The Whale Sound: By Roger Dean Kiser
Published January 2005
"Leave him alone" I yelled as I walked out of the orphanage gate and saw several of the Spring Park School bullies pushing the deaf kid around. I did not know the boy at all but I knew that we were about the same age, because of his size. He lived in the old white house across the street from the orphanage where I lived. I had seen him on his front porch several times doing absolutely nothing, except just sitting there making funny like hand movements.
In the summer time we didn't get much to eat for Sunday supper, except watermelon and then we had to eat it outside behind the dining room so we would not make a mess on the tables inside. About the only time that I would see him was through the high chain-link fence that surrounded the orphanage when we ate our watermelon outside.
The deaf kid started making all kind of hand signals, real fast like. "You are a stupid idiot" said the bigger of the two bullies as he pushed the boy down on the ground. The other bully ran around behind the boy and kicked him as hard as he could in the back. The deaf boy's body started shaking all over and he curled up in a ball trying to shield and hide his face. He looked like he was trying to cry, or something but he just couldn't make any sounds, I don't think.
I ran as fast as I could back through the orphanage gate and into the thick azalea bushes. I uncovered my home-made bow which I had constructed out of bamboo and string. I grabbed four arrows that were also made of bamboo and they had coca cola tops bent around the ends to make real sharp tips. Then I ran back out the gate with an arrow cocked in the bow and I just stood there quiet like, breathing real hard just daring either one of them to kick or touch the boy again.
"You're a dumb freak just like him you big eared creep" said one of the boys as he grabbed his friend and backed off far enough so that the arrow would not hit them. "If you're so brave kick him again now" I said, shaking like a leaf. The bigger of the two bullies ran up and kicked the deaf boy in the middle of his back as hard as he could and then he ran out of arrow range again.
The boy jerked about and then made a sound that I will never forget for as long as I live. It was the sound like a whale makes when it has been harpooned and knows that it is about to die. I fired all four of my arrows at the two bullies as they ran away laughing about what they had done.
I pulled the boy up off the ground and helped him back to his house which was about two blocks down the street from the school building. When we reached his home his sister told me that her brother was deaf but that he was not dumb like the two bullies said. That he was very smart but could not say or hear anything. I told her that he did make a sound when the bully kicked him in the back. She told me that I must be mistaken because all her brother's vocal cords had been removed during an experimental surgery, which had failed.
The boy made one of those hand signs at me as I was about to leave. I asked his sister "if your brother is so smart then why is he doing things like that with his hands?" She told me that he was saying that he loved me with his hands. I didn't say anything back to her at all because I didn't believe her. People can't talk with their hands and everybody knows that. People can only talk with their mouth.
Almost every Sunday for the next year or two I could see the boy through the chain-link fence as we ate watermelon outside behind the dining room, during the summer time. He always made that same funny hand sign at me and I would just wave back at him, not knowing what else to do.
On my very last day in the orphanage I was being chased by the police. They told me that I was being sent off to the Florida School for Boys Reform School, at Marianna so I ran to get away from them. They chased me around the dining room building several times and finally I made a dash for the chain-link fence and tried to climb over in order to escape. I saw the deaf boy sitting there on his porch just looking at me as they pulled me down from the fence and handcuffed me. The boy, now about twelve jumped up and ran across San Diego Road, placed his fingers through the chain-link fence and just stood there looking at us.
They dragged me by my legs, screaming and yelling for more than several hundred yards through the dirt and pine-straw to the waiting police car. All I could hear the entire time was the high pitched sound of that whale being harpooned again. As we pulled away in the police car I saw the deaf boy loosen his grip on the fence and slide very slowly to the ground and lower his head into the leaves and pine straw. That is when I realized that he probably really did love me and he wanted to save me because he thought that I too was making the whale sound.
Published January 2005
"Leave him alone" I yelled as I walked out of the orphanage gate and saw several of the Spring Park School bullies pushing the deaf kid around. I did not know the boy at all but I knew that we were about the same age, because of his size. He lived in the old white house across the street from the orphanage where I lived. I had seen him on his front porch several times doing absolutely nothing, except just sitting there making funny like hand movements.
In the summer time we didn't get much to eat for Sunday supper, except watermelon and then we had to eat it outside behind the dining room so we would not make a mess on the tables inside. About the only time that I would see him was through the high chain-link fence that surrounded the orphanage when we ate our watermelon outside.
