PRIOR ISSUE – Sayings of Editor Art #212
Musea #213
Present for Abigail
Part One
This is a story about a barely five years old girl who refused to talk, and how silliness was her best medicine.
Little Abigail Simon refused to talk. The doctors, therapists, and other experts agreed on what to call it - a case of mutism brought on by trauma. Yes she could tug on her mother's skirt - Abigail would never leave her side - and convey her feelings through a sort of simple signals and facial expressions. But to all other adults - nothing came out of her mouth. She even seemed to brush her teeth in a silent, closed mouth way.
A few claimed she would grow out of it. Most said therapy would help, and a few doctors wanted to tamper with her feelings with drugs.
But alas she did not grow out of it. Therapy was too expensive to continue. The little she had had didn't do much good. The drugs seemed more mind numbing then therapeutic, and a waste of money.
Abigail's mother, Ellen, often talked with neighbors. Everyone had advice, but nothing worked.
One, a close friend next door, Mrs Betty Reynolds, was a good listener but for an answer, she just raised her shoulders and eyebrows, and shrugged.
One evening over dinner, Betty confided with her husband Wyeth and her bachelor younger brother Randolf about Abigail's problem. Wyeth scratched his chin in contemplation; but Randolf smiled and quickly said, "I've got it!"
He told his plan to Betty. "Well maybe?", she replied.
The next day they revealed their plan to Ellen, and she liked it.
Soon the day came when Betty and Randolf went to visit little Abigail and her Mom Ellen. Abigail knew Mrs Reynolds, by sight; but she had never seen the other person; a tall, thin, gangly limbed, dark haired man following close behind her. It was Randolf.
New people agitated Abigail, and she pulled in closer to her mom, hiding behind her skirt, and sticking her thumb in her mouth.
Betty: Hi Ellen, hi Abby. I want to introduce you to my little brother, Randolf.
But when Betty moved aside, Randolf hid behind her and crouched down.
Betty: He's a little shy... Randolf I want you to meet Ellen and her little girl Abigail.
Randolf refused to budge. He turned away from the other three and shook his head no.
Betty: Randolf these are my friends. They are very nice.
Randolf seemed to be thinking about that. Then he slowly got up to his full height, and ran out the door. Abigail watched. Randolf kept running till Abigail couldn't see him through their big picture window.
Betty: I'm sorry about that
Ellen: Maybe another time.
Part Two
The three adults knew that most weekday afternoons, Abigail would sit with her knees on the couch cushions, and look out the picture window behind it to watch the children of the neighborhood play.
A few days after her first meeting with Randolf, she saw him and Mrs Reynolds out walking. Wherever she went he would tag along behind her, scrunched down and bent over. When the pair came near any children, the six foot tall Randolf would turn away and hide on the far side away from the children. Or if there were too many children around them, all at once, he would run and hide behind a tree! Then run home.
The first time Abigail saw this happen, she went to where her mother was sitting and tugged her over to the window to show her. She pointed her finger at Raymond hiding behind a tree, then looked at her mother with a puzzled expression.
Ellen: He seems very afraid of people, even children half his size!
Abigail looked back at Randolf. Her eyes scrunched up in thought.
Next week, Betty with Randolf close behind, came to visit Ellen and Abby. Randolf made sure the front door was kept open.
Ellen: Oh hi! Come in Betty. It's good to see you again, Randolf.
Randolf looked away and lowered his head till it tucked into his chest. He remained behind his sister and pulled the stocking cap he was wearing down over his eyes.
Ellen: How about some coffee?
Betty: We can't stay Ellen. I just brought you and Abby a tin of cookies. I made extra. They're chocolate chip - the chewy kind.
Ellen: thank you very much. It's our favorite!
Betty turned and Randolf quickly led the way out the door and then, in full view of their picture window, took off running full speed, across the yard back to his home.
Part Three
The next visit the doorbell rang and Ellen answered it. Abigail ran to the window to see who it was. Then ran back to her mom. In came Betty and standing crunched up behind her, brother Randolf.
Betty: We came for a cup of sugar. I'm baking again, chocolate chips, the gooey kind.
Ellen: Sure, be right back.
Ellen went into the kitchen with Abigail trailing behind her. Once she dared to quickly glance back at Randolf. As Ellen filled up a cup with sugar, Abigail peaked through the swinging door to watch the visitors.
They returned and then ... everything happened very fast!
Ellen handed the sugar to Betty. Randolf peaked around his sister to see what was going on, and Abigail yelled, "BOO!"
Randolf raised up to his full six foot height, went rigid with shock trembling through him, and ran to the half opened door, where he hit his head on the door jam with a big smack, turned and faced the other three while rubbing his nose with both hands. Then he ran out the door and sped across the yard!
Abigail started to laugh and laugh! She fell on the floor, holding her sides she was laughing so hard.
Betty and Ellen's eyes first followed Randolf, flinched when he hit the door jam, then switched to Abigail laughing on the floor! Finally they looked back at each other with utter amazement, then back at Abby on the floor!
Even with two tall adults staring at her, she couldn't keep it in. Abigail kept laughing, tears running down her cheeks!
Epilogue
Yes, Abigail began to talk after that. First when she thought she was alone she would sing to herself, "Silly silly silly man, Run! Run! Run! Over and over.
Gradually, though not quickly, she began to talk to her mom, and then some other people. Not often but when she felt safe and was in small groups she said a few key words. Yes the first day of kindergarten was still traumatic and it took all Ellen's willpower to get Abigail to go. But when she got used to school she found that she really loved her teacher and gradually relaxed enough to talk - sometimes a blue streak!
Some further details of our story. Randolf never hit his nose on the door jam. When he ran to the door he swung his right hand and it smacked the jam before his face got close. It looked like he hit it with his nose. But this was just a bit of sleight of hand.
Nobody knows if this pantomime play was the cause of Abigail starting to talk. Experts said she grew out of it, like they said she would. Even many years later, when her Mom told the adult Abigail about what happened, she replied, "Mom, I really don't remember any of that!"
But the three adults, Ellen, Betty, and Randolf couldn't forget, and between them they are unanimous in thinking it was Raymond's pretending that made all the difference!
(c) Tom Hendricks 2024