“You good? ” Mabel signed from the other side of the store.

“Fine.” I signed back. I walked briskly to the checkout line in the store where I met her.

“You looked like you needed to escape” she signed.

“I did. A lady came up to talk to me and I couldn’t figure out how to tell her I’m deaf” I replied. “She walked away when I looked at you.”

“She probably thought you were being rude!” she said with a laugh on her face. Must

People were offended when they felt like we were communicating over their heads.

I could have chose to wear a tag saying I was deaf. But I didn’t want to be treated different. I have only been deaf for about a year now, and I have barely mastered the art of signing. I could try talking but I can’t hear my own voice so I don’t know if I’m yelling or even making a sound.

Mabel has always been my best friend. When the accident happened she was always right there with me. She learned sign language so that we would be able to communicate and she could translate for me.