The Secret Deafie: A misunderstanding at the hand dryer

Posted on May 8, 2012 by



The Secret Deafie is a series of anonymous columns written by different writers. Today’s Deafie tells us about a misunderstanding following a concert.
One evening, after a concert I’d taken part in was over, I was chatting to my friends when a pretty woman who looked to be in her thirties walked over to my group.
“I’d just like to say thank you very much for the concert,” she said shyly, “It was sublime!”
Our group smiled politely at her and we all said “thank you.”
Just before we were about to head home, I decided to go to the toilet to put my hair up when the same woman came over to me.
I saw through the mirror that she had said something to me but the noise of flushing toilets and hand dryers was far too loud to work out what on earth it was.
“Sorry?” I asked, trying to concentrate on lip-reading her on her second attempt.
Yet again, her voice was muffled by the noise and to make it twice as hard, her lips were impossible to read, so I simply couldn’t work out what she was trying to say.
“I’m really sorry, it’s too loud in here for me and I can’t understand what you’re saying – I’m hard of hearing.”
Just as I had finished my sentence, the hand dryer turned off.
“I’m sorry,” she replied, “Can you repeat yourself? That hand dryer was far too loud for me to hear you then. I’m partially deaf.”
As you can imagine, the conversation ended up with both of us in hysterics at our miscommunication!

Do you have a story or experience you’d like to share? If you’d like to write a Secret Deafie column, just email thelimpingchicken@gmail.com

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