Chapter Twenty-five: A No to the NO

Summary

• The narrator feels that home seems unfamiliar after returning from a hospital detour, noting the changes and feelings of disorientation.
• The family must continue mundane activities despite the heavy emotional atmosphere after a significant event.
• Eugene, who thrives on routine, takes a comforting hot shower while the family prepares to communicate with him through a stencil letterboard.
• The narrator explains that communicating with nonspeakers is not simple and compares it to complex tasks like conducting an orchestra or lion taming.
• John studied Anjeli's notes and found it took Eugene 91 hours to respond to open-ended questions using the letterboard, starting with simpler stencils and gradually moving to more complex ones.
• Family members may have difficulty aiding with nonspeaker communication due to emotional baggage and past disappointments, comparing it to a form of chronic PTSD.
• Eugene struggled to spell with family members, highlighting the projections of doubt and shame involved in family interactions.
• A session transcription reveals Eugene's sense of entrapment and his perception of his father's skepticism and disbelief.
• Eugene also expresses his frustrations with other family members—he feels condescended to by his mother and critiques his siblings' perceptions of him.
• The family is confronted with their personal shortcomings through Eugene's communications with Anjeli.
• Mom apologizes to Eugene and affirms her belief in him, asking if he's ready to communicate about a recent incident involving his father.
• When attempting to spell "YES" on the letterboard, Eugene is unable to do so, reflecting the deep frustration and communication difficulties experienced by nonspeakers.
• In a powerful moment, Eugene deliberately chooses not to spell on the board, which the family interprets as a form of self-affirmation.
• The family's attempt at communication is interrupted by Shannon's call with news that Dad hasn't been found and Anjeli had mentioned a conflict between Eugene and Adam.
• The term "murder suspect" used by Anjeli's partner shocks the family, and they're interrupted again by a visit from the police.
• The family is surprised to find not bad news, but their visitor from the police is Vic, an unexpected appearance.