“I Love You,” He Squealed, Part II of III
“I Love You,” He Squealed, Part II of III
By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.
Part I: He squealed, “I love you!” at the top of his lungs, multiple times, before he was physically removed, gently and lovingly.
How did that happen? The morning began quietly.
While running errands I had a store coupon for 20 percent off everything in a store. At the door, I was handed another 10 percent coupon.
For three months I had been looking for a robe for my hospitalized father and thought perhaps this national store might have one.
Men’s robes are hard to find – outside of Christmas, I am learning.
Within the store that did not have men’s robe I saw huge signs. I selected three items, and with two coupons, I went to the intimates counter. (Lines are always shorter.)
A couple was at the register; a youngster played with a small, yellow truck on the carpet.
A high-back wood chair sits near the counter.
I sat in the chair for a moment with the hangers in my left hand.
The youngster said, loudly, “Papa chair!” The couple near the child gasped. …
Part II: Then he blew a loud, large raspberry on my arm. That’s when the couple accompanying the child stepped in. They were mortified. Me? Not at all.
The man said, “I’m so sorry! We’re taking him out to be around people. His parents are getting a divorce – six long months! – both are deaf.
“They can’t find interpreters to help them in court. The case continues to be delayed. We’re helping our daughter. She’s deaf.”
I nodded slowly.
I looked to the youngster asking, “Do you know your sign alphabet?” His eyes were huge.
I said, “Follow my fingers,” and slowly spelled the ASL alphabet. He sat frozen at my feet, watching. He did not follow my letters; he watched, not blinking.
I asked him how old he is. He said, “Four!”
I signed his age and a short sentence.
He gasped and kissed my arm again.
He did not voice any full sentences.
I showed the couple and the young child my ‘sign’ name and signed that it had been gifted to me by the “Big D San Antonio culture.”
The couple identified themselves as grandparents and detailed details about their daughter’s divorce.
“It’s bad,” they said. They shared the city where the divorce is filed, “Sign interpreters are so hard to find – delaying the case further.”
I softly shared that court interpreters must be Level 5 in Texas. They nodded.
Then they shared more details. Customers stood quietly, listening, and watching.
I asked if their daughter is Big D Deaf or Little D.
The father replied, “Oh, she’s completely deaf. That’s how deaf she is.”
I almost giggled; then he touched my arm nodding his head, tipping his head to the left, eyebrows raised.
No one moved in Intimates.
I stood, introduced myself, and shared about Deaf Link, www.deaflink.com, and their services.
I shared how Deaf Link was ‘the’ first company to go in after Hurricane Katrina into Houston, San Antonio and Dallas providing onsite and remote sign interpreters.
(I have worked and officed with this company since 1993 – perhaps the first company in the U.S.A. to have sign interpreters and captioning services under one roof.)
The grandparents detailed that the youngster’s elder sister was raised by his two deaf adults; she is speaking.
Many professionals now wonder if the lack of words by the young child is due to marital conflicts (“awful things” they said) and “that divorce that is dragging on and on and on.”
“We are taking him with us now to help him to learn to speak.”
I listened, softly sharing what I felt was appropriate.
The grandmother commented that she was impressed I knew sign. She said, “I never learned.”
Part I of III is posted October 5, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part II of III is posted October 17, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Part III of III is posted October 28, 2011, on Monette’s Musings at www.monettebenoit.com and www.CRRbooks.com
Monette, the Court Reporting Whisperer, may be reached: Monette@ARTCS.com and Monette@CRRbooks.com
Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
Tutor, Motivational Management & Empowerment Coach,
Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting, CART, & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist
All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.: www.ARTCS.com
Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs: www.CRRbooks.com
Blog: Monette’s Musings, www.monettebenoit.com
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About Monette Benoit:
As a 25+ year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material, and an instructor, public speaker, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes, and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college. She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.
Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, CART providers, captioners, students, and instructors. She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.
Her one-on-one tutoring, private coaching, has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.
Monette’s Musings is a blog containing information for busy professionals, students, and individuals who are fearless and seek to create their success each day.