River of Hands
A Project of the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf
OTHER PUBLICATIONS OF THE LADDER AWARDS, CANADIAN DEAF HERITAGE PROJECT:
River of Hands: ASL Stories, (VHS/CD Rom), Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, For the Record Productions River of Hands: the Documentary, (VHS/CD Rom), Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf, For the Record Productions
Copies can be purchased from:
The Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf Bookstore, House 144, 11337-61 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6H 1M3
www.ccsdeaf.com. Email: ccsd@connect.ab.ca,
TTY: (780) 430-9489, Fax: (780) 436-2599
$9.95 each plus applicable taxes, shipping & handling
Cover Illustration: COLLEEN TURNER
Deaf Heritage Stories
By
Illustrations by
Copyright © 2000 Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf
All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, except for reviews.
Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
River of hands: deaf heritage stories
ISBN 1-896764-36-3
1. Deaf - Juvenile fiction. 2. Deaf, Writings of the (Canadian).*
3. Teenagers’ Writings, Canadian (English).* 4. Children’s stories,
Canadian (English).* 5. Short stories, Canadian (English).*
I. Brace, Jason. II. Poirier, Faim.
PS8323.D35R58 2000 jC813'.010835208162 C00-932111-X
PZ5.R535 2000
Second Story Press gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program for our publishing activities. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Human Resources Development Canada for this project.
Book Design and Design Elements: STEPHANIE MARTIN
Printed and bound in Canada
Published by:
SECOND STORY PRESS
720 Bathurst Street, Suite 301
Toronto Canada M5S 2R4
Dedicated in memory of Christy Mackinnon (1889-1981), author of SILENT OBSERVER.
She remains the sole Canadian Deaf author of children’s literature until the printing of this book.
We are grateful for her skill and honour the legacy she left for us to continue!
A Fishy Story
ZZZZZZZ
BUT
Unlucky Charm
Contributor Notes
Afterword
By Jason Lee Brace
Once upon a time Aaron and I wanted to go fishing. But we didn’t know where to go. There didn’t seem to be water anyplace close. There was no ocean, no lake, and no pond near where we lived.
After thinking and thinking and thinking some more, Aaron suggested, “Why don’t we go to the pet store and try fishing in the tanks?”
While I knew there were lots of fish in the pet store, I was sure the owner wouldn’t agree to Aaron’s plan.
Finally, I got a brainstorm. Aaron and I would go fishing in the toilet. There was water in the bowl, And I figured it must lead to go to a place filled with fish.
We would need a very long line for the rod.
And worms.
Or a lure.
Now we were all ready.
Aaron and I both got chairs and carried them into the bathroom, so we could have a comfortable day of fishing.
PERFECT!
I sat down facing Aaron and put the line into the toilet. Holding onto the rod, I nudged Aaron and nodded to the lever handle, “Please flush.” He did.
Now the line goes all the way down, into the pipes and outside. We have no idea where it ends up. After a while, Aaron’s head jerks back, and he nods, “Let’s reel it in.”