Page 31 of Possibly Texas

Though I couldn’t see his hands, I saw Jack move, as though signing to Auguste.

Auguste laughed. “I guess it’s nice of me, sure.”

Again, Jack was moving like he was signing something.

“Oh,” Auguste said, “if he’s still asleep, I can come back later. I just thought since you’re usually up by now that—”

I dashed the last few feet through the living room to stand beside Jack in the doorway.

“I’m awake!” I announced sprightly.

Jack jumped, his head whipping to the side to look at me. Auguste smiled.

“Sorry, Jack,” I mumbled. “Uh, I was asleep, but I woke up when I heard you knocking.”

Auguste winced.

“Sorry,” he said. “Jack is always up at this time working, so I thought…well, anyway.”

Jack signed something.

Auguste chuckled. “Yeah.”

I had no idea what Jack had said to him.

“What?” I asked.

“He called you ‘sleepy head.’” Auguste answered.

“Oh.” I glanced over to see Jack smiling slightly.

The three of us stood there in awkward silence for a moment. I didn’t know why Auguste knew sign language when I, Jack’s stepson, was out of practice, but it wasn’t a question I felt I should ask in front of Jack.

“So,” I reached up to scratch my head, “still up for showing me around?”

“Sure,” Auguste said. “Yeah. You ready, or…”

“Yeah.” I glanced over at Jack. “Um, is it all right if I use that twenty bucks still?”

Jack nodded.

“Okay. Thanks.”

Jack turned slightly so I could dash through the doorway and down the front steps. Auguste gave me a nod and smile as I stood there expectantly, then he turned to Jack.

“Finishing your table today?” he asked.

Jack nodded and then signed rapidly and excitedly to Auguste.

“Awesome!” Auguste responded, though he didn’t tell me what Jack had said. “He’ll be so happy.”

Jack smiled, proud of whatever it was that they had shared. My head just turned back and forth between them, trying to figure out what had happened. Something was going on with Jack’s table, but whatever it was apparently wasn’t my business to know. Either that, or neither of them had considered that maybe I’d be interested in what they were talking about.

“Okay.” Auguste turned to me. “Ready?”

“Uh, yeah,” I said, glancing over at Jack. “Sure.”

Jack raised his hand and waved to us both.