to communicate with someone else. Not to mention, Garnet was a fast learner too!

You rapidly signed back to Garnet, asking when she learnt ASL and if there was anything like sign language for gems.

Garnet and you grew expectionally close in one afternoon.

From then on, you would visit the temple to hang out with Garnet. This, of course, meant you met the other gems, Steven, and eventually Connie, you all got along well though.

Steven and Amethyst love to go on adventures with you, Pearl enjoys having you help out around the temple, and Connie is actually learning ASL from you.

You make sure to reserve some time with Garnet too amid the shenanigans.

As Garnet grew closer to you, it was getting harder and harder to deny her feelings for you. The inner Ruby and Sapphire in her were urging for Garnet to confess to you, in the most cheesy ways possible...

Garnet knew how she'd confess to you, and she didn't even need future vision for it.

Garnet invited you to go on patrol with her during the evening, which was really just strolling on the beach.

And as the sun set hit the tide, the temple back in the distance, Garnet turned to you and signed, "I love you." A simple gesture, but something she really hope you would love.

How could you say no to that???

You guys were now officially dating, And Garnet is absolutely in love. Ruby and Sapphire are not helping, as they urge her to hurry up and get a ring-

Garnet loves to get you any kind of ASL related thing she can find, shirts, mugs, pins, bumper stickers, all of it.

She also teaches the Crystal Gems (minus Pearl) ASL so they can communicate easier with you.

It was while you were dating that you told Garnet why you use ASL and it's cultural significance to you, which she is extremely supportive of. It really doesn't matter if you can or can't hear, she loves you for you.

And if you want to open up about your voice and actually speaking, then she's more than happy to help you. Definitely makes sure you are completely comfortable with it and makes sure you won't push yourself too hard, she doesn't want you to feel forced to do anything.

The first time Garnet heard your voice her jaw dropped, her thought process was literally, ' How can someone be so perfect? '

Loves your voice, 10/10, would 100% listen to it again, only if you want to though.

It really doesn't matter how often she uses her future vision, you always leave her breathless.

God help any bullies that try and mess with you, Garnet is not having it. She might seem calm, cool, and collected, but inside, she is seething.

How can they bully someone for such an arbitrary thing like using another language??

Personal bodyguard Garnet❤️💙

Now, when Garnet unfuses and you get to meet Sapphire and Ruby, you best believe they are all over you.

Ruby is determined to learn ASL from you and no one else!

Sapphire is just giddy to meet the person Garnet loves so much. She would also love to learn ASL too though.

Ruby and Sapphire would practice with eachother and go on dates while only communicating in ASL-

Garnet would also love to meet your family if you'd let her, being able to see your family and culture is definitely on her bucket list.

Sorry that this is so long, I just love Garnet-

[butchjo]

people who know asl/any kind of sign language: does sign language have 'filler' words? like how when people are thinking about what they're going to say next, they'll go 'umm'? is there an equivalent in sign?

[sadpoeticandgay]

learning welsh is so funny bc it’s like no, i don’t take it in school, no, i’m not welsh, no, i’ll never use it but i love it so much it’s my little celtic nightmare of a language

(and for the love of god, it’s not all vowels)

[learnasl]

How American Sign Language has Evolved Over Time

During the past decades, American Sign Language transformed mainly by means of face-to-face interaction. Yet presently, a whole new signed word can easily spread out like wildfire on social media platforms like YouTube or TikTok.

This article examines the transformations occurring in ASL, largely attributed to the extensive use of smartphones and video technology. As a result of these advancements, there has been a substantial increase in American Sign Language communications.

Early Development Stages of American Sign Language

American Sign Language was developed in the early 19th century at the American School for the Deaf (ASD) in West Hartford, Connecticut, through language connection with English. Ever since then, the usage of ASL has been widely disseminated by Deaf schools and Deaf community groups throughout the United States and beyond.

During its initial stages, French Sign Language significantly affected American Sign Language, but it wasn't formalized or standardized right up until 1817. The volume of ASL users these days is estimated at 500,000, but it might be a lot higher.

Methods of Learning ASL Now Versus Before

During the past decades, receiving face-to-face instruction from educators, tutors, close friends, or relatives was practically the only way to learn ASL. But in the present day, many method of learning the language are readily available, such as the following.

