Under the Sea

By B.E.B

Mare had to live with her family's neglect for as long as she can remember, with only her cousin to accompany her loneliness. Just when she loses hope, she goes out to the sea where she meets a new friend who's just like her. Ever since that incident she finds a little hope in her miserable life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: B.E.B
• Release date: Oct 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005612146

B.E.B

B.E.BWas born on February 22, 2010. She was born in Saudi Arabia and raised in the country of (Ethiopia & Tigray). While in Ethiopia, B.E.B lived in the city of Addis Abeba with her mother working as a fashion designer. B.E.B and her sister also used to be human mannequins at the age of six, representing the clothes that her mother manufactured. She began writing stories at that same age to entertain a crowd at her school. Before living in Ethiopia, B.E.B and her sister attended oxford school in Dubai. She began reading at the age of two and speaking at the age of three, which was the apparent first impact of her life. The reason B.E.B wanted to become an author was that, “I know I will never get the same opportunity when I grow up because I won’t become an author but instead another profession. I would rather get the chance to become an author now and fill my dream before I grow up. Though, I'm not entirely sure whether I have absolutely confirmed with my mind that I could do both at the same time.'' She also established that she was inspired to become an author because of her grandmother (Zafu Tedela) who lives in Tigray(Shere) as a former singer and actress, and is still “The best grandmother,” as B.E.B describes.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Chris tapped my shoulder. I ran downstairs to find Kelly crying in mother’s arms. Of course. Again. She just won’t stop.

What did you do? mother had a vein stick out of her neck.

"I don’t know. What did I do?"

She pushed me down the stairs because I borrowed her bracelet. I already gave it back to her. Kelly continued to sob uncontrollably.

Now that was a pathetic excuse. Especially since she never even returned the bracelet. The bracelet mom had given to me when I was six. Kelly was eight. She wasn’t happy that I got a bracelet on my birthday while all she got on hers was a happy birthday song and card.

Go back to your room and think of what you did to your sister. Mom continued to caress Kelly’s hair.

I felt my brows furrow as I went back upstairs.

There can’t be mistakes made. None. Because everyone knows this family. The Calez family. They are perfect. Always. This reputation can never fade away. Or so my father told me.

"Well?" I signed, raising one eyebrow.

"Well, what?" He signs back

"Are you here to lecture me?"

"No."

I sat on a chair and continued to write Newton's first law. "Why not?"

"Because I know what goes on around here. I’m your cousin. I’m here 24/7. I’m always watching."

I was glad. I was glad to know there was someone who knew I wasn’t lying. Someone who knew Kelly’s schemes. It’s wrong. I signed.

What is?

Newton’s first law. Not all of it. But that’s not the whole reason for how we move.

I continued to stare at the formula. I wasn’t wrong. But I’m not right either. But no one believes me because I’m only a pre-teen who knows nothing but how to make my family money. That’s how it goes.

I watched as Chris stood up and walked through the door for no reason. I could feel mom and dad saying my name at a normal volume. But they weren’t calling me. They were talking about me. And I wasn’t going to put my ear against the door as I normally do. At least–not anymore. I already knew what they were saying. I was already used to it.

Chapter 2

Don’t disappoint me. Mother walked away with a scowl on her face. Her hand was bright red.

I looked in the mirror. So was my cheek. It was clear to see that someone had slapped me. The red mark was visible. I ain’t going to cry. I’m not going to cry.

I splashed a handful of water on my face. Like every time, it made the mark invisible. But It just looks like I was blushing for the last two hours. I wasn’t going to cry. I was already used to this. It’s fine.

I watched as mother walked into the same bathroom with her eyes fixed on my face. I had hoped she felt sorry. But we both knew that wasn’t the case. When she does something, she doesn’t do it out of regret.

They’re asking about you. When they ask you what happened, say that you had to get something. She eyes me up and down.

"And what if they ask what I was going to get?" I quickly signed, still with my brows furrowed.

Don't question me. You may be deaf, But I’m still your mother and you will do as I say. she finally leaves.

