Silence is Golden

Chapter 7: September 2010

My mother's attempt for a better high school life for me failed miserably. The teachers showed it. Somehow, her phone call became news to a selected few that was staff to this school. They started calling on me more, as if they expected an answer. Each one seemed as if they were on the edge of giving me more detention just for the fun of it. Ms. Lou didn't stop either, calling on me more frequently than Minks and lecturing me about classroom etiquette in front of the whole class.
So, naturally, lunch became my favorite time at school. I was huddled away in my corner, being able to blend into the chaos of students. Also, I had a good view of the football team, and a room full of eyewitnesses just in case I was to be murdered by those trolls.
Then there was Visual Art class. Everybody's good at something. For some of them, it was beating up kids. Others, those poor souls, spend hours in the water swimming laps every day. I loved art. But considering the reactions of the rest of my teachers, I hid myself in the back of the class, hoping Mr. Simpson wouldn't come and torment me. I didn't want him to ruin my love for art.
One time, in art class, Mr. Simpson was walking around the room, looking at the other's work as we were instructed to work on a project. Somehow, those shiny oxfords made their way to my table, and stopped. I gripped my pencil so hard I was sure it was going to break. My drawing, which didn't look like much at the time, was paused momentarily as I waited for Mr. Simpson to ask me something he intended me to answer. After a few minutes of him watching me stare at my artwork, he walked away to critique another student's drawing.
By the end of the second week of school, I made a new friend. You met her, Minks, from my science class. She came and sat with me during lunch on Thursday, instantly greeting me with a How are you?
You know ASL? I asked.
She smiled. "My brother's deaf. My parents made us all learn ASL to communicate with him. Mind if I sit here?"
Not at all. I replied with a smile.
"I just want to say that you deserve better. Those teachers are not treating you fairly."
Yah, I'm used to it.
We ate in silence for a while, until I couldn't help to know more about her brother.
Mind if I ask...
"Not at all."
How did your brother become deaf?
"It was a lab accident, something blew up, damaged his ears permanently," she replied, staring at her food. "How come you are muted?"
I screamed too much as a child. I joked.
"No..." she stared at me with wide eyes.
I laughed. I was born without vocal cords.
She smiled too. "So you're like some mutant, like the X-men? That's cool."
I guess I never thought of it like that. More of a disability.
"Don't ever think of it as that," she replied with such harshness that I flinched. "Be proud of who you are. That's what I learned in high school."
Want to be friends? She asked.
I would love to.