It’s been eleven weeks since Camilla spoke in a voice above a whisper. The family is growing anxious but Dr. Ruhl assures everyone this phase will pass. Mrs. Hammond-Price refuses to communicate in the hushed tones her daughter insists upon so Camilla doesn’t really talk to her mother.
Dr. Ruhl doesn’t know what he’s talking about of course because Camilla hasn’t spoken a word to him in twice as long. He’s convinced she’ s communicating through the drawings she makes at their weekly sessions. They’re mostly variations on the same theme, angry storms of pastel and pencil with scowling eyes. Dr. Ruhl understands Camilla resents the constant scrutiny. But Camilla is a prodigy who suddenly stopped playing and people want to know why.
Six months ago she buried her Stradivarius in the back yard. When asked why, she replied in a whisper “Let’s wait and see.”
8 min. in Queens, NY on April 24, 2014
prompt from The Trickster’s Hat by Nick Bantock
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