Jasper's Deaf Mate (1) (Rewrite in Progress)

(2) FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Before you get confused, when you see "...", it means the person is talking and when you see '...', it means the person is using sign language. If the words are in italics, then it means they wrote those words. If the words are underlined in between "...", it means someone is interpreting what they said, and if it is underlined in between '...', then the person is talking and signing.

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Today is the first day of school. "Yeah!", note the sarcasm when I say that. No, I am not happy or excited for this. Today is going to be filled with confusion and loneliness, just like kindergarten.

Forks high school had a frightening total of three hundred and fifty-seven (now fifty-eight) hearing students. All the kids here had grown up together, and their grandparents had been toddlers together. I would be the new girl from the big city, a curiosity, a freak. Not only am I the new girl, but I am also deaf. So, you would have to multiply the amount of attention Bella will get for being the new girl by a thousand for being the new deaf girl.

At home, I went to a deaf school. Everyone there knew sign language and it was so much easier to understand what is going on. Today, I will try to understand the teachers, but likely will not have as much luck as I hope, even with the interpreter forced on me. Good luck to me.

Right when I climbed down from my room, Bella came out of her room signing, 'We are leaving in about 5 minutes, so we can have enough time to get to the office and make it to our first class on time.' I nodded my head and went down stairs for breakfast, since I already finished getting dressed in my usual outfit, which includes a white t-shirt, dark blue ripped skinny jeans, brown fold over combat boots, and grey cardigan that passes my knees.

Since dad left for work, and Bella already ate her breakfast, I made myself a bowl of Cheerios. While I ate my breakfast, I sat at the old square oak table in one of the three non-matching chairs and examined his small kitchen, with it dark paneled walls, bright yellow cabinets, and white linoleum floor. Over the small fire-place in the adjoining handkerchief-sized family room was a row of pictures. First a wedding picture of my mom and dad in Las Vegas, then one of mom, dad, and Bella in the hospital after Bella was born, followed by the procession of Bella and I's school pictures up to last years. Since mom never talked about her time with my dad, I always believed he never cared about us, but these pictures show I'm been wrong about him.

Right when I dumped my bowl in the sink, Bella came downstairs and signed, 'Lets go to school." I nodded and went outside after grabbing my gray messenger bag.

Even though it was drizzling, I stopped to stare at the beautiful scenery around me. I noticed how the many small drops of water on the plants made them look even more beautiful than they were before. So, I took out my camera and shot a few pictures before getting into the truck that smelled of tobacco, gasoline, and peppermint. I love photography, especially since it one of the things I can do without needing my hearing in anyway. I am constantly taking pictures of everything around me.

As we drove to school, I watched the rain splatter against the truck window looking like fireworks exploding in the night sky. I don't understand why Bella hates the rain so much. I could sit here all day just watching it through the window.

When we pulled into the school, I noticed it looked like a collection of matching houses, built with maroon-colored bricks. I could not see its full size at first, because of the many trees and shrubs in the way.

Once we pulled into the student parking lot, I noticed that a lot of the cars there were semi old, except for a jeep and a shiny Volvo that were parked right next to each other. Everywhere I look there are people just staring at the unfamiliar vehicle. I guess that is what happens when you're the new kids starting in March, which is in the middle of the second semester.