There are only a few people, more so students at that time have witnessed this including my best friend Robert Wolfe and among few of others that were close to us know about what had happened in the lunch room in 2005 at Belfry High School. One day in early afternoon at Belfry High School, I was a senior student, one of two Deaf students who attended a public school but before that during my freshman year and sophomore year I was the only Deaf student that attended Belfry High School then when I go back to school after summer a Deaf girl named Cameo were transferred to Belfry High School as a sophomore from Ohio while I became a junior. As one of two Deaf
There was a supervisor, who would supervise the lunchroom to make sure that everyone behaves during student lunch breaks which are common in most of the mainstream and public schools so if you get in trouble or need help with something then your supervisor would be responsible that.
At first round of lunch break, as I mentioned that it was my best friend (Robert)’s lunch break so I came down a bit earlier as my math teacher allowed me to do so since I finished the classwork a bit earlier and I came over to the end of table’s side to have a conversation with him along with a few of others including this boy that I am about to talk about. Here I had a foods tray with me, pizza with ranch dressing as a dipping, a small box of chocolate milk, corn and salad. Right on my side, that is where Robert was sitting then there was my sister at a different table across the table I was at and there was this boy named A in three seats from me on my left side. I started talking to Robert in American Sign Language about what we were going to do for a weekend, I immediately noticed that boy named A started throwing some gestures, so I mouthed “stop” and so did Robert then we continued our conservation. A minute later, that boy A went at it again so I warned the boy named A to stop in an angry tone while Robert expressed as annoyed (gave a snark look), then apparently my sister across from another table which was a little bit far recognized the tension that was starting to increase in atmosphere where I was toward to that boy named A so she came over to tell him to back off her brother (me) then she went back to her seat. A minute later, there he was throwing another gesture in an attempt to make fun of sign language because where I and Robert were having conservation in American Sign Language I yelled loud enough that the half of the lunchroom could hear me as clear as a day by saying “dumb***, stop”. But then he started laughing and continued mocking American Sign Language in front of his friends who happen to look like uncomfortable that their friend boy named A is doing such thing like that. I had enough of it, I backed up and the room goes silent while Robert suddenly stopped breathing with the eyes of his knowledge that something was about to happen.
I grabbed the foods tray with full box of chocolate milk, almost full of foods as I didn’t even begin to eat yet and slammed the boy named A. As you know, some lunchrooms can be very loud especially if you drop a food tray (famously known for clapping) and as they witnessed what I had just done the students within’ my area stood up while the supervisor running toward us. I was waiting for the boy named A’s response after I slammed the tray with full of foods and a full box of chocolate milk, but he stood still with his jaw dropped then the supervisor came in between us. Forced us to go to the principal office, so we went, and I also had Robert to come with me so that he could share his side of the story too. The vice principal named Mr. Hunt punished us both for three days to stay in the office, of course, I refused and told the vice principal that I have no reason to be punished whatsoever because all that was happened was that the boy named A mocked me. So, the vice principal gave the boy named A new shirt as he was covered in chocolate milk with a few of stains from foods (pizza) and ordered that we both stay in the office for three days then called both of our parents about this situation. Of course, my mother has none of it and she came to school to confront the vice principal to tell Mr. Hunt that there was no wrongdoing by me but that boy named A because all I did was to respond to the boy named A’s bullying and that he should be punished but not me. Vice Principal told my mother that it doesn’t matter, both of us are punished to stay in office for three days and I told vice principal “see you later” so I ignored his order by going back to my class on schedule. Next day, I did the same thing which I was supposed to show up in the principal’s office, but I didn’t and went ahead to attend my regular class’s schedule. This prompted the vice principal Mr. Hunt to come and find me in my class to order me to come to the principal’s office or that I would be expelled so he said, “your choice?”. So, I responded “Nope, I am staying” and he called my mother about this, so my mother came over to the school. My mother has none of it, zero because the way my mom sees it is that I was bullied and then I get punished for being bullied? So, she said that’s enough, and she personally went to the board of education to have a discussion with the people over at the board of education and the next thing I know was vice principal coming to me with an apology and dismissed me.
I smirked and left – victory!
The moral of this, you should not be punished for being bullied and don’t let anyone tell you any different. It’s not ok for anyone to mock you, whether it be that you are speaking in your natural language instead of the language that the society expects you to speak in and also if your disability to be made fun of they are low of the lowest – cowardice.
Hope you enjoy reading one of my childhood stories, I haven’t shared this much to anyone except to my family and my closest friends including the ones who witnessed this.
Joshua “Joshie” Sullivan.
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