The deaf kid started making all kind of hand signals, real fast like. "You are a stupid idiot" said the bigger of the two bullies as he pushed the boy down on the ground. The other bully ran around behind the boy and kicked him as hard as he could in the back. The deaf boy's body started shaking all over and he curled up in a ball trying to shield and hide his face. He looked like he was trying to cry, or something but he just couldn't make any sounds, I don't think.
I ran as fast as I could back through the orphanage gate and into the thick azalea bushes. I uncovered my home-made bow which I had constructed out of bamboo and string. I grabbed four arrows that were also made of bamboo and they had coca cola tops bent around the ends to make real sharp tips. Then I ran back out the gate with an arrow cocked in the bow and I just stood there quiet like, breathing real hard just daring either one of them to kick or touch the boy again.
"You're a dumb freak just like him you big eared creep" said one of the boys as he grabbed his friend and backed off far enough so that the arrow would not hit them. "If you're so brave kick him again now" I said, shaking like a leaf. The bigger of the two bullies ran up and kicked the deaf boy in the middle of his back as hard as he could and then he ran out of arrow range again.
The boy jerked about and then made a sound that I will never forget for as long as I live. It was the sound like a whale makes when it has been harpooned and knows that it is about to die. I fired all four of my arrows at the two bullies as they ran away laughing about what they had done.
I pulled the boy up off the ground and helped him back to his house which was about two blocks down the street from the school building. When we reached his home his sister told me that her brother was deaf but that he was not dumb like the two bullies said. That he was very smart but could not say or hear anything. I told her that he did make a sound when the bully kicked him in the back. She told me that I must be mistaken because all her brother's vocal cords had been removed during an experimental surgery, which had failed.
The boy made one of those hand signs at me as I was about to leave. I asked his sister "if your brother is so smart then why is he doing things like that with his hands?" She told me that he was saying that he loved me with his hands. I didn't say anything back to her at all because I didn't believe her. People can't talk with their hands and everybody knows that. People can only talk with their mouth.
Almost every Sunday for the next year or two I could see the boy through the chain-link fence as we ate watermelon outside behind the dining room, during the summer time. He always made that same funny hand sign at me and I would just wave back at him, not knowing what else to do.
On my very last day in the orphanage I was being chased by the police. They told me that I was being sent off to the Florida School for Boys Reform School, at Marianna so I ran to get away from them. They chased me around the dining room building several times and finally I made a dash for the chain-link fence and tried to climb over in order to escape. I saw the deaf boy sitting there on his porch just looking at me as they pulled me down from the fence and handcuffed me. The boy, now about twelve jumped up and ran across San Diego Road, placed his fingers through the chain-link fence and just stood there looking at us.
They dragged me by my legs, screaming and yelling for more than several hundred yards through the dirt and pine-straw to the waiting police car. All I could hear the entire time was the high pitched sound of that whale being harpooned again. As we pulled away in the police car I saw the deaf boy loosen his grip on the fence and slide very slowly to the ground and lower his head into the leaves and pine straw. That is when I realized that he probably really did love me and he wanted to save me because he thought that I too was making the whale sound.
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A Summary of "The Whale Sound" by Haley Cissel
"The Whale Sound" starts off as a deaf boy is being bullied outside of an orphanage. One of the orphans stands up for him and yells “Leave him alone!”, after he sees the pain the boys are putting the poor kid through. The orphan was not a friend of the deaf boy, but knew that he lived across the street. He always thought the boy was strange because of all the different hand motions he made, but was unaware that the hand signals were the only way he could communicate with others. The bullies would not stop beating up the deaf boy, so the orphan ran to grab his hand-made bow and arrow; which he had constructed out of bamboo and string. He immediately ran back to where the poor boy was being bullied, and aimed the bow right in the direction of the bullies. The orphan said “If you’re so brave, kick him again.” The bigger of the two bullies ran over and gave the deaf boy one last kick. The deaf boy began to shake and then let out a piercing noise that shocked the orphan. The orphan compared the noise to a whale that had just been harpooned.
The bullies finally stopped harassing the boy and walked away. The orphan immediately ran over to the deaf boy and helped him stand. He then helped him return to his house where his sister greeted them and brought him inside. The orphan told the girl how the deaf boy had made the horrifying noise, but she shortly corrected him and told him that is was impossible; the boy was unable to make any noise. The deaf child then started to make hand gestures toward the orphan and the sister explained that he was thanking him and saying “I love you”. The orphan did not believe this was true; he did not think that humans could talk unless they were speaking words from their mouth.
