Speaking Up
I never looked up when my friends were talking and joking about the retarded (智障的) boy a few tables away.It didn't even cross my mind that he might feel1 when people whispered abouthim.So I just let them talk.
Then came the day when I learned my little brother Martin's testing for autism (自闭症) came out positive (阳性)．Ihad never thought about him like that.I broke 2 ， crying.
Everything had just changed.He was no longer a(n)3 little boy.
Over time, I was able to accept his 4 a little more.We had to 5because Martin needed treatment.So Martin and I both started at a new school.One day, I was standing in the bus line waiting when a “ short ” bus(for the retarded) came and 6 up some kids.The children in theother line started making 7 about the “ retarded ” on that bus andI felt a 8 feeling in my heart.I said quietly that those comments weren't very nice, 9no one listened.
My family moved again.In the new school I got a 10 to speak up prettysoon.That day, in a band class, my teacher 11 our playing to make somecomments, “ …Guys, we're playing like the kids on the short bus! Come on! ”
The entire room was laughing loudly.I felt very 12. Then, I raised myhand.I wasn't sure what I was going to say but I wanted to be heard.
The whole class 13 down.My mouth opened and this came out: “ I don'tthink we should make fun of the short bus, because there are people on that bus who have a lot in common with us and have the same feelings as we do.” I couldfeel my 14 getting louder.“So I would 15 it if you didn't make fun of them.”
The room was very quiet and everyone stared at me.My teacher 16 for hiswords and then started the song again.At the end of the class, everyone was giving me strange looks.But I didn't 17 ， because I knew three things: I hadspoken the 18 ， I had taught everyone something, and while everyone in the classroom was beinga follower, I had 19 to take a different path since I wanted tobecome a20and a role model.
