Monologues with Ketsi

Saying the Pledge

Ketsi talks about her memory of having to say the pledge in school–when schedules meant that she generally was without an interpreter. (0:52) and (1:09)

Outline of Text

Back in 5th Grade
- Start school
- 8:00 am
- Bell rings
Students pile into classroom
- Take off their Jackets
Beginning Routine
- Everyday
Lineup with Boy leading
Time went along
- Got used to routine
One Day
- I was picked
- Leader with flag
- All the kids covered their hearts
  - I didn’t know what to do
- Interpreter showed up
  - I copied from her
  - Wanted to memorize it
    - Kept learning it until I did
- Next time call on me
  - I was ready to sign it
  - Something I still remember

Hawaiian Routines

Ketsi talks briefly about her experience working with Deaf students in Hawaii and the morning routines which they had at the school. (0:42) and (0:56)

Outline of Text

Last summer
- Work at Deaf School
  - Hawaii
- Flew
- Started Work
First thing in morning
- Impressive
Kids lined up
- Diverse appearances
- Looking at girl in front
  - Beneath the flag
- Leading signing
  - Pledge of Allegiance to flag
  - O, Say Can You See?
- Look different than ours

Missing a Foster Brother

Ketsi talks about her experience of having a younger foster brother who arrived in her life when she was not prepared for him,. In her relationship with him, she learned something about love and growing up. (2:26) and (3:15)

Outline of Text

When little
- Looked up at older brothers and sisters
  - Thought about them going to college
- Being all alone
  - I liked the idea
  - Being in control
  - Spoiled by parents
- Excited to see them off
  - Have the house to myself
    - During junior year
- Starting with Peter pressure
  - Clothes
  - Looks
  - Sports
- One day, door opens in the in walks little boy
  - I ask who?
    - Mom says Foster brother
    - Disappointed
      - Thought would be the only child
      - He just talks and talks
    - I had instant attitude
      - “Don’t talk to me”
    - Went separate ways
    - Didn’t talk for days
      - Eat together than go off separately
    - Mom ask me to baby sit
      - Reluctantly agreed
      - Ask him what he wanted to do
        
        He excitedly said biking
      - As a junior in high school
        
        I preferred shopping
        
        But accepted
      - He took off on his bike
        
        I chased him down
        
        Paranoid about his crashing
        
        Got him to wear helmet
        
        And elbow pads
        
        Knee pads
        
        He took off again
        
        Screaming
        
        Went on for hours
        
        Parents arrived home
        
        I was so excited
        
        Went to room
        
        Tried not to have anything to do with him
        
        He kept bothering me
        
        He stole my stuff
        
        Wrecked my room
        
        I held on
        
        When I went to school
        
        Glad to get away from him
        
        Then started to miss
        
        His mischief
        
        His stories
        
        I Came home to visit
        
        He started to improve
        
        Understood more language
        
        Improve some more
        
        I began to understand
        
        About giving love
        
        Before
        
        I held back
        
        Was selfish
        
        But this boy
        
        Had no family
        
        I understood
        
        Giving him love
        
        Help us to share
        
        Helped us to get along
        
        He moved away
        
        I will always miss my foster brother

Fitting in? A Poem

Outline of Text

Starts with sunrise
- Walking
- Seeing people enter auditorium
- Notices man below with different expression
  - He doesn?t understand
  - He sits on bench
- Sun at noon
  - Look around at the people screaming with joy
  - I am content
- Notice man
  - He doesn?t understand
  - Something he can?t express
- Ball bounces back and forth
  - Man takes his chance
    - Off the bench
    - Still doesn?t understand
  - He can?t express it
  - And tries to fit in, struggles,rejected
    - The people in the stands
    - Don?t understand
    - All of them can raise their hands
    - But not understand his inner confusion
    - They want to help, but can?t
  - Man keeps trying to ft in
    - Does the crowd encourage
    - Try to fit in with the man
    - They can?t understand his feelings•
  - Fitting in will never really happen
    - Because the two of us are too different

Posted in: She Said ~ He Said