The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Page #3

to make amends.

Never.

Look at this.

As you can see, it's not the alphabet

we learned at school.

These letters are presented

in order of usage frequency.

Do you understand?

E, S, A, R, I, N...

Usage frequency?

I've talked to a host of colleagues...

...and I think I've come up

with a viable system.

Good for you.

- This is how it works.

You think of something to say.

When you're ready, blink.

I'll recite this alphabet,

very slowly, letter by letter.

When I get to the first letter

of your word, blink.

I'll write it down, letter for letter,

and so on.

In that way we'll form words and sentences.

Two other things: blink twice

when the word is formed.

As if you're hitting the

space bar on a keyboard.

And blink rapidly if we make a mistake.

I know it sounds terribly arduous but,

believe me, we'll become

expert very quickly.

And your friends and family can use it, too.

Are you ready for this?

Look at me.

Do you want to try?

Have you thought of

something you want to say?

Good.

So, let's begin.

- Wait, no...

I don't know what to say.

- E.

Is E the first letter?

- No.

E is not the first letter.

- I don't know what to say.

It's difficult, I know, so let's go slowly.

E, S, A...

That's too slow.

I can't keep my eyelids open that long.

Get cracking!

I...

I?

- Good.

Is I the first word?

My first word is I.

I begin with myself.

E, S...

S?

No.

- No?

Not S.

- That was too fast.

It doesn't work. This is a nightmare.

It'll never work.

Shall we go on?

I've had enough.

Leave me alone.

Up, down, up.

Under my arms.

The back of my legs.

I'm forty-two years old...

...and I'm being handled like a big baby.

my private parts wiped and swaddled.

That's ridiculous.

But as the poet says:

only a fool laughs when

there's nothing to laugh at.

Blow me a kiss.

Come on.

Try it.

Come on.

Try.

It's difficult.

- No mirror.

But that's what I want you to work at.

- Not that face.

When you're resting or

watching TV, or any time at all,

I want you to work at blowing me a kiss.

Okay?

- Okay.

And one other thing you have

to practise as much as possible.

And that's sliding your tongue

to the back of your palate.

That's how you'll learn to swallow again.

Watch.

This just isn't fair. Not fair.

You try it.

- Put that mirror away.

Open your mouth.

Good.

Try sliding your tongue backwards.

I can't.

- Try, go on.

I can't.

Good! You moved your tongue.

Don't make a fool of me.

- Very good. Again.

Unbelievable. Good.

- Yes, but true.

I'll help you to move your head on your own.

Like that.

You're doing it all.

- Left.

Good.

Right. Good.

Left again.

Can you feel my hands on your face?

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