Participating in a face-to-face classroom setting

Enrolling in an internet based virtual course

Acquiring knowledge through online video tutorials

Signing up for a Deaf club or an ASL group

Visiting a Deaf café

Getting a personal tutor

Watching and mimicking interpreters

Utilizing an educational application and

Being taught by Deaf family members or friends

Regardless of what method of learning ASL you choose, it is necessary to have fun and work together frequently with many other ASL users. This process will speed up your language procurement and facilitate your access to the D/HoH community.

Impact of Phones on ASL

The cell phone has brought a considerably less remarkable impact on American Sign Language. Then again, when mobile phones began to feature video displays (i.e. smartphones),this situation changed immensely.

Impact of Video Technology on ASL

Video technology has empowered ASL users to connect more easily and teach the language to lots more people. It also increases the possiblity to rapidly create and circulate brand new signs that reflect either modifications in technology or completely new modes of acting and thinking.

Influence of Social Media on ASL

These days, thriving ASL communities can be found on YouTube, TikTok, and various other social media networks.

The Current State of American Sign Language

Shrinking of Signs

To fit the small spaces of video and cell phone screens, words usually signed with both hands might currently be signed with just one. These particular kinds of changes only sit well with some ASL users.

New Signed Words

In earlier times, ASL evolved through face-to-face interaction. Now, a whole new signed word spreads rapidly on social networking platforms.

Preserving American Sign Language

Whatever issues might develop as ASL grows, preserving the language for future generations is vital. Doing this can help to safeguard Deaf culture and ensure that Deaf/HoH people have access to their method of self-expression and communication in the decades to come.

[moomoocowmaid]

Just finished my American Sign Language final—need a coffee ASAP. I'm on the verge of combustion from pure needless worry. Only two more finals to go..

[adhd-languages]

Does anyone have good resources for ASL? Not looking to become fluent, just some basic signs to communicate with someone.

I’m asking because I’ve heard there’s a lot of misinformation on YouTube and whatnot about sign language.

[one-time-i-dreamt]

My Spanish teacher was teaching me American Sign Language.

[october-writes]

Icarus sneak peek...

Okay, so I'm being super generous with this sneak peek because I have no idea when I'll be ready to post the whole fic. Pandora!Verse Leon has a long, bittersweet backstory and I love it, but it's a lot to get down especially when all I want to do is cry and hug him. 😫

Thank you for your patience. Any likes/comments here or on Pandora are the fuel that keeps the fic engine running.

‘Is this really where you grew up?’ she asked, her voice light with surprise.

He turned in time to see her cringe at the question. She’d been quiet since the drive away from the motel and the scene with Russ and his posse. No, scratch that. Ada had kept to herself because he’d asked her to and he’d been kicking himself for that ever since.

His stomach flipped whenever Ada asked him about himself; one part excitement, one part terror. He wanted to tell her everything and, in turn, he wanted to know her as well as he knew his deepest desires. But he was scared of the guy in those stories. Steadfast, optimistic, stable, responsible. He was sure that version of him had died on a forest floor. Now he was trying to live up to his own ghost.

Leon swallowed before replying glibly, ‘Nope! I grew up in a house.’

‘You know what I meant, Leon.’

God, he loved the way Ada said his name; like she owned the word, like no one had ever called him that but her.

‘Okay. I spent a lot of time here too,’ he conceded, nodding at the front facade of the church and the flawless circle of its Gothic stained glass window, ‘One Easter when I was fourteen, me and the chaplain’s son changed the sign out front to read: “Honk if you love Jesus”.’

She spluttered on a laugh, ‘You did what?’

‘You could barely hear mom’s sermon ‘cause of the car horns. I would’ve been grounded ‘til Christmas, but lucky for me she has a sense of humour! Damn. I was such a little asshole when I wanted to be.’

Ada bit her bottom lip until it shone pearlescent pink and he couldn’t look away from her mouth.

‘I could show you around,’ he offered suddenly, ‘If there was time.’

‘Really? And where would you take me?’

Her eyes glinted like a dare. He’d reignited her interest in him and they were back there again, at the edge of something beautiful and dangerous.

Go ahead. Impress me, rookie.

‘Well, um... there’s the Boott Cotton Mills Museum just across the canal,’ he suggested weakly, his throat suddenly dry, ‘I uh... I wrote an essay on it in High School.’

Her eyebrows twitched, ‘High School...?’

