My parents were deaf，so I grew up living in two worlds，our private world and the "hearing" world outside.Unlike my mother，my father was deaf because of the fever when he was at school age.Even so，Daddy Ben was undefeated.He transformed pain into humor. "It is better to laugh at life， "he'd say. "It makes a hard time easier. " I began to understand what he meant one evening when my mother signaled to me to phone a message to my father at the shop where he worked.I went to a pay phone nearby and dialed the number.
    "I have a message for a man called Ben.He is my father， "I told the man who answered.
    "I don't know any Ben here， " the man was impatient.
    "He's deaf， "I explained.
    "Oh，you mean the Dummy.Why didn't you say that before？"
    I don't remember the rest of that conversation.All I remember is the word dummy.I had heard my parents described as deaf-and-dumb all through my childhood.I always took pains to explain that although they were deaf，they were not dumb（啞的）.
    "Why do you let your boss call you Dummy？ " I asked my father the next day.
    He shrugged， "It is easier for them.They remember me. "
    I was angry. "You are not a dummy.You are a smart man.Tell them your name is Benjamin. "
    He smiled， "It is all right.I know I am not dummy.I listen with my eyes and that is enough. " Locked in stillness，he was pleased with himself.But I was not.
    Dummy，I wrote the hateful word many times in my notebook，tore out the page and crumpled（弄皺）it into a ball.My father saw my anger. "Don't worry， "he said ， "I will improve my speaking every day.I will learn new words，and you，Ruth，are my teacher.
    You are my dictionary.And don't waste your sweet voice.Ask your teachers if you have questions. "I hugged him.
注意：
續(xù)寫詞數(shù)應(yīng)為150左右。
    From that moment on，I was determined that no one would call my father by that name again.______
    My job of teaching my father also paid me back generously.______