7. Dean
Chapter 7
Dean
Testing my advanced ASL class is a challenge for everyone involved sometimes.
I have to make it hard enough to make them think and yet keep it within the lines of our learning. I choose to do something a little different this go around. With Ness’s help, I’d created four different scenarios for them to work out. Each group is overseen by myself and my TA, Christian. We watch methodically. Making corrections when they’re needed.
There seems to be only a few students struggling with this assignment. Granted, picking lyrics to a song that is fast-paced is probably not the best idea. They all want to go out in the world and be translators—well, they’d have to learn on the fly like everyone else.
“All right, hold on. Everyone take a seat for a moment.” I wait until they’re seated. “It looks like there is a disconnect between what you know and what you are hearing. You know that not all words are needed or expressed in ASL. It’s not English. Translations for song lyrics are the same.”
I nod to Christian. He presses play on the iPad again. The words are playing on the screen for Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay.” The song is one that pulls at your heartstrings. We all know someone who’s struggling. My hands and fingers roll through the words, my facial expressions showing the emotions of the words. That is a pivotal part of being an ASL translator. Whether it’s for family, friends, or strangers.
When the song ends, I look out over the class.
“What did you notice that I did differently from some of you?”
Hands go up. I point to a student.
“Your whole body was moving with the beat of the song. It was a silent dance.”
“Yes. But what else?” I point to another student.
“Your facial expressions were more honest.”
I nod. “Facial expressions are like fingerprints. I can sign something and use an expression, but Christian here could do the same thing and give you a slightly different expression. It’s all in the way you interpret the words. As in, let me?—”
I start to sign.
I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid I haven’t been alive enough.
“Awww,” someone says, making me smile. That’s a line my mom had used when she was so sick, she could no longer get out of bed. Meet Joe Black had been one of those movies she’d watched over and over again. It’s a movie I can no longer fathom watching, not without her here to enjoy it.
“You could see that emotion, yes?” I ask, moving to sit atop my desk.
They nod.
I motion to Christian. “Give us something.”
He straightens, his body facing the class as he signs.
I’m sorry, Wilson! Wilson, I’m sorry!
Their bank faces stare back at him. I, on the other hand, let out a bark of laughter.
“I was expecting something from Lord of the Rings , Transformers , hell even the Marvel franchise. Not that.”
“What? Castaway is my grandad’s favorite movie. It’s on all the time. It’s the only thing I could think of.”
“Okay, let’s do an experiment. I want you to, one by one, stand up front and sign your favorite movie quote. Whether it be funny, sad, heartwarming—anything goes. This way everyone can see the range of facial expressions and how you use them while signing.
I watch them one by one. A few of the lines I recognize. Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Iron Man . They’re doing a great job so far.
We’re halfway through the class when Marsha comes up, her gaze meeting Christian’s as she signs. Her face falling, her eyes sad as she signs.
I’ll never let go, Jack.
A few of the girls in class sigh dreamily. I have to control rolling my eyes. This is no place for a Titanic quote that means she can flirt with her boyfriend. Though, I said they could do anything.
“Thank you, Martha,” I chuckle. Her cheeks flame red before she moves back to her seat.
I wave a hand, and we keep going. Twenty minutes later, I have one student left. He looks rather pleased as he comes up to the front. He makes sure everyone is settled with their eyes on him. He turns, I can see he’s getting into character. Some of these kids, I swear.
He turns around, his face looking worried yet defiant as he signs.
Dad’s on a hunting trip and he hasn’t been home in a few days.
Christian high-fives him.
“Now that, ladies and gents, was an applause-worthy skit; however,” I say, looking over at Tony, “it was a little too theatrical for everyday use. It’s one thing to be expressive and another to be over the top. It’s best to not show all your cards at one time. That’s not to say you can’t use it on occasion. Now, if you were, let’s say, translating for someone who was attending a screening of a movie, or at a theatrical performance, then you’d have nailed it. I’m not saying that wasn’t amazing; it was. You nailed Dean Winchester. You can be seated now.”
“Professor, Dean Winchester is a bit dramatic at times.” Kaitlyn stands up for her brother.
“Yes, he is. I’m telling my age, but I watched the show as the episodes aired. There are a few that could have been good for today’s purpose. But, as I said to him, Tony did a great job, but every day translation isn’t going to be to that level. Does that make sense?”
Everyone nods in understanding. I look at my watch and then nod to the door.
“Okay, you can all get out of here. Use your extra half hour to your advantage. Study for the semester test on Tuesday.”
When the room is empty, I make my way out to the hall.
“Professor, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, Kaitlyn, if you can ask while we walk. I have to meet my girlfriend at the library.”
“Girlfriend? Oh, okay. I’ll be quick.” I see her face drop slightly after I say ‘girlfriend’ as she looks to be scrambling for a question. What is it with these young girls having ideas that they can get closer to their professors? She isn’t the first one to give me that look. I’m old enough to be her father—no, thank you. I am more than happy with my girl. I need no other, nor do I need the complications of dating a student.
I start walking. She’ll keep up or not. I really have to get to the library.
