Wednesday's Words on a Friday

 

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along to read it and add a few encouraging words.

This month the words/prompts are supplied by David M. Gascoigne and can be found here

* next month is my turn and the words will be right here on this blog*

This week's prompts are: 

1. afternoon 

2. furrowed 

3. enchanted 

4. knowing 

5. organised 

6. singing 

and/or: 

1. clutched 

2. beyond 

3. metaphysical 

4. symbiosis 

5. vital 

6. father

Here is my story:

Deidre had been born with Down’s Syndrome and speech was hard for her, she called herself DeeDee, so we all did too. We had learned that some children were only mildly affected, while others were more severe. Deirdre was in the severe category. Knowing her limitations was crucial to us guiding her through her early years, each day had to be carefully organised with most hours being routinely laid out. This was a vital key to her learning, if everything went the same as the day before, she would begin to remember and anticipate. 

I had noticed this happening from the age of three, each afternoon DeeDee would hold her teddy clutched tight as she toddled across the floor to sit near the front door. Without knowing how to tell the time, she was uncannily accurate. Within five minutes of sitting down, the door would open and her father would announce, “DeeDee, Daddy’s home!” Her face would light up as Richard scooped her off the floor in a giant hug. This routine had begun when she was one year old and he hadn’t missed a day since. Even on weekends, Richard would go out to the shop or just for a walk and come home at the same time as always. 

DeeDee loved music and listened closely to The Wiggles on television each morning as they sang their songs. She would try singing along and while she missed many words, her high voice enchanted me. We had been told she may never talk. Hearing her try to sing was beyond all expectations and her Doctor was very pleased with DeeDee’s progress.

 At the last home visit, she’d watched closely as DeeDee sat by the television and nudged me with her elbow, “watch for the furrowed brow, Maureen, it indicates she is concentrating, you may find she learns a new word soon.” Hope sprang in my heart as Doctor Russell said, “DeeDee may not be as severely limited as we thought.”