Ned loved noise.
Trucks rumbling. Jets roaring. Horns honking.
Ned loved noise.
Crows squawking. Squirrels chattering. Dogs barking.
But not everyone liked noise as much as Ned did.
“Shhh,” his teacher said when Ned tapped his pencil on his desk.
When Ned knocked blocks together and shouted, “Crash! Splat! Kerplunk!” she shook her head.
“Not so much noise, Ned,” the teacher said.
One day a new student came to Ned’s class.
“Andrew is hearing impaired,” the teacher said. “That means he can hear some sounds, but it’s hard for him to hear every word. He talks using a special language called signing.”
The new boy smiled and raised his right hand to his forehead.
Why is he saluting like a soldier? Ned wondered.
Andrew looked just like other kids. But how could Ned talk to him if Andrew couldn’t hear?
When it was free time, Ned raced to the toy bin. He pulled out his favorite fire truck and zoomed it across the floor.
“Vroom, vroom! Rrrrr! Rrrrr! Aooga! Aooga!” Ned shouted.
“Not so much noise, Ned,” the teacher said.
Fire trucks have to be noisy, Ned thought. He pushed the truck around the art table. Andrew watched him.
“Do you want to play?” Ned asked.
Andrew didn’t answer. Ned shrugged and continued pushing the fire truck. “Vroom, Vroom!”
The teacher made her shushing signal.
“Vroom, vroom,” Ned whispered. He frowned. Fire trucks needed loud noises. Not whispers.
Every day during free time, Ned zoomed the fire truck around the room. Every day, Andrew watched. And every day, Ned asked Andrew if he wanted to play. But Andrew only stared at Ned.
On Friday when the teacher called free time, Ned sprinted to the toy bin. He scooped out his favorite fire truck. He crawled along the floor shoving the truck ahead of him.
“Vroom, vroom! Rrrrr! Rrrrr! Aooga! Aooga!” he shouted.
Without warning, Andrew reached out and snatched the fire truck.
“Hey!” Ned said.
Andrew pushed the fire truck back at Ned.
“Aaah!” Andrew hung his head.
Ned looked at Andrew. He looked at the fire truck. Ned set the toy on the floor. He pointed to the fire truck. “Vroom! Vroom!”
Andrew stared at Ned.
“Vroom! Vroom!” Ned shouted. He steered the truck toward Andrew.
Andrew slowly leaned forward. He gave the fire truck a small shove.
“Room, room.” Andrew said.
Ned’s eyes widened. “Vroom! Vroom!”
Andrew pushed the fire truck harder. “Room! Room!”
Ned laughed. “Vroom! Vroom!”
Andrew made an L-shape with his hand and pointed his thumb first at Ned, then back to himself.
“Room! Room!”
Ned copied the sign Andrew had made. “Take turns?”
Andrew nodded and smiled.
Ned gave the fire truck a big push. It sped under the art table.
“Zoom! Zoom! Room! Room!” Ned and Andrew shouted together.
Their teacher stood up from her desk, frowning. Then she looked at Ned and Andrew and smiled.
“Rrrrr! Rrrrr! Aooga! Aooga!” Ned shouted.
“Er! Er! Ooga! Ooga!” Andrew laughed.
Ned held up one hand, palm facing out.
Andrew held up his hand, palm facing out.
“High five!” Ned shouted.
