Harry was a tall, strongly built man of light complexion. He had large curly hair, high cheekbones, and sunken, sad eyes. Harry lived with his sister in an old chattel house in St. Bernards Village, not far from the primary school. Both Harry and his sister were deaf-mutes. Because of their handicaps, the villagers referred to them as the Dumb Boy and Dumb Girl.
Often, when the school children passed the house, the children became afraid of passing their house especially if the Dumb Boy was outdoors. He often had a knife or awl in his hands; those tools were for his trade. He was a shoemaker and the local folk also referred to him as the “cobbler” or “cubba”, the slang derivative of the word.
When the Dumb Boy ventured out from home, he had a unique smell of leather, glue, and other smells from making or repairing shoes. To add to his uniqueness, he didn’t appear to wash too often, and his usual khaki pants and shirts were stained all over with the leather dyes and blackening from the rubber. But the Dumb Boy was a good craftsman and received lots of work.
Darbin was a local entrepreneur in the neighboring Chimborazo village and would often stop in to chat with the Dumb Boy at his home, or engage him when the Dumb Boy passed through the village walking. Darbin was one of the few people who showed some empathy and respect for the Dumb Boy and often offered him something to eat or drink. Darbin loved to show others how well he could communicate with the Dumb Boy, even though neither one of them knew sign language. When the Dumb Boy tried talking, he could only make audible sounds he hoped others would understand, while making hand gestures. If Darbin offered the Dumb Boy food, he would start talking to the Dumb Boy using similar sounds. For example, if he wanted to offer food Darbin would say to the Dumb Boy, “Baa baa?” while making hand gestures to his own mouth as though putting food in it. The Dumb Boy would reply, “baa baa” and nod in the affirmative. Then as usual, Darbin would call out to his wife, “Udora, put some food fuh de Dumb Boy!”. But Darbin had a naughty son who, along with his two buddies, Dripty and Snouts, would tease the Dumb Boy when he walked through the village.
It was a hot day, bright sun, without a breeze, and the Dumb Boy was passing through the village. On that day his perspiration mixed with the heat made him seem more smelly than usual. Lil Boy and his two friends Dripty and Snouts decided it would be a good day to taunt the Dumb Boy. They shouted at him, “ya smell like a cubba”. When the Dumb Boy did not respond because he couldn’t hear them, they decided to pelt him with stones. The Dumb Boy was having none of it and chased them with his knife. Fortunately, they all escaped. However, the Dumb Boy knew Lil Boy because he was usually around when Darbin invited the Dumb Boy to eat.
The day passed just as the incident passed and, that same evening, the Dumb Boy visited Darbin’s home to complain about the stoning. The Dumb Boy and Darbin got into a tense conversation about the pelting. There were all kinds of hand gestures, different levels and tones of “baa baa” coming from each of them until the truth was revealed. Lil Boy had pelted the Dumb Boy, along with his buddies.
Darbin summoned Lil Boy and asked him for an explanation. Lil Boy started crying and apologizing to the Dumb Boy, “I sorry, I sorry, I en gine do it again, I sorry “. Lil Boy knew what was coming next. Darbin wore a thick leather belt to hold up his pants. He withdrew the belt meanwhile admonishing Lil Boy. “I duz constant tell you to stay way from bad cumpny. A hard head does mek fuh a sof backside”. With the continuing verbal chastising, Darbin pelt tree good lashes in he tail and Lil Boy fall down pun de ground hollering, “do daddy, do daddy “. Darbin told him, “get up, ga long in ya bed, yuh in getting nuttin to eat tonight. Ya too wutless “.
Darbin then turned to Udora his wife and said, “share out some food fuh me en de Dumb boy”. Udora dished up some pilau or chicken down’n rice. Darbin turned to the Dumb Boy, and said “baa baa, pass de Hotsauce”.
Story by: Dr. S. MacNivan Brooks
Note: This story in no way was intended to disrespect any handicapped individuals. This story is based on a true story many years ago and was modified to protect some individuals. We must treat all people with kindness and respect.