One Day

“Casey, flip the pancake!” Izzie exclaimed as smoke billowed from the frying pan. She rushed over, turning off the stove and waving her hand to disperse the smoke. Then, she turned to Casey with a withering glare.

Casey’s eyes widened, and she flashed a stupid grin at her girlfriend. She set down the boxes on the counter and went over to wrap her arms around Izzie’s waist. “Sorry.” She leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “Forgot about that.”

They had just moved into their new house together, and were still deep in the process of unpacking and organizing. While they had been happy in their previous apartment, they desperately needed more room. After much discussion, they finally agreed to buy a house together so that the kids and they could have the space they needed to thrive.

“Let’s not burn the new house down before we’ve actually lived in it.” Izzie flipped the pan over the trashcan and the burnt pancake fell out. “And maybe we do cereal today?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Ah, but your sister specifically asked for pancakes, ma’am. Can’t disappoint her, can we?” Casey chuckled.

Izzie rolled her eyes. “You spoil her too much,” she said as she placed the pan back on the stove to make a fresh pancake.

“I really do, but I can’t help it.” She heard the sound of a faint alarm going off, and checked her watch. “I’ll go get him.” She dashed out of the kitchen, and into Ulysses’ room.

With more rooms in their new house, Ulysses no longer had to share a room with Thaddeus. At first, Izzie was concerned about how he would adjust to being alone, but to their relief, he adapted remarkably well and seemed to appreciate having more space and privacy.

“Good morning Uly,” Casey whispered softly to the boy. He was already awake, his eyes darting around the room, a big smile lighting up his face. She helped him up, combing his hair with her fingers, while softly massaging his scalp. “Did you sleep well?” she asked, her voice warm.

Ulysses grunted in response, and Casey smiled. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up so we can have breakfast.”

Now that Casey was living with them, she spent a lot of her time caring for Ulysses. Normally, Izzie was responsible for looking after Ulysses when he wasn’t in physical therapy or his special needs school. But now that Casey was in the picture, she offered to watch him, allowing Izzie to take on extra shifts at the donut shop.

Izzie was trying to save up to go to school again, and although Casey had offered to help with the tuition, Izzie politely declined. Respecting her wishes, Casey decided not to push further, and instead found other ways to support her.

When Casey went back to the kitchen with Ulysses, there was already a plate of pancakes stacked high on the kitchen table. “Wow, that was quick.”

“I’ve been doing it for years, remember?” She slid a plate of pancakes towards Casey. They were heart-shaped, made especially for her girl.

“Aww, you are too sweet.” Casey pushed Ulysses’ wheelchair to his usual spot, where a bowl of yogurt topped with strawberry puree was set out for him. She sat down, and immediately took a bite of her pancakes. “Yum, you should make this more often,” she said in between mouthfuls.

“No thanks.” Izzie yawned. “I’m already tired, and I haven’t even gone to work yet.”

Casey picked up Ulysses’ spoon and fed him a spoonful of yogurt. The boy accepted the food, happily.

Izzie walked over to them, gently smoothing her hand over her brother’s hair, tucking a few unruly strands behind his ear. Ulysses’ face lit up in response to his sister’s presence. “You two get along nicely.”

“Of course, he loves me.”

“Izzie! Izzie!” Ulysses shouted happily.

Izzie smiled. “Yes, I’m here.” She leaned down and kissed the boy’s forehead.

“Hey Uly, can you say Casey?” Casey asked with a smile.

The boy laughed, but didn’t reply. He opened his mouth and waited for another spoonful of food.

“Whose name did he say first when he started speaking?”

“Mine, duh. Then Thaddy, and then Donna. But that’s because Donna’s name doesn’t have an ‘ie’ sound, so it’s harder for him.”

“Hey, Casey ends with an ‘ie’ sound. Maybe I can teach him how to say my name.”

Izzie’s eyebrows shot up and she tilted her head at Casey. “You can try.”

“Cay-cee,” she said to the boy. “Can you try to say Cay-cee?”

“Izzie!”

“How about K-C? Can you try that?”

“Izzie! Izzie!”

Casey tilted her head. “Maybe he can’t tell us apart?”

Izzie chuckled. “He can tell us apart.” She walked back the counter and took a sip of her coffee. “Uly, what’s the name of your brother?”

“Thaddy! Thaddy! Thaddy!” he exclaimed happily.

“And who’s your favorite sister?”

“Izzie! Izzie!”

Casey laughed. “Wow, Sardonna is gonna be pissed.”