Later on in the story, years later, the orphan is demanded to be sent to another orphanage in Florida. Not wanting to go, the orphan runs from the police hoping to escape. Seeing this from across the street, the deaf boy sprints over in hopes of helping his friend. Unable to help, the orphan is finally captured by the police and handcuffed. As he is being escorted into the cop car, he notices the deaf boy watching from a distance. As the deaf boy watched the police car drive away, the last thing the orphan heard was a familiar sound; the whale noise, coming from the deaf boy. The orphan came to realization that the boy must have made a strong connection with him when he stood up for hime so long ago. Humans were able to speak without using their mouths.
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A Summary of "The Whale Sound" by Haley Cissel
"The Whale Sound" starts off as a deaf boy is being bullied outside of an orphanage. One of the orphans stands up for him and yells “Leave him alone!”, after he sees the pain the boys are putting the poor kid through. The orphan was not a friend of the deaf boy, but knew that he lived across the street. He always thought the boy was strange because of all the different hand motions he made, but was unaware that the hand signals were the only way he could communicate with others. The bullies would not stop beating up the deaf boy, so the orphan ran to grab his hand-made bow and arrow; which he had constructed out of bamboo and string. He immediately ran back to where the poor boy was being bullied, and aimed the bow right in the direction of the bullies. The orphan said “If you’re so brave, kick him again.” The bigger of the two bullies ran over and gave the deaf boy one last kick. The deaf boy began to shake and then let out a piercing noise that shocked the orphan. The orphan compared the noise to a whale that had just been harpooned.
The bullies finally stopped harassing the boy and walked away. The orphan immediately ran over to the deaf boy and helped him stand. He then helped him return to his house where his sister greeted them and brought him inside. The orphan told the girl how the deaf boy had made the horrifying noise, but she shortly corrected him and told him that is was impossible; the boy was unable to make any noise. The deaf child then started to make hand gestures toward the orphan and the sister explained that he was thanking him and saying “I love you”. The orphan did not believe this was true; he did not think that humans could talk unless they were speaking words from their mouth.
Later on in the story, years later, the orphan is demanded to be sent to another orphanage in Florida. Not wanting to go, the orphan runs from the police hoping to escape. Seeing this from across the street, the deaf boy sprints over in hopes of helping his friend. Unable to help, the orphan is finally captured by the police and handcuffed. As he is being escorted into the cop car, he notices the deaf boy watching from a distance. As the deaf boy watched the police car drive away, the last thing the orphan heard was a familiar sound; the whale noise, coming from the deaf boy. The orphan came to realization that the boy must have made a strong connection with him when he stood up for hime so long ago. Humans were able to speak without using their mouths.
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An Analysis of "The Whale Sound" by Haley Cissel
In the short story “The Whale Sound”, bullying plays a major role. The story takes place at an orphanage, where one special boy in particular lives. Across the street from the orphanage, lives a deaf boy in a small white house. One day, many boys living in the orphanage run into the deaf boy playing outside, and start to bully him. They torment him, beat him, and put him through a lot of pain. The one special orphan sees the poor boy being beaten, and stands up to help.
While standing by, the orphan sees the deaf boy making very fast hand signals as the bullies call him names such as “stupid idiot” and much more. The orphan races around to the back of the orphanage where he stashes his handmade bow and arrow, and points it straight at the bullies. Not only bullying the deaf boy, one of the boys turns to the orphan and says “You’re a dumb freak just like him you big eared creep”. The bullies begin to back off in fear. One bully gives the deaf boy one more strong, hard kick in the side. Laying on the ground, the deaf boy lets out a noise that the author describes as a whale being harpooned.
Victims of bullying are thankful when someone stands up for them, and that is exactly what shows in this story. When the orphan stands up for the deaf boy, the boy immediately forms a special bond with the orphan. After the bullying has finally ceased, the orphan led the deaf boy back to his house down the street. Trying to say thank you, the deaf boy made a hand signal to the orphan who had helped him out saying he loved him. The boy was extremely thankful for his help, and would never forget the deed that the orphan had done.
Helping someone who is being bullied is extremely necessary because you never know the consequences that could happen due to the mean, hateful words/actions taken place. The boy could have been seriously hurt without the orphans help, and without him he may have not been able to find his way home.
When you stand up for someone who is being bullied by others, they are willing to do the same for you under any circumstance. Later on in the story, the orphan was being sent off to Florida, and did not want to go. He was running from the police, doing everything he could to stay at the orphanage he lived in now. Seeing this, the deaf boy ran across the street and attempted to help the orphan escape from the police. Unable to help, he let out the whale sound again in desperation of losing his friend.