It was true. Yes. I am deaf. Wasn’t born deaf though. I liked it better when I could hear. When I could hear laughter and joy. When I could hear the praises that were said to me. When I didn’t have to work my hands each time I wanted to say something. I only turned deaf at eight years old because someone wanted to have a little fun with their voice. They don’t know sign language. Only Chris and my aunt know. But I can still understand what my parents are saying even if they’re not signing. Reading lips is my specialty.

I walked back downstairs, with a smile on my face.

There she is! A woman smiled as she pulled me into a tight hug. How is my favorite deaf niece? she faces my head towards hers.

I’m her only deaf niece. But still her favorite.

I took my dominant hand placing it on my chin and dragging it forwards towards the palm of my other hand. "Good."

She smiles, asking another question as doing so. I remember auntie studying sign language a while back. She tried doing the hand signs but gave up eventually. But I'm still happy to know that she still understands me.

Your lip-reading skill is quite amazing. Do your parents talk to you in sign language?

I shook my head, whilst still smiling. "Only Chris." I signed.

She nods her head. I could see her smile fading a little. I guess she wasn’t too happy about my parents not taking the time to learn it. It feels lonely sometimes. I have no one to accompany my loneliness but Chris.

You grew.

I nod my head.

I suddenly notice auntie staring behind me. I turn around and see Chris standing there with an unsure expression.

I don’t question it. I knew what he was here for. I leave auntie and Chris behind as I go looking for my mother. Why the dearest thing in my life.

I eventually spotted her speaking to a crowd of people, smiling and laughing. I walk over to her, regretfully.

It was only a moment of time when they all turned their heads toward me like I was some kind of angel. Mother grabs my arm pulling me Infront of the crowd.

Oh! Is she your daughter? I read a woman's lips.

I didn’t make a face. Not this time. It was very rare for me not to do it. Mother only wanted me for the show. She doesn't need me to sign anything. This was clearly the lower class. The class she uses for upper status and practicing her manipulating skills.

I flinch at a pain that courses behind my arm. It vibrates on one part. I didn’t look back. And I won’t look back. It was just a pinch. Nothing more. Nothing serious.

I left the group, as they continued to move their lips and opened their mouths wide. I would go back to Chris who would always be at the food table.

"Want some food?" he signs while holding a croissant in one hand.

I shake my head.

It was a surprise to me how I understood that. Then again–that is what he would always sign when I catch him eating when he’s not supposed to.

I watch as auntie marches over, slapping Chris on the back of his head. I hold back my laughter, afraid of the sound it might make. I wouldn’t know what auntie would be saying to Chris because she wasn't facing me. But I probably would have guessed correctly if it was; you hungry pig! Leave some for the rest of the guests would you!

Chapter 3

It was probably a struggle for auntie and Chris. Chris living here with us. It was harder for Chris to talk to other kids ever since auntie was on probation and wasn't allowed to take care of Chris until the next eight months. I was happy when I found out that he would be living with us in the meantime. If people were to know what we would discuss at 4:32 in the morning, we would both be in an institution. But that privilege to just stay up and talk was taken away ever since I became deaf. A lot of privileges were taken away since I was deaf. It sucks. But it doesn't suck more than watching Kelly cry over something that I didn’t even do. For instance, when she blamed me when she was the one that burned the microwave. Her fingerprint was more visible than her lie. Thank God that Chris wasn’t here to see that.

I forgive but I don’t forget.

I sit on the couch next to my father as he reads the daily newspaper. Something me and my father have in common? We both love reading. But he doesn't do it as much as I do. I can spend my allowance in a day buying books. It happened. And probably will again.

I turned my head around as I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Go to the store and buy me my medicine. Father gave me three dollars as he pointed to the door. I was going to sign to him but quickly remembered that he wouldn’t be able to understand me. It wasn’t my choice to go. It was never my choice because I always knew who would be waiting for me right at the store.

