Berry
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- Joined
- Nov 19, 2006
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I'm at a booth in the park, my wife is selling pottery, paints, paintings, etc. I'm standing around tying balloons, trying to remember how to make a monkey out of myself. It should come easily by now, I've had enough practice. A band is playing, everyone is sitting and listening. . No one is dancing. No one is making noise. Everyone is white.
A little boy walks up to me and watches me. I smile, he smiles, he doesn't say a word. I don't think about it because it happens sometimes. I always have a sign up, depending on my mood, “ASL fumbled here” or something of the sort. Nobody ever seems to read them. I wait for him to say or do something as I people watch.
His mother arrives. He points to a teddy bear balloon and signs “Want please.”
She signs “No more dollars.” Frowns.
I sign “Teddy bear want? Okay, gift.”
She says, but does not sign, “He doesn't want things given to him just because he is deaf.” He is watching her intently and I wonder how much he understands. I doubt he relates the balloon or me giving it to him to being deaf. He is just a kid who wants a balloon. I wonder why she bothers to talk, all three of us sign.
I sign but do not say, “Because deaf. No. Because ASL learn so good.” As I sign “Because” I can hear my daughter saying, “Lose the 'because', dad. It is not ASL.” Alas, the signs I do remember are as old as I am.
He looks at her, she nods. He smiles, I give him the balloon.
She walks over to the lawn and sits on the grass. I ask him if he can feel the music. He looks at the band, nods. His mother motions to him to sit beside her and be quiet. He does, playing with his balloon. I'm really glad now I gave it to him.
I know what she is doing although she probably doesn't have a clue. She is passing on the standard white cultural tradition that people should sit quietly and listen to music. Just like everyone else in the audience is doing.
But he is deaf.
So what is he learning?
A little boy walks up to me and watches me. I smile, he smiles, he doesn't say a word. I don't think about it because it happens sometimes. I always have a sign up, depending on my mood, “ASL fumbled here” or something of the sort. Nobody ever seems to read them. I wait for him to say or do something as I people watch.
His mother arrives. He points to a teddy bear balloon and signs “Want please.”
She signs “No more dollars.” Frowns.
I sign “Teddy bear want? Okay, gift.”
She says, but does not sign, “He doesn't want things given to him just because he is deaf.” He is watching her intently and I wonder how much he understands. I doubt he relates the balloon or me giving it to him to being deaf. He is just a kid who wants a balloon. I wonder why she bothers to talk, all three of us sign.
I sign but do not say, “Because deaf. No. Because ASL learn so good.” As I sign “Because” I can hear my daughter saying, “Lose the 'because', dad. It is not ASL.” Alas, the signs I do remember are as old as I am.
He looks at her, she nods. He smiles, I give him the balloon.
She walks over to the lawn and sits on the grass. I ask him if he can feel the music. He looks at the band, nods. His mother motions to him to sit beside her and be quiet. He does, playing with his balloon. I'm really glad now I gave it to him.
I know what she is doing although she probably doesn't have a clue. She is passing on the standard white cultural tradition that people should sit quietly and listen to music. Just like everyone else in the audience is doing.
But he is deaf.
So what is he learning?
Now I have to rethink my post from above...