then at me. She can't hear?"
"That's right, smart ass." I said.
"Then why was she... what are you, both nuts?"
He shook his head and backed away as if we could
infect him with some strange new disease.
I hurriedly put away the CD and seized Echo's
arm to turn her toward the door. The boy was already
describing us to his friends, who all looked our way. I
heard their laughter. Echo looked back and saw their
faces of ridicule. Her face quickly fell into an
expression of total embarrassment. For her it was truly
as if she had been caught naked. I tried to walk us
down the mall corridor faster, but it was too late. The
small group of teenagers decided we were to be their
entertainment for the afternoon. We were too unusual
to be ignored and a great alternative to their ordinary
mall activities. They charged out of the music store
behind us, a small clump of kids, laughing and
hooting, which only attracted more attention and more
of their friends.
No matter where we went, they tagged along,
anxious to catch me signing to Echo, who by this time
was so frightened and confused, she was trembling. I
searched desperately for the nearest exit and directed her to it, hoping that when they saw we were leaving, they would get bored and return to their own interests. But they were probably bored with themselves. I thought, for they weren't discouraged. By now there were nearly twenty or so of them following us and the scene was attracting everyone's attention, store clerks, adult customers, and security guards. Like nails to a
magnet, other teenagers joined the moving mob. Because we left the mall from a different exit. I
was momentarily confused about where I had parked.
I started in one direction and then another. Echo now
clinging to my arm with a sickening desperation. We
couldn't shake off the hooting and jeering kids. One of
the younger, bolder girls behind us ran to catch up and