“Oh, Sardonna knows.” Izzie hid her face behind her coffee mug, but Casey could tell that she was smirking.

“What’s your other sister’s name?” Casey asked the boy.

“Donna!”

“Hmm, so he understands our questions…?”

“Yeah, he can understand most of what we’re saying, and what’s going on,” Izzie explained. “He just has trouble speaking and moving on his own… maybe you can try asking some other questions…”

Casey pressed her lips together as she thought. “Uly, what’s my name?”

Ulysses stared blankly back at her with only a grin on his face.

“Who takes care of you in the morning?”

“Izzie, Izzie!”

Izzie smiled. “Good boy.”

At that moment, Sardonna made her way into the kitchen in her pajamas. “What’s with all the noise?” she asked and yawned.

“I’m trying to teach Uly how to say my name,” Casey said.

Sardonna grimaced slightly at her. “Whaa?”

“Teaching him my name.” Casey grimaced back at her. “What’s with that look?”

Sardonna reached for a strawberry on one of the plates. “What are you talking about? He knows how to say your name.” She tilted her head in confusion.

Izzie burst into laughter, nearly spitting out her coffee. She quickly turned away from Casey, trying to hide her amusement.

Sardonna’s eyes went to her, and then let out an “Oh” as she caught on. “I see. We’re doing this then.” She looked at Casey. “You see, this is what I have to deal with every day.” She popped the strawberry in her mouth, and looked at Casey expectantly.

“What?” Casey looked from Sardonna, to Izzie, and then to Ulysses. “Huh?”

Sardonna sighed. “Uly, who’s your favorite sister?” she asked.

“Donna! Donna!”

Casey’s mouth dropped opened, surprised at the boy’s answer.

Izzie rolled her eyes. “You get it yet, Casey?”

“So Uly understands our questions, and he knows exactly how to answer to make us happy.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And he’s not answering me because…?”

Izzie and Sardonna both rolled their eyes at the same time, and for a second, the sisters looked like twins.

“He chooses not to?”

“Duh.”

Casey turned to Ulysses and faked a gasp. “Uly, are you doing this on purpose? Are you teasing me?”

The boy laughed.

“Wait, so he can say my name then?”

“I heard him say your name before we even found this house,” Sardonna said as she ate her pancakes. “He’s never said it to you?”

“Never.” Casey looked at Izzie. “And you knew and never told me?”

“Well, you never asked. And if you want him to say your name, you’ll have to ask him the right question.”

“And what’s the right question?”

Izzie shrugged, although she clearly knew.

“Hmm… who’s the new girl living with you?”

Ulysses opened his mouth again, indicating that he wanted more food.

Casey fed him another spoonful, and wiped his chin with his bib as she thought about her next question. “Who was in the Olympics? No, that can’t be it right?”

“Oh you’re so dumb sometimes.” Izzie walked over to them and sat down on Casey’s lap, wrapping her arms around her neck.

“Agree,” Sardonna said, and Izzie glared at her.

“Hey, only I can call her dumb. You better show some respect young lady, or you won’t be having pancakes for a long time.” She wrinkled her nose at her sister.

“So what is the correct question?” Casey asked Izzie. She wrapped an arm around her girlfriend’s waist, holding her in place.

Izzie stuck out her lower lip for a second, and then reached over to take Ulysses’ hand in hers. “Hey Uly, who does Izzie love the most?”

Ulysses looked back at them for a second, and Casey thought she saw Izzie nod at him slightly.

“Casey!” he finally shouted, cackling in laughter.

“He said it! He said it!” Casey exclaimed excitedly. She reached out and gently squished the boy’s cheeks. “Good job buddy!”

Ulysses kept on laughing, clearly proud of himself.

“He’s known how to say your name for a long time,” Izzie said, leaning in to Casey. “He just hasn’t been saying it in front of you. Sometimes he asks for you in the morning, you know?”

“Awww.” Casey felt her heart flutter with a rush of emotions. Being one of the few names Ulysses could say felt like a true honor. She realized that Ulysses had not only welcomed her, but also embraced her as part of his family. Despite the challenges he faced, he had an extraordinary ability to spread joy. His infectious spirit lit up the room, and it amazed her how he could lift everyone’s mood with just a few simple words.

“And who does Casey love more than anyone else in the world?” she asked him.

“Izzie!”

“See babe, even Uly knows about our love.” She leaned in and kissed Izzie.

“Gross guys. He knows your love, but he doesn’t need to see your love. Please spare him,” Sardonna said, getting up to drop her dish in the sink.

Izzie and Casey just smiled, and continued to kiss.