Sunday Writing Prompt, July 18/21 – The Quiet One

This challenge highlights the recluse, the introvert, the one off to the side. The person who seems out of place, keeps to themselves, or pleads the fifth in court. The wife with bruises, the employee who can’t look their boss in the eye, the child who won’t play with others, the one with all the knowledge who is too timid to share their groundbreaking idea.

Today’s Sunday Writing Prompt is: The Quiet One

Image from pixabay.com

It was always the same. She would come to the weekly gathering and sit quietly at the back. Taking everything in, but not saying a word or participating, she had a ready smile for anyone who looked her way. Most people thought she was shy, but then no-one bothered to approach her or get to know her.
Jeff noticed her and asked some of the other attendees what they knew about her. Sadly, it was very little, but his interest went beyond curiosity and when he saw her in the library, he understood, but kept his distance.
Over the next few weeks, he studied hard, and one day in May made his move.
He took one of the committee members to one side and said he was going to talk to the ‘Silent Girl’.
‘Yeah, right,’ she scoffed and Jeff was disgusted at her attitude.
Standing in front of her, he waited for her to raise her eyes and smile the smile he had come to love.
‘Hello,’ he said. ‘My name is Jeff and I saw you in the library.’
‘Hi. I’m Penny. I saw you too.’ She blushed.
Conversation was slow at first as it was the first opportunity he’d had to use his new language, but with her encouragement, he was a quick learner and before long they were chatting nineteen to the dozen.
To their shame, the onlookers realised why she was so quiet.
Jeff and Penny were engaged in conversation that few would understand. Sign language is a miracle and with fingers and hands making symbols and gestures, the hearing were now the outsiders.