Bullying like this example is very common in life today, and needs to be stopped. Bullying in this story was luckily solvable, and did not lead to any serious consequences. If you see someone being bullied, try to do something to help and you could potentially save a life.
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While standing by, the orphan sees the deaf boy making very fast hand signals as the bullies call him names such as “stupid idiot” and much more. The orphan races around to the back of the orphanage where he stashes his handmade bow and arrow, and points it straight at the bullies. Not only bullying the deaf boy, one of the boys turns to the orphan and says “You’re a dumb freak just like him you big eared creep”. The bullies begin to back off in fear. One bully gives the deaf boy one more strong, hard kick in the side. Laying on the ground, the deaf boy lets out a noise that the author describes as a whale being harpooned.
Victims of bullying are thankful when someone stands up for them, and that is exactly what shows in this story. When the orphan stands up for the deaf boy, the boy immediately forms a special bond with the orphan. After the bullying has finally ceased, the orphan led the deaf boy back to his house down the street. Trying to say thank you, the deaf boy made a hand signal to the orphan who had helped him out saying he loved him. The boy was extremely thankful for his help, and would never forget the deed that the orphan had done.
Helping someone who is being bullied is extremely necessary because you never know the consequences that could happen due to the mean, hateful words/actions taken place. The boy could have been seriously hurt without the orphans help, and without him he may have not been able to find his way home.
When you stand up for someone who is being bullied by others, they are willing to do the same for you under any circumstance. Later on in the story, the orphan was being sent off to Florida, and did not want to go. He was running from the police, doing everything he could to stay at the orphanage he lived in now. Seeing this, the deaf boy ran across the street and attempted to help the orphan escape from the police. Unable to help, he let out the whale sound again in desperation of losing his friend.
Bullying like this example is very common in life today, and needs to be stopped. Bullying in this story was luckily solvable, and did not lead to any serious consequences. If you see someone being bullied, try to do something to help and you could potentially save a life.
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"The Whale Sound": An Analysis of Roger Dean Kiser's Background by Haley Cissel
In this short story, “The Whale Sound”, an orphan lives with many other children within an orphanage. Written by Roger Dean Kiser, who is a well known short story author, relates to this short story very much. When Roger was just 4 years old, he was abandoned. He was left in a Florida orphanage by his parents. Roger was unable to adapt to the often cruel environment of the orphanage, and was eventually sent to a Florida reform school at the age of 12. Reasons for this were his constant attempts to runaway, and much more.
In the story “The Whale Sound”, the sad orphan is a short glimpse of how life was for Roger Dean Kiser. Now an adult, Roger spends his time writing about his childhood in fiction short stories, and shares them with his readers. Roger does not feel that children should be abandoned,neglected, and left alone just like he was at the age of 4; and is doing everything he can to help the orphan children today.
Roger is a proud supporter of the American Orphan Foundation, and is an active member within the organization. “I may not be able to save all the children, but I will continue to try and ease their sorrow with gifts, as best I can” quotes Roger Dean Kiser when asked how important this foundation is to him. Even after the hard life he was put through, he turned out to be a loving man who has high hopes of saving children from going through what he did.
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In this short story, “The Whale Sound”, an orphan lives with many other children within an orphanage. Written by Roger Dean Kiser, who is a well known short story author, relates to this short story very much. When Roger was just 4 years old, he was abandoned. He was left in a Florida orphanage by his parents. Roger was unable to adapt to the often cruel environment of the orphanage, and was eventually sent to a Florida reform school at the age of 12. Reasons for this were his constant attempts to runaway, and much more.
In the story “The Whale Sound”, the sad orphan is a short glimpse of how life was for Roger Dean Kiser. Now an adult, Roger spends his time writing about his childhood in fiction short stories, and shares them with his readers. Roger does not feel that children should be abandoned,neglected, and left alone just like he was at the age of 4; and is doing everything he can to help the orphan children today.
Roger is a proud supporter of the American Orphan Foundation, and is an active member within the organization. “I may not be able to save all the children, but I will continue to try and ease their sorrow with gifts, as best I can” quotes Roger Dean Kiser when asked how important this foundation is to him. Even after the hard life he was put through, he turned out to be a loving man who has high hopes of saving children from going through what he did.
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Pictures Found: http://www.rogerdeankiser.com/