“Reeeeally?” he said, and raised his eyebrow.

Gracie smiled.

“It’s just. I’ve kind of had people say stuff about me all my life. Behind my back”—she gave a tight laugh—“to my face even. I suppose you learn to say something before anyone else does.”

Marty looked at her. She looked almost sad.

“Ignore them.” She was studying her hands now. “They’re not worth it. That’s what I’ve learned over the years anyway.”

Marty sat in silence for a moment, listening as Gracie kicked her heels against the wall.

“I’m sorry too. I’ve just got some stuff on my mind. That’s all.”

Gracie nodded. Didn’t ask any more.

“We friends?” she said at last.

Marty studied her.

“Yes.”

“Good…”

Marty felt his shoulders soften. Gracie grabbed his sleeve.

“Because I want to show you something.”

Marty had never been to the other side of the school parking lot before. Had never even noticed the wall. It ran in a perfect curve, an even half circle all the way around the trees in front of it. It was graffitied, of course, but was in all other ways completely unremarkable until Gracie showed him something.

“Stand there,” she said, turning him sideways and placing him at one end of the wall.

“Why?”

She smiled. “You’ll see.”

She walked the curve of the wall and stood on the other side. And there she did something remarkable. She whispered. Marty listened as her quiet voice bounced and bounced along the wall, getting louder and louder and louder! WHOOSH!

“HELLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Marty jumped out of his skin. It was as if she was shouting into his ear, yet she was standing SO far away! He smiled, his eyes coming alive, and the hair on the back of his neck bristled.

“IT’S AMAZING, ISN’T IT? A WHISPERING WALL!”

Marty laughed. Whispered back at her, “HOW DID YOU FIND IT?”

“I’M A GENIUS!”

Marty smiled again.

They stood in silence for a moment until Gracie spoke.

“CLOSE YOUR EYES! AND LISTEN.”

Marty did as he was told.

“THIS IS HOW I FEEL SOUND,” she said. Marty felt the words on his face. Vibrating in his head.

“IN MY BODY.”

Marty smiled. His eyes still closed.

“MUSIC … BLOWS … MY … MIND.”

Then came her voice again. More hesitant this time. Less together. Less sure. Less directed.

“I WANT TO BE A DANCER.”

A confession. Then silence. She had never, ever told anyone that before.

“IT’S STUPID, EH? I MEAN, I’M DEAF…”

Marty thought about it. Thought about sound. He thought about the vibrations in his house, about how still it was and how difficult it was to feel free, and then he thought about dancing and it seemed to make sense.

“I THINK YOU’LL MAKE A TERRIFIC DANCER. THE BEST.”

Gracie’s heart jumped, and surprised tears sprang to her eyes, and she was glad Marty was too far away to see them.