Kids say the strangest things. I think they need new filters, theirs must be broken. But I am glad, because a hyper child is more interesting than any movie could be. They say things like, “I need to go to the hospital!” And then she will show you a hurt finger or a scaped knee, and your get to pretend like your work at a hospital.

Or say that you are such a bum for making them go to bed on time. But one girl, I was warned about. They said she wouldn’t talk, just kind of grunt and fidget. So I walked into work that day with a full heart, ready to help this little girl.

But when I walked in she wasn’t grunting or yelling, she was peacefully playing with a little green car like she would rather be any where but here. Me being me, I walked up there and tried to strike up a conversation. When I started talking, she didnt react. Just continued to play. I tapped the ground by her not big enough to scare her, just trying to get her attention. She reacted to me, looked up and frowned at me.

“Hey honey! Are you having fun?” She looked at my lips while I talked, but back at me when I finished. She just shrugged and grunted a little bit. “That’s fair. How about a snack? Do you want some food?” And thats when the figiting started. But it looked familiar. I searched through every old memory in my head until I realized she was figiting! She was signing something to me! I knew only a little bit of ASL, but I knew enough to talk to a child.

Hopefully.

“Again?” I signed, not being able to run over the motions she did in my head.

Her eyes lit up with so much joy, it looked like there where stars lining her pupils. She signed something about me knowing sign to which I said a little.

She was 5 years old about and you couldn’t tell she was deaf just by looking at her. No hearing aids, nothing.

“Your name?”

Name and Ruby was all that I caught.

I gave her a thumbs up. “My name is Olivia.”

I knew that one, still remembered it from my high school class.

I tried the sign for thirsty and hungry, and it took a second but she understood what i meant.

I stood up and took her to the snack tables. She was a patient kid and was willing to finger spell what she wanted. She didnt spell it right but close enough.

“Cakkers” was what i got when i wrote it down. I pulled out two different boxes of crackers, let her point to the one she wanted, then poured it into a purple bowl to avoid big messes.

We talked while she ate.

“Why sad?”

She smiled softly. “Speak different.”

I was glad she was talking simplier so i could understand, but what she said broke my heart.

“I love you” this girl was a ball of sunshine.

I asked if she needed any help and she got up and pointed to a bookshelf at the far side if the room.

“Story?”

She nodded and picked one out.

I couldn’t sign most of the book. I could do bits and pieces which seemed to satisfy her.

I was just finishing the book when a man came through the door quitely. I smiled and was about to close the book when he interrupted.

“The best way to make her mad is by not finishing a story.” I just smiled at him and continued to try to translate. Which seemed to catch him by suprise.

“Wait, you know sign?”

“Barely” I laughed, “im pulling the tiny bits I have left from highschool. Dont use it you loose it i guess…”

Ruby looked up from the pictures at me. I nodded toward who i assumed was her father. When she saw him she immediately hopped up and ran to him. He picked her up and twirled her around before putting her back down. She stumbled just a little before catching her ballance. Her smile still stretchinng as wide as it could.

He looked down at her as she immediately started signing to him.

“She likes you” he laughed as he signed back a response. I couldnt tell what they were saying but I know it was the best thing I had seen all day.

“Tell her I like her too and I can’t wait until our next play date.” Sliding the book back on the shelf, he responded. “Thank you so much. You dont know how much this means to me.” He said only glancing up for a second. I just smiled as they talked back and forth.

She looked back at me only once.

“I want to play with you more” I signed to her. She giggled and held her dads hand as they walked out.

Now of course today was different, however, I couldnt imagine a better day.

———🤍———

✍️

I don’t want to do a writers note at the moment, maybe later. Just can’t sleep cause i was thinking about ASL and fun fact, i only made olivia say what i could say. So whatever she says, i can say. Thought that was fun.

Question of the day?

Do you know more than one language?

And yes. ASL is a language. It is in the name. (American Sign Language)

So hehehhe

I tried learning Spanish but duo failed me…

I know how to say Juan Como Manzanas though thanks duo!

I did not win the Who I Am competition but i got top ten and that is enough! Im low key slightly proud if my self for trying… lets pray for the one im in right now…. I have a good feeling