“What do we study for the test? I have to work tonight and all weekend.”
“Everything we’ve gone over the last four weeks. This is the end of the semester final. It’s worth forty percent of your semester grade, just like the last one. “
We walk out of the building, taking the stairs to the sidewalk.
“Okay, thank you. See you Tuesday.”
“Tuesday.” I walk away, my arm coming up so I can see my watch. I still have time to get to the library and not keep her waiting. Thank goodness for short classes. Some days they just seem to take forever to get done. Especially on afternoons like this one when we have plans.
With my steps moving me quickly through the crowds, I make my way through the library and toward Ness’s office. As I get closer, I can hear voices, anger rising behind her closed door. I knock once then step inside.
“Excuse you, get out, this is a private meeting.”
Obviously, this man is having a bad day. If he thinks I’m leaving though, he is fucking mistaken. I give him a hard look. He blinks and looks away first.
“Pardon the interruption, Ms. Conrad. Are you ready to go, or do you need to finish up here?”
“I’m done; I was trying to explain that to this gentleman.” Exchange the word gentleman for maggot and it would fit her tone.
“We are not done here. You accused my son and his friends of destroying books. You have no proof it was them. We can sue you for defamation.”
“Sir, you do whatever it is you think is necessary. I have video evidence that your son and his two friends were the only three people back there other than myself. I sure as heck didn’t do it. This is also not the first time your son has been in trouble here in the library. I have the right to ban him. One more infraction, even if he sneezes too loud in here, and he’s out. Now, if you’ll leave my office.” She waves a hand at the door. “I’ve given everything to the administration. You can go talk to Mr. Van Dorn.”
“Are you okay?” I move to lock her door after the man leaves.
“I’ve not wanted to…bitch slap someone so bad in my entire life. That is the rudest, most insufferable man alive.” She lets out a long huff of air. “Anyway, I’m so ready to get out of here. I’m more than done with this place. I’m so glad that my contract is fulfilled here. I can go at any time. I will give them a notice, but after today, that might be sooner than they like.”
I pull her to me to press a kiss to her lips.
“Let’s go before you pop a blood vessel and I get mad.”
Her eyes twinkle as she comes up on her tiptoes to press her mouth to mine.
I accept her kiss and deepen it. When we need air, we pull apart.
“I love you,” she says, beaming.
“I love you, too.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “Come on.” I take her bag and sling it over my shoulder along with my own.
Vanessa
Pulling up to the ranch is always good for my soul.
The mile-long driveway takes you through pastures on both sides of the road. The horses on one side, cattle on the other. Though sometimes the cattle are out in the back two hundred acres and you don’t really see them. It’s getting close to our calving season, so I’m sure Dad has them moved up to keep an eye on them.
“I never get tired of coming home.”
He chuckles. “This place is out of movie. It looks like a Hollywood set.”
“Mama would love to hear that. She works her buns off to keep the flowerbeds looking good. Curb appeal, she says, is what people notice first about you.”
“What about the grass? Does it have to be mowed a lot?”
“Well, not too much. There are a few spots around that they have to take care of on the back of Dad’s old John Deer, but mainly the pastures, all of the land surrounding the homestead, are kept in check up here by the animal menagerie. The horses,” I point out the window, “and cattle. There are a few small paddocks out back that house the pets. Mama has two mini cows, both highlands. They’re basically four-hundred-pound puppies. A few barn cats, the yard chickens Mama uses for eggs, and then there are the donkeys who are protection and pets. Dad has a Jack, his name is Henry. He’s a mean SOB that lives in the back pasture. Unless you bribe him like me and Mama do, he’s liable to bite or kick you. He’ll be your friend long enough to eat some carrots or peppermints though.”
“Good to know.” He’s looking a little wide-eyed as he gets a full look at the horses and cattle. I, on the other hand, am all smiles. I love this place. Coming home never gets old.
The front door opens as I park the truck. Why had I been told to bring the truck? God only knows with these two.
I jump out and hurry to be engulfed in a big hug. Those dad hugs, man, they’re the best thing ever.
“Morning.” Dean shakes Dad’s hand and gives my mom a hug. “Can I ask…I knew there were a lot of horses here, but…how many cows are out there? It’s a sea of red and black.”
Dad grins, moving to put an arm over Dean’s shoulders. “Come on, my boy, let me show you. I’ll tell you all about our Simmental and Black Angus herds.” They walk over to the side-by-side and climb on. Dean’s fascination fills his face.
“That’s a good man you got there.” Mama hugs me.
“I know, Mama. He has no idea about all of this,” I wave my hand around, “and yet, he’s jumping in to help me get the stalls cleaned, asking questions. It makes my heart melt.”
“Well, if he didn’t do any of that, your dad would have run him off long ago.” She laughs.
“Ugh, Dad’s not taking him out there to give him the ‘I can put your body somewhere they’ll never find you’ is he?”
“I doubt it since they’ve already had that man-to-man talk the first time y’all were here.”
“Mama!”
She grins and tugs me around to the side of the house. “Don’t be surprised.”
“Admittedly, I’m not.” It’s my turn to laugh. I know my dad, after all.