by Max Mauney

“I don’t understand, doctor. He was fine, just fine, two days ago.”

“Is there any history of this? Has this type of thing ever happened to your son before?” the good doctor inquired.

“No. Never.”

“Any family history of sudden hearing loss?”

“No,” Mrs. Payne replied weakly.

“Neither side? Yours or your late husband’s?”

“No, nothing. I mean his father’s hearing wasn’t great the last part of his life, but that was gradual. We talked … well, I talked about getting him a hearing aid …” she trailed off.

“I see,” said Dr. Rao. “Well, all of Jeremy’s test results show that there is no damage. There’s nothing physically wrong with his ears. I can only conclude it must be psychological.”

“You don’t think he’s … crazy, do you doctor?” she whispered the “c-word.” Not only didn’t she want Jeremy to hear – not that he could – but Mrs. Payne was taught at a young age that one simply does not utter unpleasantries too loudly. Unfortunately, the only things she whispered about these days were disease or other ailments.

“No, no, no,” assured the good doctor. “It’s not that at all. Sometimes when a person experiences a trauma – something that his mind simply can’t deal with – the brain will create a physical manifestation of the emotional pain. I believe Jeremy’s deafness is psychosomatic.”

“Really?”

“Has anything shocking or traumatic happened in the past few days? Anything that would upset him?”

As Jeremy sat in the examining room, he struggled to make out the words formed on the lips of his mother and his doctor. Being unable to hear for two days, Jeremy had begun to learn to read lips. He could only pick out a word here or there, and grew frustrated feeling disconnected from the world around him. When he tried to speak, others indicated that Jeremy was too loud and shushed him by mouthing the words “Be quiet” or raising an index fingers to their lips. Jeremy attempted to scribble messages on a note pad which he now carried, only to be met with complaints about his penmanship or how long he took to write. So, the twenty-two year old sat on the examining table and tried to discern what he could from the silent conversation before him.

“No, doctor,” replied Mrs. Payne. “Everything has been normal. Better than normal. Things have been great. This has been the best visit Jeremy and I have had since he’s been away at school. I mean, we’ve been talking about absolutely everything. It’s wonderful! We’re two adults now. We’ve been more like friends than mother and son …”

“When was the last time you distinctly recall Jeremy was able to hear.” interrupted Dr. Rao.

“Well, let’s see. I guess it was two nights ago. We were having a lovely conversation in the kitchen. I was baking cookies. Peanut butter, his favorite. He was testing the first batch with a glass of milk. Skim milk, of course. I’m trying to watch my fat intake, but an aging woman has to be mindful of calcium, you know …”

“Yes, that’s true,” interjected the doctor again. “Ma’am, if you could just focus on what you and your son were discussing perhaps that would be of some help.”

“Yes, doctor. I’m sorry. It’s been so quiet lately. I feel as though I have no one to talk to. Anyway … We were discussing dating. I was asking him if he was seeing anyone special. What’s she like, etc. Then I told him that Frank and I had broken up. Frank is … was the man I’ve been dating. Jeremy’s father passed away six years ago. About eighteen months ago, I decided I was ready to jump back into the dating scene …”

“Do you think discussing your dating life may have been upsetting for Jeremy?”

“No. Jeremy and Frank have met. Jeremy said that he liked Frank and was sorry that we broke up. Jeremy is so mature. We even spoke of my love life, if you get my drift.”

“Uh, do you think discussing your sex life could have been the problem?”

“No, no. We had talked before … nothing specific mind you. That would inappropriate … not to mention disgusting. No, we only talked in general terms. Although, I heard the funniest expression a few weeks ago. Some girls about my son’s age were talking … well, I thought it was hysterical. I was so excited to get to use the term. I told Jeremy that the next time I date a man, until I am sure it is a committed long-term relationship, I am not going to let anyone ‘near the pink.’”
With that, the fifty-seven-year-old woman burst out laughing. “Isn’t that the funniest thing you’ve heard!”

Suddenly Jeremy let out a blood-curdling shriek and screamed, “OH, MY GOD! I CAN’T SEE!”

Having read his mother’s lips, Jeremy was stricken blind by the same phrase that rendered him deaf.