No Talking

Music teacher Mrs. Akers tries to lead a class of fifth graders in “This Land Is Your Land,” but the students sing only three-word bits of the song. She asks what’s going on and, from their short answers, gets the idea that they are protesting something. Satisfied, she has the kids hum and clap the songs for the upcoming Thanksgiving program.

In gym class, the fifth graders play dodgeball without speaking. Mrs. Henley watches with interest how the students signal to each other and before long, she too adopts their hand motions and head shakes as she governs play.

Like Mrs. Marlow, language arts teacher Mr. Burton quickly figures out the rules of the children’s no-talking game. He has them read aloud a story, each student reading the next three words. He then has the class make up a new story, also three words at a time, by pointing at random to the students: “A woman screamed.” “She was scared.” “It was dark.” “‘Oh, no—snakes!’” “One bit her.” “‘Ow! My leg!’” (70). Huge lizards eat the people and snakes but get devoured themselves by razor-toothed garden tulips, which burp and cause a tornado and tidal wave that gets mud on the US president’s underpants. The students leave happy; some give Mr. Burton a thumbs-up gesture. He loves how the class turned out, and he gets an idea for an activity for his last class of the day. 

In the last hour of school, Mr. Burton hands out blank paper and writes instructions on the chalkboard. Students are to write continuously, pausing only to hand their writings to others. The students begin having lengthy written discussions about the no-talking contest, how it affects school, and how it will make after-school activities much harder.

Dave writes to Lynsey, asking if she’s ready to give up. She writes back that the girls are winning and he’s going to get “totally schooled.” Dave challenges her to a one-on-one silence contest Thursday at noon, with the winner writing a big “L” on the loser’s forehead in permanent marker. She accepts. They write a few more insults to each other, but Dave wants to talk to her about how interesting the contest is. He writes as much to her, and she replies, “It is to me, too. I’m thinking and thinking and thinking. Pretty amazing” (80). Jason, who is passing the notes between Dave and Lynsey, teases Dave for getting along with her. Dave then writes to Lynsey that she and her “stupid friends” are going to lose.

Mr. Burton watches the students, making notes. He decides that the contest could be the topic of a research paper he needs to complete for his master’s degree studies at night school. When school is over, the fifth graders leave for after-school activities where they’ll have to remain silent. Dave believes he’ll be perfect.

The bus ride home is easy for the students, who write notes to each other or look out the window. Lynsey heads for soccer practice, where she uses hand gestures to communicate with her teammates. Dave gets home, and his mom wants to know why he isn’t talking and whether she should call a doctor. He writes out an explanation, and they disagree genially about whether a person can get by without talking.

At karate class, Kyle refrains from kick-yells, and the teacher becomes annoyed. A fourth grader explains that the fifth graders have taken a vow of silence. During her flute lesson, Ellen answers questions about rhythm by tapping on the music stand; after a while, her instructor teaches silently, too. Grumpy barber Zeke always cuts Brian’s hair too short unless Brian complains loudly, but that day Brian can’t defend himself with his usual words. The haircut is embarrassing but Brian decides it’s worth it because he’s made a sacrifice on behalf of his team.

Lynsey rides home from soccer practice silently and her mom worries that something is wrong. Lynsey is simply thinking about how different it is to think without talking: “Thinking. And being quiet. It was different. And it was good” (94). She sees her mom’s worried look in the mirror, and she smiles and waves.

All over town, fifth graders figure out how to be with others without talking. Aside from a few goofs, they do very well.