‘Yeah, it was on child labour reforms during the Industrial Revolution. I got an A minus.’

Oh for the love of- Shut up, shut up, shut up!

Ada blinked at him before turning away, ‘Interesting. Maybe some other time.’

Her eyes went dull, the glint of challenge extinguished. They were left beneath the cool light of the street lamp looking at everything but each other.

‘Come on. We should get going before I’m recognised,’ he said, leading her across the street, ‘We’ll check out the back lot.’

Leon remembered the first time Sarah had taken him to First Presbyterian to help out the day crew, officially as penance for his reckless escape attempt on his first night under her roof. He hadn’t been due to start school for another week and, while he’d been sincerely forgiven for his antics, he’d still been grounded.

The church ran a Day Centre from Monday to Friday, the doors opening at eight on the dot come rain or shine or biblical levels of snow. Refreshments, clean clothes and pastoral counselling were available no questions asked and, in the evenings, volunteers served hot meals alongside a rotating programme of art therapy, sign language classes, and addicts anonymous meetings.

Sarah had started the programme during her first few months in Lowell. The way some locals liked to tell it, Sarah had crashed into town on a wave of radical ideas. The Day Centre hadn’t been popular with everyone, bringing ‘undesirables’ and addicts from the fringes into the centre of town where they were harder to ignore.

‘I’ve brought the poor and the sick to Jesus’ doorstep, just like he instructed,’ she’d retorted, knowing the Bible was her home turf and she’d arrived ready to fight dirty, ‘If you’ve got a problem, take it up with him!’

‘I’m on a first name basis with the Mayor’s office,’ Sarah had boasted as they’d carried boxes of donated clothing through the back of the church, ‘Mayor Wiggins reminds me every time I stop by that I shouldn’t let it go to my head! I think he preferred the old pastor, Reverend Dawson. But Wiggy knows I’m better at getting things done. He’d rather boil his own head in lard than admit it though, so I’m not holding my breath for the key to the city!’

Young Leon had tipped his head back to take in the building’s decadent red brick and stained glass, its silver spire bouncing the sun towards every corner of Lowell.

‘Is all this yours?’ he’d asked.

He’d lingered at the threshold, a deep breath ballooning his stomach as he’d prepared himself to enter. The air had smelled apple-crisp, the pavement sun-dappled and warming the tops of his sneakers. It had stirred something familiar inside of him. But he hadn’t been inside a church since... since they’d buried his mom.

Sarah had chuckled, bumping the backdoor open with her behind, ‘Oh, no! Frannie belongs to everyone. But I am humbly responsible for her, like a sheepdog with her flock.’

She knew the church well enough that she could walk through it backwards without knocking into anything. All the better to keep her eye on Leon so she could read her new foster son’s lips.

‘What does that make me?’ he’d wondered as he’d followed her, ‘Like... a stray puppy or something?’

She’d hooted at that.

‘I don’t tell people who they are, Leon. But if I am to be completely honest, which under his roof is essential,’ she’d thrown the box of donated winter coats onto a nearby table and had turned to relieve him of the ones he’d carried, ‘I am sincerely looking forward to meeting the man you’ll become some day.’

Leon hadn’t known what to say to that.

Old foster parents, social workers, even a cop once; they’d all warned him that who he was becoming was someone he should be afraid of, ashamed of. But Sarah had greeted all sides of him like they’d known and loved each other for years.

The Day Centre had become a fixture of Leon’s teenage years from that day on. He’d never been much for the services, the singing, the prayer. But he’d helped out with the art classes and he’d learned how to cook in the community kitchen. He’d taken sign language classes after school and pulled weeds from the community garden across the street. He’d done his homework in Sarah’s study, her day sermons sailing in through the open window like a warm breeze.

When he’d turned fifteen and grown a foot taller in what had felt like a week, Leon had begun captaining one of the local street hockey teams. Their casual league had been run out of the back lot of the church.

He remembered long afternoons three times a week, two dozen kids howling like wild animals after sunset, and sweating even when it was so cold he could see his breath. Rhonda in the goal, as reliable as rain in September. She’d used the church to escape her alcoholic dad for a few hours a day. And Marty, a formerly homeless teen, playing offense and doing a backflip every time he scored. The slap of hockey sticks, rollerblades tearing up the tarmac, a puck smacking off a brick wall, his heart in his throat as a shot narrowly missed a car window.

