EDITOR HAZEL’S CHOICE FOR THIS ISSUE is a short, humorous, drama written by JENNY McGREGOR, who was deaf in one ear when two years ago she also lost the hearing in the other one . In her desire to give heartfelt thanks to the hospital who helped to enable her to hear again, she wrote this little sketch. As she has some knowledge of how it is to be deaf JENNY says of herself – ‘Each month at our WRITERS NORTH WALES meeting we decide on a trigger to write about in the following month’s meeting. This one is called “Lip Reading”.’ The characters are a mum and her middle-aged daughter.
LIP READING, by Jenny McGregor
MUM ‘What did you say? I can’t hear you. Ice in my water. Are you stupid? Why would I want ice in my hot water?’
JEN ‘But mum, I didn’t say that.’
MUM ‘Speak up girl. Stop mumbling. You’re just like your father. You don’t move your mouth.’
JEN ‘I do.’
MUM ‘You don’t’. Stop arguing with me. I’m ill!’
JEN ‘Mum…I’ve been thinking about lip-reading lessons…’
MUM ‘Lip-reading lessons; Why would you want to lip read? You’re not deaf are you?’
JEN ‘No, mum, you are.’
MUM ‘What did you say? Deaf? You’re deaf. When did you realise? You didn’t tell me!’
JEN ‘No mum. I’m not deaf. I just thought it would do you good to get out and mingle; flirt, you know?’
MUM ‘Flirt with deaf people? How? Show me knickers!’
JEN ‘No mum. How about coming with me? You know I’m shy.’
MUM ‘You’ve got a sty? Don’t be silly. Your eyes look o.k. to me. Always something wrong with you! No wonder you haven’t got a fella!’
JEN ‘Mum, I don’t want a man.’
MUM ‘Frying pan. You’ve got a really good frying pan. What do you want another one for? You girls are all the same, buying new. I’ve had my frying pan 50 years!’
JEN ‘I can tell…’
MUM ‘Smell, what smell? You’ve burned the potatoes again. Will you never learn”
JEN ‘Mum, do you want to go?’
MUM ‘Go where?’
JEN ‘ The club. Lip- reading. You know. Watch my lips…’
MUM ‘Chips. Yes, I’ll have some chips.’
JEN ‘Shall I write it down for you?’
MUM ‘Write it down? Write what down? What for? I’m not going out.’
JEN ‘Come on mum. You’ll have fun. Learn lots, then we can do it together when we get home’
MUM ‘You’re gurning at me again, Jennifer! It doesn’t look good at your age! And stand up straight!’
JEN ‘Come on mum. Say yes.’
MUM ‘You’re stressed! You haven’t got a mad woman making funny faces at you. I’m the one that’s stressed. A mad woman for a daughter!’
JEN ‘Agh!’ Jennifer screamed as she ran out of the door and down the street…
MUM ‘Jennifer! Jennifer! Come back!’
JENNY McGREGOR