The Memory

Class, this is Johnny Now be nice; He has a speech – Who can spell SPEECH for me? – problem. (Truge treetrogrom ackjoum stocktdoug Jolt deustwist crochetroakakt T-this is what it’s l-l-like to be me They c-come and p-point at me They j-j-just won’t let me be. They l-l-laugh when I t-talk So don’t talk. J-just w-walk.) Oh no no Johnny, Not to your seat, Not so fast. Can you tell us something About yourself and why you Switched schools? (K-keep your head d-down. Then you won’t h-have to l-l-look at them And f-feel like a c-c-c-clown.) Yes, Johhny? We don’t have all day; You can start now. T-they used to l-laugh at me. They j-just w-won’t let me be. I don’t l-like to talk B-because I stuh-stuh-stuh-stuh-stuh – Well, class, it’s really not Johnny’s fault – Who can spell FAULT for me? – that he can’t talk properly. (Don’t let’em see you c-c-cry Mommy s-s-says b-boys don’t cry.) Johnny, why are you crying? Because, Miss, don’t you see? Chockjets grozill rasligtree Thrusikrout erritz hocksji That was what it was like for me Every word was an agony I had to speak ever so slowly. I felt for the words but the words never found me.