Caprice & Whimsy

Named for a whim, Caprice came into the world on a warm summer evening in August. The waiting was over just after midnight and the midwife proudly delivered her into her mother's anxious arms while her daddy took a final sip of store bought whiskey and then swore off it for life. Got to raise me a girl, he proclaimed with a flourish, ain't gonna be likker'd up no more, Carrie, honest I ain't. Caprice's mother gave him a weary smile, having heard such promises before and knowing from experience that good intentions don't always come to pass.

Children, however, can and do change lives and true to his word, Ellis never took another drink. He dismantled his makeshift still that autumn and repaired the ground with care, building in its place, a play area. A swing set, a treehouse, painted blocks and a tea table for four replaced his whiskey making equipment. He planted daisies all around the perimeter then enclosed the whole works with a child sized white picket fence and small gate. In the spring of Caprice's third year, there were tea parties and puppet shows every weekend - island children came by the dozens for homemade cookies, lemonade and story time when Carrie would gather them all to her and read whatever was at hand - fairy tales or the new Life magazine or poetry. Ellis watched over them all, enchanted with his daughter's every gesture and at peace with the pace and progress of his life.

Carrie's second child was born the year Caprice turned four, another girl as Ellis had hoped, as dark as Caprice was fair. It was the year an epidemic of measles struck the coast and spread with a fury, striking innocent children with malice and often deadly force. Marguerite - who was called Whimsy long before she was actually born - came into the world deaf and as she was a happy and in all other ways normal child, no one noticed until her second birthday.

There were doctors and tests, evaluations and specialists, even talk of special schools and implants. Ellis would've traveled the world and given all that he had for his imperfect daughter while Carrie adamantly refused to give over the care of her child to strangers no matter how qualified or worthy. She'll do fine with us, Carrie insisted, We can teach her. Ellis's face darkened and his well worn hands became fists. But she'll never hear! he raged impotently,
She'll never hear! The arguments went on and on until both were too weary and worn out to continue - neither would compromise or yield and inevitably the strain took its toll. Ellis began sleeping in the spare bedroom and as Carrie made no protest, a bitter and angry cloud fell over the family.

Caprice turned five, then six, then seven and still the battle over her sister continued. Whimsy communicated with gestures and pictures she drew in the dirt and the two grew closer until finally Caprice took her troubles to the schoolteacher - Jimmy immediately ordered a book on American Sign Language and began teaching her - she in turn taught Whimsy - both were quick to catch on and were soon having animated conversations without a word being spoken. Carrie and Ellis watched in stunned disbelief as their little girls patiently, and by example, found a way through the silence that had separated them and over time, they learned as well.

And a little child shall lead them.