All eyes turned to him, and he gritted his teeth.He hated when he was the center of attention.Mercedes knew this.And it wasn’t only his family that had been told the story, she’d obviously voiced it as well.Everyone in earshot had heard her, too.
The amount of people who expressed surprise and thanks was overwhelming.He waved them all off.“This is an anniversary party.The attention needs to be on the happy couple.Congratulations, Lisette and Pierre on thirty years of marriage.” He held up his empty beer bottle in a toast.
He honestly didn’t care if any of the hearing people didn’t understand his voice or signs, he wanted the focus elsewhere.Fortunately, many people lifted glasses toward the celebrating couple, and he had the opportunity to slip away with the excuse of disposing of his plate.He’d grabbed a few others at the table for good measure.
Mercedes found him near the house, picking through a cooler for a bottle of beer.“I’m sorry.Are you mad at me?”
She looked so sad; he couldn’t be upset.He rolled his eyes and made a face at her.“No, however, it’s supposed to be your parents’ party and not all about me.”
“I know, but what you did yesterday was amazing.More people than just me need to understand how incredible you are.I’m so proud of what you did by saving those little boys, and I think it’s really cool that you’re my friend and roommate.I wanted to brag about it.You don’t seem to mind bragging with your Deaf friends.”
He lifted one shoulder.“Are you calling me conceited?”A little light teasing was needed to shift the mood.
It was her turn to roll her eyes.“Maybe just confident in yourself.”
Sure, with his Deaf friends who knew him.“I don’t know most of these people.I’m sure they don’t care what I’ve done.”
“I’m still proud of you.”She jumped into his arms and hugged him.Automatically, his arms closed around her and held tight.He loved holding her.And she thought he was incredible.Aside from the embarrassment of her story about him, it was turning into a pretty good day.
Chapter Thirteen
Mercedes kept her eye on Evan throughout the day.He hadn’t liked that she’d shared his heroic moment with others, especially the people he didn’t know.It was interesting how different he was, depending on who he was with.In the Deaf community, he was all full of himself and the life of the party.At an event like this, with mostly hearing people, he became smaller and softer.She wasn’t sure she liked him this way.Yes, she teased him about being loud and proud, but she enjoyed that side of his personality and hated to see it diminished in any way.
Recalling the conversation they’d had recently about his reading level, she sought out Cheryl Jameson, his mom.Maybe she could give Mercedes a little more insight into what happened.
Throughout the day, she waited for a perfect opening.One came when Cheryl popped into the kitchen while Mercedes was refilling a tray of appetizers.
The food is so good, I think I might have gained a few extra pounds today, Cheryl joked.
I appreciate that you brought the crock pot of meatballs.They’re so tasty.Evan would eat the entire pot if you let him.She made sure to voice off since she didn’t want anyone else to hear what she wanted to talk about.
He does like to eat.I’m surprised he isn’t overweight.
He works hard at his job and plays lots of baseball to work it off.I wanted to ask you something.
Cheryl tipped her head.About Evan?
Mercedes nodded.We were talking the other day, and he mentioned his low reading level.It seems to be something he’s very down on himself about.How did the school never catch this?
Cheryl sighed and her lips pressed together.We made a mistake with Evan.Because Brian is hearing, he went to the public school.They assured us that they could provide Evan with an appropriate education, too.We didn’t know any better.Mike and I had gone to a Deaf school and neither of us are super great readers, but back then we also weren’t allowed to use sign language in the schools.
Mercedes stared aghast at Cheryl.What?Why?
At the time, the thought was deaf children needed to learn to speak and read lips to integrate into society.Which is certainly helpful.However, they figured if they used sign language at all, it would keep them from learning standard English.Unfortunately, because of this, many children didn’t get language of any kind until they started school.Imagine a baby not having any form of communication until they were two or three.So many children suffered from language deprivation, and the result was lowered reading ability.
I didn’t realize.But Evan comes from a Deaf family who uses ASL.How did he get language deprivation?
Cheryl licked her lips and peered around the kitchen.He had plenty of language at home from us, which is why he’s a very bright young man.But while he was at school, he was the only one who spoke ASL, except his interpreter who was also his aid.He had a few different ones throughout his years in the public school, but they were all charmed by him and perhaps helped him too much.
Too much?Mercedes didn’t understand how that was a bad thing.
Cheryl nodded.The public school really didn’t have the right kind of program for him, but we didn’t realize this until it was too late.Thankfully, someone told us to look into the North Shore School for the Deaf a few years later when Carli was ready to go.We sent her and Deanna there, but Evan had already been in school for several years at that point and had made some friends.We didn’t know at the time that he was basically being pushed through the grades.The teachers had no experience with deaf children and figured his skills were typical of the ‘disability’.I hate that word, but compared to the other children, he was definitely at a disadvantage.
They simply pushed him through the grades.Mercedes was shocked and infuriated at the same time.Poor Evan.
By the time we realized, he was already in junior high and had gotten lazy about doing his work.His friends were in the public high school, and he wanted to be with them.Still, he’d come home so tired every day after school that he’d sometimes plop down on the couch and fall asleep.I even took him to the doctor to make sure there wasn’t anything wrong with him.They ran tests and stuff, but he was fine and healthy.School just always took a lot out of him, and he got frustrated so easily.
Mercedes nodded.Thanks for telling me about this.I want to help him, but he’s kind of stubborn about things.
