Little Mr. Sunshine

I am not sure what the right term for referring to a deaf person is. During a brief stint in volunteering I was taught that "deaf" is the politically right term.. So hopefully am not being offensive in using the word.

Right across the road from my house is a school for deaf children. Every morning on my way to work I deliberately slow down when I walk past the school. Observing these children has become a daily ritual for me. Watching them happy in their own little world is always a great start to any day. I have seen young boys shoving each other , signing rapidly and dissolving in a fit of giggles.

I once watched a young couple angrily signing to each other in fury. A reminder that true emotions don't need a language. Or a voice.

A few days ago I tried to hail an auto that got out the school. While the auto-driver tried his usual "ten rupees extra" madam, I was slightly surprised to see a broad smile greet me from the passenger seat. The broad smile belonged to a little boy who must have been five or six and clearly a student of the deaf school. His smile was almost spilling out of his giant oversized monkey cap that seemed make him look even smaller. Looking at my surprised face the auto-driver explained he was dropping the boy off and his house was on the way to my destination. 

My new hero in the monkey cap even patted the seat next to him, nodding his head vigorously. This is was an invite I just couldn't say no to. So I hopped into the auto. No sooner had we started the boy was on his feet waving with all his might at his fellow school mates who were all leaving. He waved with all his might and with his most adorable broad grin. No one waved back. They probably didn't notice him. But none of this mattered to the boy. Not once did smile falter or his waving slow down. He was on a roll like a pint sized rockstar waving at his crazed fans. Only after we had left my lane and gotten onto the main road did he sit down. He concluded with a grand clap of hands and sat down with a pleased look.

He must have rested for approximately five seconds before he was back on his feet again. This time he kept tapping the auto-driver on his shoulder to point out people and things on the road side. He kept rapidly signing away and shaking his head.It was apparent that the auto-driver didnt get what he was trying to communicate, but he still nodded his head in agreement and even shook his head at the right moments. I now didn't feel bad about giving him extra money. The boy would take a 10 second break after every minute before getting back to his ritual. And every break was punctuated with a dramatic clap of hands. Happiness is indeed contagious and I couldn't help but smile at this little charade.

Life can difficult at times and I can only imagine how difficult it can be for that child.Watching him be so happy and finding joy in something as simple as waving to your friends, was so heartening. When we reached his house and he gave me a grand high five, my only hope was he holds on to his spark even through adulthood. Growing up often kills a lot of that.

They say happiness is a choice you make and not always a reflection of your life. If you decide to be happy you will be happy. A choice you can make but a difficult one. I am not sure if happiness comes that easy, but Mr. Sunshine definitely made my afternoon.