Chapter 4

The streets were crowded. I would always remember the sounds that would fill the echoes of the wind. It was ravishing. Though I can’t hear it, I can still imagine it. It’s the same sound every day. The store would always be right around the corner, where she would be waiting for me. I am wishing this will be my last time coming here.

I walk into the store, minding my eyes on the bell that would always chime after the door caresses it. What a wonderful sound it would make. I walk between an aisle looking for my father’s medicine. An orange cuplike bottle that was written for heartburns caught my eye on the bottom shelf. It wasn’t usually there, but I'm happy that the store owner reorganized. I walk to the counter, placing the Medicine and the three dollars on top of it.

"Hey, Mare. How are you today?" Larry, the store owner, signs with a bright smile.

It comforted me to know that there is another deaf person in the community. Especially if they’re as nice as Larry.

I raise my hands and push them forwards two times to indicate that I’m doing great. I then put two fists together and swipe one toward him. "How are you?"

"Not so great. When you're as old as I am, you can’t even sit down well."

"Back problems again?"

Smart. Anyways, you can take your medicine.

I nod my head and wave as I head out of the store. I turn my back around–staring at the girl standing right next to me. I eye her up and down and start walking back to the sidewalk. I feel a push behind me and I start running as fast as I could to get away from her. I didn’t look back. And I won’t look back.

Chapter 5

I wait to catch my breath as I run through the open door and close it behind me. Running was important. It’s good. But it’s not nice when you’re trying to run away from your bully who you knew was waiting for you at the store you go to. She always knows when I’m coming to the store. It was as if she heard my father tell me to go buy him his medicine.

I walked into the living room, heading toward father as he was in the same seat that he was before. I hand him the medicine and turn back around until he grabs my hand and forces me to turn back around.

What is this? Why did you bring back medicine?

I can feel my legs shaking. It wasn’t visible, But I could feel it. It was a decision whether I should start signing or whether I should do nothing in hopes that he doesn't beat me again. Either face the consequence of not answering or never be trusted again and thought ill of.

Why aren’t you answering me! He punches the table with his fist as he stands up.

This was my call to answer him. But even if I tried, he wouldn’t understand me. I look down at the table, pick up a piece of paper and a pen, and start writing words down. I turned the paper around showing him what I wanted to say.

You wanted me to bring you medicine.

His knuckles were bleeding. But it looked just fine. How many times did he whack the table each time someone made him angry? Not once, not twice.

I stared at my father's face as he grabbed my shirt and pushed me back furiously.

Go. get. me. my. Cigarettes.

Chapter 6

Back on the streets, walking towards the store again. What do you do when your father slams his fist on the table? A, do you scream and beg your father to spare you, or B, do you stay silent and pray that you don’t die? Yeah. I would choose B too. My mind wanders and talks to me. I act as if I’m talking to someone though these thoughts aren’t mine. It isn’t mine.

I walk back into the store, covering half of my face for no one to see. Not even Larry. He’s probably wanting to ask me why I'm covering my face right now but good thing I don't have to answer.

Aisle six. Drug aisle. The aisle that I go straight into looking for a pack of cigarettes. There were two on the top shelf. I grab it, still covering half of my face as I walk back to the counter. I slide it across, hoping that Larry doesn't tap my shoulder.

He did. And I looked up.

"Well?" he signs with a stern face.

"Well, what?"

Why are you back?

I didn’t want to be back, I just forgot something.

Truth. He has an even more stern face.

I bought the wrong thing. I look down kicking the floor gently.

I look back up again as he taps my shoulder again. "Show me your face."

Why?

Show me your face.

I stare at him, not signing back. What ill he would think of me? Or my family. I show no action. No movement.

"You can trust me, Mare." His eyes are gentle. Calm. understanding.

I slowly start to uncover my eye, dropping my hand to my waist.

He doesn't sign anything. He just looks at me and shakes his head. "Who punched you?"

My dad. Please don’t tell him about this. Or anyone.

Why did he punch you?

