Life in Reverse

The patrol car began to slow down as it passed the blue van. With a stern face, the patrolman gestured for Paul to pull the car over onto the shoulder of the road. Mary asked, “Paul, do you think maybe you were speeding while we discussed the unusual history of Deafyland?” As they glanced at the sign that read, “Deafiesburg, ten miles,” Joe’s nodded in agreement. Amy said, “Oh, boy, Toni’s right. The nightmare has just begun.” Paul shot back nervously, “Hold your tongue, Amy. This is our chance to ask the patrolman about the town. Oh my, I hope there will be nothing but a simple warning for whatever he’s stopping me for. Please let me do the talking, dear.” As both vehicles pulled over, Amy admired the patrolman’s appearance. When he leaped out of his car, his shiny black boots reflected the sunlight. He quickly put on his Canadian-style hat with one hand, carrying a clipboard in the other. As he walked toward them, the whole family studied the good-looking, well-built patrolman in his well-pressed, dark blue uniform. His badge, black belt, holster, and gun were all very neat and shiny. His stern look remained as he approached the van, ignoring Amy’s smile through the van’s rear window. Amy softly said, “Oh, what a very good-looking patrolman.” “Hush, Amy,” Mary stuttered nervously. “Be careful. He could hear you. Please remember what Dad said.” Paul rolled down the window as the patrolman stopped at his door. Nervously he asked, “What is wrong?” Toni held Amy’s hand tightly. Through the clear glass of the side window behind Paul, Joe admired the well-polished gun only inches from his face. Everyone in the car was completely silent as the patrolman sternly began to use sign language. Your license, please, he signed. Paul began to speak awkwardly, asking one question right after another. “What did I do wrong? I don’t know how to sign. I am sorry, but I would sign if I knew how. Can you read my lips? Or should I speak louder when I talk?” Paul pointed to his mouth, gesturing to ask whether the patrolman could speak or not. Mary noticed that the patrolman was not wearing hearing aids. Paul glanced at her as she nervously pointed out, “I don’t think he can hear you at all. He isn’t wearing hearing aids.” The patrolman shook his head and ignored Paul’s struggle to communicate with him. He lowered his head and investigated the inside of the van, apparently searching for other passengers who might be able to sign. As everyone looked at him nervously, he signed with an obviously questioning expression, Does anyone know sign language? He pointed to everyone besides Paul. Amy felt her heart melt as she looked closely at the patrolman’s face. He had a perfect profile and was very handsome. The patrolman noticed tears on Toni’s frightened face. He smiled at her with concern. Paul looked at Toni and noticed she had a look of relief after the patrolman’s warm smile. Paul wondered if Toni was hesitant about the assumptions that she had made of deaf people. The patrolman pulled back and began to write on his clipboard. The family presumed was writing because he had realized that no one could sign. Joe pointed out, “Looks like he was looking to see if one of us could communicate with him but found that none of us know sign language. Everyone nodded, agreeing with the comment. Mary reminded them to leave the talking to Dad. “Oh!” exclaimed Paul. “I might have gotten away with it if I could only sign to him.” Toni’s tears were drying up, but she still loudly insisted, “Daddy, I told you to turn back. If we had, this never would have happened. Oh, I am afraid.” She still felt hesitant. “Calm down, Toni,” whispered Mary, “Please don’t exaggerate. He seems all right. And who knows? He might be playing deaf.” Paul turned back with a jerk as the patrolman handed slid his clipboard through the window. In very beautiful handwriting, the message on the clipboard read, “Please hand me your driver’s license and vehicle registration, and then wait for a few minutes. Thank you.” After Paul returned the clipboard with his license and other documents, the patrolman walked back to his still-flashing vehicle. Curious, everyone except Toni moved toward Paul. Simultaneously they asked, “What did he say?” Shocked, Paul responded, “He wrote beautifully, telling me to give him my license and registration and to please wait.” Mary argued, “Looks like he does not trust us. He looked around at us first and then asked for the license. That was odd. Honestly, I don’t think deaf people should have this kind of occupation.” Paul assured her, “Maybe it’s acceptable here. Let’s look back and see what he’s doing.” Everyone except Paul turned to peek at the patrolman from the rear window. So that the patrolman wouldn’t notice, Mary insisted that Paul watch through the rearview mirror. Amy nodded in agreement. From the look on her face, Paul could tell that she was glad to look at the patrolman again. The patrolman glanced quickly at the Braden family. He smirked at their funny and curious faces. They were looking at him just like the other people he had stopped before. As the family observed the patrolman, they were dumbfounded. They couldn’t figure out what he was doing. The way his fingers were moving, it seemed like he was typing. There was something just slightly visible above the dashboard. He even paused before moving his fingers again.