Timaeus

Is it like… you can’t talk? Like a medical reason or something?

Kapono

I…!

Timaeus

But what could cause something like that? Is it your vocal cords? Or–

Kapono reached up and covered my mouth with his finger, like a frustrated mother shushing her child.

Kapono

Shh.

Timaeus

Eep?

Kapono

…A-pha-sia.

Timaeus

What’s th–

Kapono

Shh! I’ll… explain… if you… stop! Talking!

Timaeus

…

He pulled his finger back after a few seconds, as he gathered his words.

Kapono

…Aphasia. My brain… is fast… mouth… slow. They don’t… work… together.

Timaeus

…Oh. Huh.

Kapono

So…! I– I’m not… stupid! If I talk… let me finish… stop inter– interrupting. Okay?

Timaeus

I– I never meant it like that, I’m sorry!! I just thought you were shy so I was trying to–

Timaeus

…

Kapono

…Yeah… Don’t… do it again.

Timaeus

…I won’t.

Kapono

…Okay.

We stood there for a few moments in awkward silence, then he smiled again quietly. Was he giving me another chance?

Kapono

…You… asked, um… about the fossils…

Timaeus

Oh… I did, yeah.

Kapono

They’re… mostly, um, plaster casts. …But this one… is real.

He carefully picked up a small rock from the shelf, that looked a bit like a pinecone.

Kapono

It’s from… Argentina. Silicified cone… from an… um… Araucaria mirabilis… Middle Jurassic era…

I practically bit my tongue raw trying not to finish his sentences as he slowly walked me through his small fossil collection. I didn’t understand much of the paleobotany lingo, of course, but it was the least I could do if he was patient enough to give me a second chance after all that.

At least I was getting the hang of reading his body language as I listened to him speak more… Did I really talk over people that much?