Page 3 of When You Left Me Speechless

Olive’s laptop and a pile of papers cover the top of the table in front of us. It seems she has compiled a list of every school and pediatric clinic she has ever heard of in a fifty-mile radius. Tears threaten to fall, but I manage to keep it together. I know she must have spent most of her night doing this for me, and I don’t know how I will ever repay her.

“Here you go,” Lacey says, handing me my extra large cup of coffee and eyeing the small, round table. “So, what’s the game plan?”

“I thought we could all start cold calling the places I found.” Olive hands Lacey a stack of papers. “I’ll startreaching out to my friends in the schools. Lace, you reach out to these clinics, and Poppy, you reach out to your classmates.” We both nod and begin to work. I pop in my earbuds and start texting each of the thirty-something people in my cohort. I’m thankful for the music in my ears drowning out my sister and best friend’s voices. I can see their faces in my periphery, and I know I don’t need or want to hear what they are saying.

I take a swig from my second cup of coffee, and the caffeine is doing nothing for the anxiousness that is practically seeping out of my pores.Remember to breathe.

Speech Sluts

Poppy: Does anyone know anybody who works with kids that could take on a student Monday?

Nicole: I don’t, who needs a placement?

Poppy: Me >

Andrea: What?!? I thought you were going to be at the hospital.

Nicole: What happened to the hospital?

Poppy: It’s a long story, but it fell through. Dr. Evil was no help and so now I’m totally scrambling. My sister reached out to the people she knows, but we’ve had no luck.

Andrea: I can reach out to my supervisor for this semester.

Poppy: Aren’t you doing it in Savannah?

Andrea: Yeah, is it too short notice for you to look for something out of town?

Poppy: I think so. Money is tight. I really need something local.

Andrea: I understand. I’m sorry, girl!

Nicole: If I hear of anything I’ll let you know. Sorry I’m not more help.

Leaning back in my chair,I set my phone and earbuds on the table. I stretch my arms above my head. “My friends from school don’t know of any leads,” I say. My voice sounds exactly like I feel:defeated. “Please tell me one of you has had better luck.”

Olive hangs up the phone and offers me a look full of pity. “That was my friend Leah. She already has a student for the rest of the school year.”

“Yeah, no luck here either,” Lacey adds, gesturing to the list of clinics sitting in front of her.

“I can email my friend, Beth Harris, at Pecan Grove Elementary,” Olive says. “She’s the only one on my list I haven’t been able to get a hold of yet. Last I heard, she doesn’t have a student, so maybe she will work out.” I watch as she types up an email and hits send. Pecan Grove Elementary is my last hope.

“We need to cheer you up,” Lacey says, scrolling on her phone.

“I think I’d rather just go to bed and never wake up.”

Both girls slap me at the same time. “Stop it,” Olive scolds.

“Come on let’s do something fun.” Lacey smiles big and turns her phone around so I can see the image on the screen. In bright pink block letters, it readsBack To The ‘90s Party.It’s an Instagram post from a bar in town called The Local.

“I don’t know. I’m supposed to study tonight.” I open thecolor-coordinated calendar on my phone and flash it towards Lacey.

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, this would be so much more fun. Let’s go. Your crazy ass calendar can wait. You deserve one night of fun after the shitty couple of days you’ve had.” I hesitate because I’m not sure I want to. Lacey looks at me like she is reading my mind. “I’m sure this chick will call Olive back, and you’ll get it. Let’s go out and have some fun and get your mind off all of this. We shouldn’t even talk or think about it again until tomorrow. Just focus on having a good time and forget about the rest.” She nudges me with her elbow, egging me on.

Forget.

That’s exactly what I want to do. I want to forget that my world feels completely upended. I want to forget that my dream of becoming a speech therapist might be over. I want to forget that I will be out of money after this semester. I want to forget that Beau may have been right about me. Maybe going out with my best friend is just what I need. The corners of my mouth tip into a subtle grin.

“Is that a yes?” she asks, her voice raising a full octave at the end of her question. I nod begrudgingly. She bounces up and down in her chair, clapping her hands together. “Ollie, you want to join us? Come on, your little sister needs you,” Lacey begs.

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