A Much Needed Lunch Break (Mojo)

[Macie Wyatt]

Macie clutched her bag lunch, something she'd been in the habit of doing since she was young. When she was at Hammel herself, she'd eaten out of the cafeteria, but she honestly much preferred to bring a homemade sandwich and some carrot sticks, along with a soda, just because of the carbonation. The loved bubbly drinks. 

She'd only gone to the cafeteria, because she'd forgotten napkins and a spoon for her yogurt. She was going to go back to the training room to eat when she spotted Mojo carrying her lunch tray and looking sort of lost. Purposefully, the blonde walked over to her with a grin and shuffled her things to one arm to sign quickly to the girl as best as she could with one free arm. That was the one thing about ASL that had been most difficult for her and still kind of was, having your arms free. It seemed that she was always carrying something...or five things. 

Good afternoon! How's the day going? she signed, smiling sheepishly. Her stomach kept growling.

[Ramona "MoJo" Knight]

Ramona Knight wasn't very fond of lunchtime. Lunchtime was a time to be social, to laugh and talk and hang out with friends. Sounded like a great time in theory, but when you can only talk to a handful of people who understand your language, it makes things a little difficult. Mojo had been at Hammel for a little while now, but still had yet to make a good friend - mostly due to the communication barrier that existed between her and the other students. She had made friends with some teachers... like the man with the comic books. But adults were much more patient. She could sit with any one of her siblings who were at Hammel, but they had their own friends, and weren't very fond of having to translate full conversations for their little sister. That was why Mojo was wandering aimlessly through the cafeteria, looking for somewhere to sit.

Mojo's eyes brightened though when she saw Miss Wyatt walking toward her. Seeing a familiar face of someone who understood her excited Mojo. Hello she signed. She hadn't really seen Miss Wyatt all day, yet, because none of her morning classes required translation. She had her training session, and art, and math - which sometimes Miss Wyatt came to help with but today she had a training session of her own. I am well, but I don't have anywhere to sit Mojo continued after setting her spider-man lunchbox down by her feet. Will you sit with me? Mojo asked with pleading eyes. She would love to have someone to talk to for a change. Usually she just sat by the window and stared outside while munching on her pb&j.

[Macie Wyatt]

It always made Macie feel good when Mojo was happy to see her. It assured her that she was doin the right job, that she'd chosen the right field and that she wasn't only a student she translated for, but a friend. That was the best part. A small frown tugged at her lips when Mojo signed that she had nobody to sit with. She wished that it was easier for her to make friends, but it was awfully hard when her language wasn't so well known. Sure, she could somewhat read lips and communicate through writing and exaggerated gestures, but it took a lot of effort. Of course, she signed. Let's sit! After all, it wasn't crucial that she go sit in the teacher's lounge. She was more than happy to keep Mojo company.

She led the young girl to a table and set down her things in front of her, grateful to finally have mostly free hands as she sat down. They should really teach ASL at Hammel.

[Ramona "MoJo" Knight]

MoJo was quite glad that her interpreter had agreed to sit with her - it was tough to watch so many kids having bright, energized conversations that MoJo simply couldn't be a part of. She could read lips, sure, but there was no way she could keep track of a conversation with more than one person, and she would likely only be able to reply with quick gestures, or writing her thoughts out in a notebook.

She sat across from Miss Wyatt and opened up her lunchbox, setting out her usual lunch - a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, apple slices, and chocolate milk. She had also snuck a small pack of M&Ms into the front pouch of her lunchbox before she left for school, but she would save those for later. She took a bite out of her sandwhich as Miss Wyatt signed her concern to MoJo, and the little girl responded with an affirmative nod, setting down the sandwich to reply. It would be nice. I could make friends and get easy As the girl joked, a slightly mischievous look crossing her eyes toward the end of her statement. I try to teach some classmates but they get bored Mojo admitted with a shrug, not really surprised at all by peoples unwillingness.

[Macie Wyatt]

As they sat down, Macie started munching on her carrot sticks, happy to wait for a response from Mojo. Banking on your hands to communicate was a lot harder when you were trying to eat. Not just for that reason, she signed after finishing a carrot. It would be good for everyone at Hammel. Add some diversity. And people could choose to take it and maybe your friends could take it. She knew that Mojo had a hard time making friends and she knew that she and others could relaly benefit from a ASL class. Macie didn't really understand why people weren't interested. It was another language. It was just like spanish, french or japanese. It made you bilingual.

She sighed. People just need to open their eyes.

[Ramona "MoJo" Knight]

I don't have friends Mojo admitted all too simply. She had friends at her old school - the one where everyone had some form of a hearing impairment. Even all the teachers! Her parents had to drive her nearly an hour to get there before she went to Hammel, but it was nice to have a place where everyone was just like you. You're my friend, and Ms. Munroe is my friend and that's it the girl added before digging back into her sandwich.

She didn't seemed phased by this at all, however. And in short she wasn't. The child had grown up in a world where she was forced to entertain herself. She had to get by without communicating, or by improvising a way to get her thoughts out to people. It was easy with her family, and people like Miss Wyatt. But otherwise Mojo felt her efforts tended to get her nowhere, and frustrated her more than get anything accomplished. It was easier just to accept it.

Where are your friends? Mojo asked innocently, wondering where her interpreter may sit if it hadn't been for the little girl's request. Mojo knew that her siblings always had friends to sit with, and she assumed Miss Wyatt was the same.

[Macie Wyatt]

Macie truly felt horrible for the young girl. It was hard enough to deal with manifesting a meta power, but to do it almost completely alone with also a hearing impairment, that was not at all easy and Macie really commended her for being so strongwilled, but she did wish the girl had more friends. Have you met any other deaf students? she asked. Even though Mojo expressed she was fine with her current situation, Macie thought she was covering up how she really felt at times.

She was floored by Mojo's question about where her friends were. How was she supposed to answer that? My friend Talia who works in the main office has a meeting. And Adonis, well, he was in the staff lounge, but they weren't friends, were they?