I thought medicine was supposed to heal you. His definition of medicine was cigarettes. My mistake.

If he wanted cigarettes, he could have just said cigarettes. You don’t punch someone just because they got what you asked for.

But I didn't get what he asked for.

But why does he have to beat you for it? I sign nothing. I feel my pocket, not feeling any paper. I look back at Larry.

"I forgot to ask him for the money. He won’t just beat me if I come home empty-handed, he will kill me."

It took only a second for Larry to just hand me back the pack of cigarettes. Take it.

No, I can’t.

When someone offers you kindness. You don’t decline it. Don’t say or sign anything except thank you.

I smile, accepting the pack of cigarettes. "Thank you."

I walk back to the door, leaning my foot against it. "Please don’t tell father about what I told you."

He nods his head. And I leave out the door. I walk a few blocks until I encounter the same girl that was next to me the last time I walked out of the store.

I could see her smile, and she shoves me against the wall. Just because you suddenly became deaf doesn't mean you get to avoid me.

"Leave me alone Merl." I tried to push against her hand but each push just made her shove me against the wall even harder. It hurts. My back hurts so bad.

I can’t understand you. But I just wanted to say sorry for being the cause of your deafness. I didn’t mean to do it. she smiles.

And that is also the reason I will never be able to say what I want to say to her. In my opinion, it would be too much for her.

You gonna speak or what? She then frowns.

I roll my eyes, finally walking past her. That is until she grabs my hand back again pushing me to the ground. Third time this month. Which is starting to get very annoying at this point. But what are the chances of me, a weak stick, and her, a strong branch winning in a fight? She can break me if she wanted to. No need to put a foot in the front. She was so much stronger than me, but we were the same height. I’m not scared of her, but I would rather let her think that I am. She likes it when people are scared of her. It assures her that she is the person in control. Which-she isn’t.

You gonna speak? Or do I have to force you to?

I don’t have a pencil or a pen. I don’t have a voice either. There was no way that she could force me to speak. What is she going to do? Beat me? Which she had the right to do. A bully like her wasn’t going to intimidate me, but she is going to leave marks on my body. Like that time back in third grade when she accidentally spilled that hot oil on me. It was a surprise to me how the ladies from behind the counter would have let her even carry such a thing. I had to go to the emergency room at the hospital because of her accident. Only three people knew it wasn’t an accident. Two students and the principal. But they didn’t do anything about it. Which they also had the right to do.

She was a bully. To me and other kids. But mostly me. When they were absent I would be the only target left for her arrows. I continue to stare at her. And she continues to stare at me. She finally walks away.

I stand up, hitting the dust off my clothes. I continue to walk down the street as if nothing happened.

Chapter 7

I walked towards the couch once more, and there he was in the same exact spot. I handed father the pack of cigarettes, not looking him in the eye. Neither Chris. I head to my room, wanting to find a formula for Newton's third law. A new and better one.

I spot a figure in the corner of my eye, walking into my room and sitting on my bed. I don’t look back. A tap on my shoulder was felt. Again. I look back at Chris.

"He punched you again?"

So?

Come on Mare, it’s the second time this week. This has to stop. How many times did you go to the store anyway?

I hold up my middle and index finger. I could feel him sigh.

Alright. Let me guess. He told you to bring medicine and you did but his definition of medicine was cigarettes. Am I wrong? He raises an eyebrow.

I shake my head. I was amazed by his guess. It was simply only a genius mind that could have guessed accurately. Forget scientists, my cousin is the new talk of accurate hypotheses. Then again, he does have a brain that’s the size of a walnut. What's the one special skill that Chris has? The ability to have accurate guesses and be able to figure out the core of a problem. I just wish he would tell me the core of my problem.

Moya semya.

Russian. I studied a little.

"Where’s Kelly?" I signed.

"She’s crying."

For what? No-no let me guess. I did something!

Warmer.

I spilled hot water on her? Bingo!

I clap my hands once. "Why did I do that?"

"You hate Kelly, remember? You’re very jealous and you spilled hot