This is the start of the new year at Carlton and if you don't know what kind of school Carlton is, it's a school for deaf kids like me, Hayley Jade Vasquez and my sister Daphne Paloma Vasquez. Here's a backstory if you want to know how we became deaf. It was when we both had turned three and we had caught a virus that turned out to be meningitis and that's what made us deaf. You may think "how can you enjoy being deaf?" Well, I honestly don't know how to tell you, but me and Daphne, we've just always enjoyed it. Doing sign language is like the best thing I've got, because it helps me and Daphne talk to each other without having to speak like a normal person would.
I had woken up to the light streaming through my window and the sound of the light blinking above my bedroom door. If you don't understand that concept because me not being able to hear anything, it's just a sound only deaf people can hear. I sit up in bed, yawn and stretch before I let my feet touch the carpet that lines the floor. I walk over to the door, wearing my pjs and I open it as Daphne walks in smiling. I smile as I close the door behind her and walk slowly over to my bed to fix it. I hurry through my walk-in closet to pick out jeans, a tank and overtop that a quarter sleeve sweater and black converse as I slip the outfit on.
I turn towards Daphne again and sign: Has Emmett showed up yet?. before I brush out my dark auburn hair and flat iron it in front of the bathroom mirror. I look in the mirror at my beautiful brown eyes, before I walk back into my bedroom, to where Daphne is. She signs: No, not yet. as I hurry to grab my bag and put it over one shoulder, before following her down to the kitchen where mom was.
When we walked into the kitchen, mom smiled at us as her eyes sparkled with happiness. She signs: Daphne, Emmett's waiting for you outside. and after she says that, she looks over at me just as Emmett and Daphne were leaving and signs: I can drive you. Let me just grab the keys.
I wait as she grabs the car keys, we walk to her car and I get inside, before she notices something must be wrong when she looks at me. She signs: Are you okay?. as she speaks and I tell her: Yeah I think so. as I sign.
When mom drops me off at Carlton, I get out of the car and walk over to where Emmett and Daphne are talking and me and Daphne walk to class together, after saying: Bye. to Emmett. Our first class is English, which Mrs. Bledsoe teaches and she's really nice. We've been close ever since her and mom became friends, which has been awhile and we love her as part of the family. I sat down by Daphne and talked with her for a few minutes before class was to start. Signs: School has been great and we have a lot of friends here. she could see worry in my eyes. She signs: What's wrong?. as Mrs. Bledsoe walks in. Signs: We'll talk about it after class.
While class went on, Mrs. Bledsoe signs: What if you were provided with an option to become hearing, what would you do?. I raise my hand on contact and when she nods her head, I sign: For one, I wouldn't really take the option because I have so many friends at Carlton and for another, I enjoy being who I am and also being different. she smiles as she signs: That's great, thank you, Hayley. Now who would like to go next?. Just as another person was going to answer with their opinion, the bell sounded and everyone left the classroom except me, because I wanted to talk with Mrs. Bledsoe.
As Daphne went on outside to wait for me, I walked over to Mrs. Bledsoe as she looked over and smiled at me. She signs: You did a great job in class today. I'm proud of you. I smile and sign: Thank you. I'm glad I am who I am, because I have wonderful friends and a great family. she gives me a hug before she signs: I'm glad to be a part of your life, Hayley. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?. I nod, say goodbye to Mrs. Bledsoe and walk outside to meet up with Daphne.
I walk over to Daphne and stand beside her as we wait for mom to pick us up. Signs: I was feeling a bit awful earlier but now I feel better. she smiles as she signs: Was it about what you said in class today about how you're happy because of who you are?. I nod and sign: Yeah. I was afraid that I couldn't say it when the time was to come for that question to be asked. as mom's car pulls up, we both get in and Daphne signs: I think you did a great job. I smile and sign: Thank you. just as mom parks in front of the house.
I get inside with mom and Daphne as I sit at the kitchen island. Mom signs: How did school go?. I sign: At first, I was worried, but then it turned out great. she gives me a worried expression and signs: Why were you worried?. Signs: Oh because if they had ever asked: "if you had the option to be hearing, what would you do?" I said, I love the person I am with great friends and family and wouldn't want to change who I am just to be hearing. she smiles, comes over to me to hug me and then kisses my forehead. She signs: I'm glad you love who you are, because you know I do. I smile, get down from the island and walk to my room to listen to some music.
While sitting on my bed, I take out my headphones and my laptop, as I plug in the headphones and listen to Spotify as I turn it up really loud. When music is loud I can hear some of the beats of different songs, plus I really love music because I've had music my whole life and I enjoy it a lot. I turn towards the door as I see the light flash on the wall. I turn my music off and walk over to the door as I open it and my grandma Adriana walks in. Signs: Hi, grandma. she walks in with a big smile on her face and suddenly that made me smile too. Adriana signs: We are going out, do you want to come?. I smile as I sign: Where are you going?. Adriana signs: Out to a restaurant. I'm buying and I asked Daphne, she really wanted to, so now I'm asking you. Do you want to come along with us?. I smile and sign: Sure. before we get in grandma's car and she drives us to the restaurant.
When we get to the restaurant, she parks and we all go inside together. As I look around, I find us all a table to sit at that's close to a window and I sit down between Daphne and mom. We order drinks and I look at my menu a moment before I finally figure out what I want even though I wasn't very hungry at the moment. I look up at mom, before sighing and grandma looks at me at the same time mom does and they know something must be wrong, because they've been around me long enough to know that and I know because mom and grandma are family and always will be no matter what. Mom signs: What's wrong?. I sigh before I sign: Nothing, I promise, just glad I'm here with all of you. Mom smiles, before turning toward grandma and then turns back to me as she signs: I'm glad we're all here together, right now, as a family, too. when the food gets to our table, we start to eat, and when we finish, the plates are taken up by the waitress and we talk for a long time before we leave to go home.
When we arrive home, I go to my room and get ready to take a warm shower to wash my dark auburn hair and then put on some pjs. I dry my hair and brush it out before turning down my covers and climbing into bed for the night. I fall asleep, dreaming about my family and my future wondering what it will be like.