There was still a dent in a lamp post from where one of Leon’s shots had gone wide. It had struck the post so hard the bulb had gone out. They’d played the rest of the night by the light of the church’s silver steeple and it had felt like an incredible dream.

It had been yesterday and forever ago. But as Leon walked the lot with Ada now, a part of him was convinced he’d be back here tomorrow, hockey stick in hand with his skates tied at the laces and slung over his shoulder.

‘The Day Centre closes early Thursdays,’ he told Ada as they lingered at the edge of the lot, ‘It shouldn’t be this busy.’

The lights were on and the church shimmered from every window. The front of the building was still bustling, so they’d given it a wide berth. Though Leon had his cap down, he’d grown up inside these walls. There was no way he’d make it to the rectory without being recognised.

Ada was getting restless. Her face was hidden by her hood, but Leon could see the tense line her shoulders made beneath her sweater.

‘Maybe things have changed,’ she muttered.

‘She’ll be here,’ he replied, ‘That much’ll be the same. I know it will.’

Minutes later the backdoor to the church opened and Pastor Sarah stepped into the warm summer night.

Her dark hair had regrown in gentle waves, softer and less curly than before her illness and now tinged with grey. She wore a thick cardigan, unbuttoned and showing off a baggy Guns and Roses tour t-shirt that Leon had stolen from her closet about a hundred times before it had stopped fitting him.

Leon muffled a quiet laugh into the collar of his jacket, but deep down he felt like sinking to his knees.

He knew Lowell’s streets. He knew there was a house a few blocks away where his old bed waited and his sketchbooks tumbled out of the wardrobe in an avalanche of memories. But ‘home’ was a complicated concept for a guy who’d had so many. A one bedroom in Chicago snuggled safe between his mom and dad, Buchanan with its dreams unfulfilled, in shady motels forever awake in front of a TV with the sound as low as it would go, and finally seven foster homes; a number that made ‘normal’ people from ‘normal’ families wince so he’d stopped repeating it until he could almost imagine that his early childhood had happened to someone else.

For Leon, ‘home’ had eventually come to mean Sarah reminding him to be back by ten. Home was the leftover casserole in the fridge with his name on it. It was about not being alone at the kitchen table because Sarah would always wait up and ask him how his game went. She’d even pretended to understand the rules.

Someone Leon didn’t recognise stepped out with Sarah. It was an older woman in a long cotton dress. She and Sarah shared a quick hug before the woman left for her car. Sarah stood in the doorway and waved goodbye. Then she slid back into the church, disappearing like a dream at sunrise.

Ada was watching Leon. Her gaze passed up and down his face, mapping the angle of his nose and the cleft of his chin like they’d just met. Leon knew what she was thinking.

He and Sarah sang off-key to the same songs, they ate their eggs over-easy with too much Tabasco sauce, and they both thought cilantro tasted like soap. But they didn’t look even a little bit alike.

‘I’m adopted,’ he explained.

She frowned, surprised, ‘Oh. I see. I’m sorry.’

‘I’m not.’

‘I didn’t mean... I just didn’t know.’

‘But you knew my mom was a pastor?’

‘It was in your obituary.’

Leon did a double-take, ‘My... what? I have a damned obituary?’

‘Of course you do! You died,’ Ada replied sardonically, ‘Your colleagues had some interesting things to say about you.’

‘Yeah, I bet,’ he winced, and his mind raced to suss out exactly what Ada knew about the old him as filtered through the eyes of his peers. They’d treated Leon like he was fresh out of school and an old man at the same time, ‘Come on. It’s now or never.’

The back of the church held Sarah’s office, a common room for the staff, and a library that smelled like cold coffee and chocolate. Leon opened the door quietly and checked it was empty before ushering Ada inside.

They heard voices echoing from the church hall beyond the big wooden doors:

‘Has anyone seen Pastor Sarah? We’re running low on baby formula!’

‘She’s in her study. Don’t trouble her. I’ll call the supplier first thing tomorrow.’

‘I’ve barely seen her all day, Lucille. Is this ‘cause of that silly protest outside the Governor’s office? I told her to take it easy!’

‘She’s tired, Frank. Let her be.’

