Showing The Signs

(I have just gotten my wisdom teeth removed, and in preparation I taught myself and my parents some sign language. My dad is with me after surgery when the nurse approaches us.)

Nurse: *to me* “How are you feeling?”

Me: *signing to my dad* “My mouth hurts, obviously.”

Nurse: *gasps* “Oh! I’m so sorry, sir! I didn’t realize your daughter was deaf!” *to me, slowly and highly enunciated* “How. Are. You. Feel. Ing? You. Can. Write. On. This. Pa. Per?”

(She offers me her clipboard and pen. I shoot my dad an exasperated look and he laughs.)

My Dad: “She can hear fine, but she doesn’t want to talk because she just had oral surgery. She said her mouth hurts.”

Me: *struggling to talk through the swelling* “Ow.”

(The nurse turned bright red and apologized again. We conducted the rest of the conversation with me writing answers on the paper.)