Page 29 of One Touch

I felt a pang in my chest and crouched down to her level. “You know, when I was a kid, I struggled with reading, too. Still do sometimes.”

“But you own a bookstore!”

I smiled. “I have dyslexia. Means my brain works a little bit differently. It’s special.”

“You’ve got a special brain?”

“That’s right.” I thought back to how the doctor had explained it to me. “Imagine your brain is like a big library. Inside every book is a word, and every time you read, your brain has to look up the right book.”

Ava nodded slowly. “That’s lots of books.”

“Yeah, an absolute ton. In most people’s brains, the books are well-organized. But in my brain, and some other people’s brains, the books are all mixed up. My brain finds the right book eventually, but it takes longer.”

“So, what does it feel like when you try to read?”

“Sometimes it feels like the words are dancing on the page. Or like some of the letters vanish and pop back. I used to struggle at school because it was so hard.”

“And you still like reading?”

“Love it. It’s easier for me now, and I have some tricks to help.”

“Tricks? Like magic tricks?”

“No, like colored strips I read through that make the letters behave better.”

Ava paused for a moment, then, in a tiny voice, said, “Sometimes the letters dance around for me, too.”

I nodded slowly. “Is that so?”

“Does that mean I’ve got something wrong with me, too?”

“Oh, sweetie, no,” I said quickly. “Being dyslexic—if that’s what you are—just means you’re different. Not worse. It can have its advantages, too. Dyslexic people are often very creative and amazing storytellers.”

“Really?”

“You bet!” I put on my most dramatic voice, “Once upon a time, there was a super smart kid who found reading tricky. But! She had superpowers!”

Ava giggled.

“By day, she was a mild-mannered school kid. By night, an ass-kicking, crime-fighting, jujitsu expert!” I acted out a karate chop.

“How do you know I do jujitsu?”

“Elara,” I explained with a smile. “She talks about you, Rhea, and Lexi all the time.” I put a finger to my lips as an idea hit me. “Have you ever tried audiobooks?”

She shook her head.

“I could talk to your dad and give him some suggestions if you’d like.”

Her face tightened. “Does Dad have to know?”

“He won’t be upset.”

She sighed. “I know, but he’s one of the only people who doesn’t think I’m dumb. I don’t want him knowing I have trouble reading.”

My heart ached for her. “I promise you your dad will never think you’re dumb. And being honest with him is the quickest way to make things better. I speak from experience.”

Ava huffed, looked straight up at the ceiling, then said, reluctantly, “Fine. You can tell him. And you can tell him about the audiobooks.”

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