Miss-Delectable
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http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=96962&ran=103658
NORFOLK — Thirteen-year-old Marlee Filer , who visited a special Santa Claus on Thursday at The Gallery at Military Circle, can hear and speak a little.
“Say hi, Marlee,” said Ondinia L. Temple , who teaches children with more than one disability at the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton .
“Hi,” the girl said, loudly.
Like tiers rising alongside a decorated tree, teddy bears stood atop drums.
A half-sized news truck, bearing the logo of UPN 27 , filmed spectators. Santa Claus sat in a big chair.
Marlee came to the mall for special hours with Santa. Wiley M. Smith , a 73-year-old man retired from The Virginian-Pilot, played Santa.
Smith, who is deaf, has been doing this since 1978 , allowing children with disabilities a chance to meet a Santa who speaks their language.
Questions are asked and answered through sign language, a silent conversation amid the mall’s holiday music .
Earlier, through one of his daughters who translated for him, Smith had said he wanted to become Santa so the children would have someone to understand them.
He’s talked for a while about quitting – but then there are the children .
To Marlee, he was Santa.
He spoke with his hands.
She spoke, too, and pointed to a small stuffed animal.
Santa motioned to a container filled with them.
She picked one out.
“Marlee, turn around,” Temple said.
“What do you say?”
“Thank you,” Marlee said.
“Sign it, honey,” Temple said, instructing the girl.
Next were Aurora Clai borne , 11; La Precious Porter , 8 ; and Malik Sims , 8. Temple translated the conversations .
Did you want a doll? Aurora tugged Santa’s hat. He turned to her and she hugged him.
NORFOLK — Thirteen-year-old Marlee Filer , who visited a special Santa Claus on Thursday at The Gallery at Military Circle, can hear and speak a little.
“Say hi, Marlee,” said Ondinia L. Temple , who teaches children with more than one disability at the Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-Disabled at Hampton .
“Hi,” the girl said, loudly.
Like tiers rising alongside a decorated tree, teddy bears stood atop drums.
A half-sized news truck, bearing the logo of UPN 27 , filmed spectators. Santa Claus sat in a big chair.
Marlee came to the mall for special hours with Santa. Wiley M. Smith , a 73-year-old man retired from The Virginian-Pilot, played Santa.
Smith, who is deaf, has been doing this since 1978 , allowing children with disabilities a chance to meet a Santa who speaks their language.
Questions are asked and answered through sign language, a silent conversation amid the mall’s holiday music .
Earlier, through one of his daughters who translated for him, Smith had said he wanted to become Santa so the children would have someone to understand them.
He’s talked for a while about quitting – but then there are the children .
To Marlee, he was Santa.
He spoke with his hands.
She spoke, too, and pointed to a small stuffed animal.
Santa motioned to a container filled with them.
She picked one out.
“Marlee, turn around,” Temple said.
“What do you say?”
“Thank you,” Marlee said.
“Sign it, honey,” Temple said, instructing the girl.
Next were Aurora Clai borne , 11; La Precious Porter , 8 ; and Malik Sims , 8. Temple translated the conversations .
Did you want a doll? Aurora tugged Santa’s hat. He turned to her and she hugged him.