Deaf Tales & Other Stories
Alice's Adventures in Deafland Excerpt
Alice fell. Down, down, down she went until it seemed she would never stop. Keeping her eyes closed at first, she finally felt confident enough to open her eyes. The vibrations seemed to come to life through ribbons of color dancing around her as she continued to fall down. She laughed. It was so beautiful, she didn’t mind the falling. Finally, she seemed to slow down until she stopped right above the floor. Putting her foot down, she finally stepped onto the ground. Looking around she saw the White Rabbit go through a tiny door.
“Oh! I missed him.” She sighed. Hurrying, she bent down to peek through the keyhole. Alice gasped. Inside she saw the most beautiful garden. Purple, red, pink, yellow, blue flowers were everywhere. There were even flowers that had polka dots and stripes on there! Every flower she had ever seen, or imagined was in the garden. And the grass was the brightest green she had ever seen. Plus there was the cutest little pond. She smiled widely and quickly tried to open the door.
It was locked.
“Oh!” She sighed. “I want to go in!” She pouted. She tried the door again. This time she felt an eye open. The door was looking at her. “Please, will you let me in?” She asked outloud.
“Shhh!” The Door quickly hushed her. She looked at him strangely. “Don’t speak aloud,” he whispered out of the side of his mouth. “Not if you want to live.”
“Why not?” She asked, signing this time. “How am I to understand you? You don’t have any hands.”
The Door rolled his eyes. “Of course I don’t have hands. I’m a door.” He stated, the words flashing above his eyes. “But I can still communicate with you.”
“Oh!” Alice smiled. “Do you understand my signing?”
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have answered your first question.” He looked at her crossly. She bent down to peek back into the keyhole. “Hey now! That’s not nice.”
“The garden is so pretty. Can I please go in now?”
“Well, unlock the door and go in.”
“But I don’t have the key.”
“Exactly.”
Alice crossed her arms in annoyance. “Where is the key?” She finally asked.
“Around. If you answer three questions right, I might just tell you.” The Door winked at her. Alice debated for a minute before agreeing. “What is this place called?”
“The White Rabbit named is Wonderland.”
“Correct! Now, for the second question. What am I?”
Alice looked at him in confusion. “Aren’t you a door?”
“Yes, yes, we know that. But what is another name for me?”
“A gate?” Alice guessed, unsure of what the Door was asking her.
“Very good! Are you ready for the last question?” He looked at her sternly. “It isn’t as easy.” He waited a second until she back at him. “Why are deaf people so noisy?”
“Well, I can’t hear when I make a noise.”
“You’re right. The key is on the table.”
“What table?” Alice looked around.
“That one!” The Door grinned as the table appeared. Alice quickly grabbed the key and inserted it into the lock. She felt the keyhole move and looked back at his signs. “Be careful! It’s not nice to force the key in, you know.”
“Sorry!” Alice gentled her hands and opened the door. She stuck her head through the door and smiled widely at the pretty garden. She pushed forward only to find her body didn’t fit through the tiny door. Backing out, she stated, “I don’t fit.”
“Well, of course not. You’re too big!”
“Why didn’t you tell me before? Now, I’m never going to catch the White Rabbit.”