My neighbors listen to awesome music

A hunting accident. The surgeons spent seven hours operating on her brain, removing two shots that had penetrated her skull. The damage was actually pretty limited. She had most of her dexterity and motor skills left. That was good. But it quickle became clear that there was some damage to her brain. She couldn't speak. And she seemed to have trouble hearing.

She heard just fine. She heard most of what people said to her. It wasn't that. It was that words, individual words didn't make sense to her any more. Not when spoken or heard. Reading was easier. It was somewhat stressful at first but could read and write without problems even before she was allowed to go home. Holding a conversation, though, that just didn't work.

When her dad came and told her how sorry he was she understood, not because he understood the words, but because she understood how he felt and because she wasn't stupid. They both cried. Her dad left after two hours of silence interrupted only occationally be a few words, a question or encouragement. She couldn't tell the difference and it made her sad, angry and utterly terrified.

The nurse came in, looked at something hangin on a rack beside her bed and picked up dad's coffee cup.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

She got that. It was obvious that's what a nurse would ask her. She wanted to tell him she was scared shitless or 'go to hell', but didn't know how to say that. She said what she thought would be about right.

"Fuck you."

The nurse didn't acknowledge her insult. Maybe she said it wrong?

She went home a few weeks later. A lot was like before. It was the old work at their farm, their old house and her old family. Even though she couldn't understand them any more. Not unless they texted her or wrote her notes. Summer came and Lina started to learn how to play the guitar from Casper Green, their neigbor. Because why not?

They sat on Casper's porch. It was July and Lina had Casper's Landola in her lap. It's neck was sweaty and slippery under her palm. It was afternoon turning into evening as the sun dissappeared behind Casper's barn. The red halo of sunlight around the slate roof tickled her eyes. She sneezed.

"Gesundheit" Casper said.

"Thank you."

Casper looked at Lina, who stroked the tip of her left pinkie with her thumb.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"Thank you." she said. Again. Then she looked up. And then at Casper. She smiled. "I heard you Casper." A short laugh.

"Thank you." she said, again.

/r/Jokes Thread Parent