With Eyes to Hear and Hands to Speak

Chapter 22: Of Family Visiting and Visiting Family

They're different, ok?
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Dave's POV

The rest of the year came and went pretty quickly. Before I knew it, it was test time. I did ok. After my last exam, I just sat around at home. Summer was going so slowly. I had filled out several job applications, but hardly anywhere hires 15 year olds.

I finally heard back from a local library, but they wouldn't have an opening until after school started back up. So I just spent my time walking around the neighborhood and hanging out with people. And then I heard that some family was visiting.

I wasn't sure how that was going to work out, since the apartment barely fit Bro, Dirk, and I. Unless they were going to stay with the Lalondes. They were their grandparents too, after all.

I walked around the street on the day they were supposed to be coming, thinking of how I'd introduce them to John. Should I just drop it on them once they arrived? Should I wait until the last day and then tell them? Should I tell them at all? 'I'll have to ask John if he wants to meet them at all, of course.' Just as I thought this, my phone buzzed with a text from him.

Bunnelbert: hey dave

Me: hey, what's up?

Bunnelbert: nm. I'm going to visit family soon

Me: that's funny, I have family coming over today. They might already be here. When are you leaving?

Bunnelbert: in two days. I'll be gone for about a week. Thankfully that's the longest I'll be there

Me: and why's that?

Bunnelbert: they refuse to acknowledge the fact that I'm a guy and insist on calling me Millie. But hey, I can't hear them this time, and Jane, Jade, and Jake will be there. And some other cousins

Me: how many cousins do you have?

Bunnelbert: 7. There's Jade and Jake, then there's Marcus and Jasmine's kids, Chris, Phillip, and April

Me: that was only five. And who are Marcus and Jasmine?

Bunnelbert: shit ok, there's seven of us, I have five cousins. And they are my aunt and uncle. And Marcus isn't that bad about it, it's mostly Jasmine

Me: I see

Bunnelbert: what family members are visiting?

Me: my grandma and grandpa. All the way from Texas

Bunnelbert: what are they like?

Me: oh, you know, like most southerners. Very hospitable. As long as you're straight. And not anywhere on the transgender spectrum. But other than that, very hospitable.

Bunnelbert: they sound like lovely people. I'm sure we'd get along wonderfully

Me: yeah, do you want to meet them?
I was half joking, half serious.

Bunnelbert: I'd love to, but I'm busy packing

Me: Dang. I'll get you next time tho

Bunnelbert: ah yes, next time. But I really do needs to go pack

Bunnelbert: I love you <3

Me: I love you too

I walked up the last flight of steps and opened the door to see Gran and Pa on the couch talking with Bro and a disgruntled looking Dirk.

They all looked up at the noise to see me standing in the doorway.

Gran hugged me, saying "Oh, you've gotten so tall! Joe, look at him! How are you?" I had to break away and get a pencil and sticky note, because as far as I knew, they didn't know ASL.