Sarah’s office door was ajar. Leon could see her shadow spilling over the desk and onto the carpet. He could smell her hand lotion, its residue on the doorknob. His eyes drifted shut as his hands formed a tight claw around the knob like he’d forgotten how doors worked.

Maybe this was a mistake. A panicked sensation surged inside his chest. Ada was right. Umbrella could be monitoring Sarah. He could put her in danger just be showing his face around town. He should go, shouldn’t he? Right now, just go and leave her be. He could think of another way to track down Jill and Chris.

And what was he going to say to her? How could he explain what had happened to him? She’d thought he was dead for nearly two years, but at least her ignorance had kept her safe.

Leon tensed when he felt a pressure on his forearm. He looked back to find Ada gently peeling him away from the door.

‘I’ll go first,’ she whispered, her dark eyes trained on his face, ‘I’ll make sure she’s alone.’

He nodded but Ada was already slipping past. She opened the door just enough to squeeze through.

‘Pastor Morris?’

A chair scraped the floor as Sarah stood.

‘Yes?’ her voice sounded jittery like she’d just woken from a nap, ‘Hold on... Let me just...’

There was a long pause. Leon guessed Sarah was fumbling with her cochlear implant.

‘Could you come closer, honey?’ Sarah said breathlessly, ‘I can’t quite hear you all the way over there. Are you here about tomorrow’s charity drive?’

‘No. No, I’m...’

Leon swayed on his feet, his ears ringing. He’d been so nervous, he’d forgotten to warn Ada that Sarah was deaf. He mentally kicked himself.

Then Ada raised her voice and when she spoke, she filled all corners of the little study, her voice lifting its high ceiling and rustling the pages of every tome. Like a fair summer wind, she was the little lift he needed to make it home.

‘I’m a friend of your son.’

Then it was as if they were the only three people in the building. A silence enveloped them, as dense and safe as stone. Leon didn’t feel himself move, but he felt Ada’s hand, warm and insistent around his wrist as she pulled him through the doorway and into his mother’s study.

Sarah, to her credit, didn’t cry out. She didn’t seem to be breathing either.

‘Mom?’

Her hands flew to her mouth. Her eyes turned red to signal an oncoming wave of tears. But when her hand fell, Leon saw she was smiling like it was the first time he’d ever called her that. It wasn’t, not by a long shot.

Leon took a step towards her. Then he stopped, realising that Ada was still holding his wrist. Her grip was loose, almost reassuring. Not too much pressure, just enough; like a whispered phrase he felt all the way up his arm to straight to his heart: ‘I’m right here’.

When his hand slipped from hers, Leon still felt her warmth; that fair wind driving him forward.

Sarah whined softly. She rubbed at her throat like the words had gotten tangled up in there and she needed pry them away from each other. Her fingers were trembling and he realised she was too overwhelmed to sign to him.

He stepped towards her and raised his hands to tell her:

I’ll explain everything. I promise.

I’m so sorry, mom. I’m sorry...

He made a fist with his thumb extended and scored circles with it deep into the centre of his chest. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

Sarah dove forward and latched both her hands over his fist. Then she tugged him forward and threw her arms around his shoulders. She clung to her son like the grave could snatch him back. She buried her wet nose into the crook of his neck. Then she keened against his shoulder, a wordless cry of grief and joy combined that shook his core.

‘I love you so much. Okay? I love you,’ Leon murmured into the crown of her head where his tears were already soaking her hair. He hoped she could feel the raw honesty in his voice even if she couldn’t make out the words, ‘I missed you. I did! I missed you, mom.’

Who knows how long they huddled in the centre of her study? Long enough that his face was still pink but finally dry when they parted. Long enough that Sarah could stand to let him go so she could snatch a tissue from the box on her desk while laughing at how terrifying and strange and wonderful this was.

And long enough that when Leon looked over his shoulder, he saw that Ada had disappeared.

🥲

To be continued...

[kermits-cup-of-tea]

i've been learning asl for the past year, i wanted to know how to speak with those in the Deaf community and unexpectedly i fell in love with it

with the ease it takes to speak it, it comes almost naturally now. but oddly, its the sounds i love most

the laughter unbridled, no fear of being heard, hands on hands on hands, the tapping of knuckles and palms together the only thing the rest of the world can understand while we paint our words in gestures. and it feels almost wrong to say i love the sound of asl

to say i appreciate something that you can't. but maybe thats what love is