Deaf Anthology: Deaf Anthology #111: "Twilight Deafzone II"

On the campus of the Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD), on this day a substitute teacher appears to his 5th grade class, it is the present (2008), there is something unusual about him that we couldn't figured it out what is it.

Sub: "How I'm your substitute teacher today, my name is Michael Johnson, your classroom teacher just gave birth recently, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have before I start off the day with your lessons."

Smokey: "There is a fifth dimension beyond that are known to the Deaf. A dimension that involves time and space with no known boundaries somewhere between light and shadow, between science and superstition, the Deaf fears the unknown, despite our knowledge. This dimension is our imagination as you enters the Twilight Deafzone"

Child #1: "How long will be our sub?"

Sub: "Just this week, I enlisted in the Marines, so off I go to the war next week."

Child #2: "Which, Afghanistan or Iraq?"

Sub: "Vietnam" (class bewildered)

Child #3: "Who do you support for President?"

Sub: "Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York?"

Child #2: "Wasn't he assassinated?"

Sub: "No, you meant his brother, John?" (class bewildered again)

Child #4: "I don't think it is right that Russia invade Georgia during the Olympics."

Sub: "No, the Russia invade Czechoslovakia in the spring and the Olympics isn't until the summer in Mexico."

Child #5: "You got it wrong, the Olympics is in China."

Sub: "China doesn't participate in the Olympics, only Taiwan, the Republic of China." (class is wondering why the sub is causing them confusion) , anyway get out your science book we will discuss space the final frontier, let you know that there will be a new movie coming out next week, "2001, A Space Odyssey," you ought to see it if you get a chance."

Child #1: "We already saw it on DVD we rented from Blockbuster."

Sub: "What is DVD? Yes, I agreed it will be a blockbuster, during recess we'll play flag football, alright with you guys?"

Children: "Yes, we need a break from these nonsense!"

Child #6: "Who won the Super Bowl recently?"

Sub: "The Green Bay Packers, of course!"

Child #7: "No, No, Green Bay lost to the New York Giants in the playoffs, and went on to beat the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl."

Sub: "New England? You probably meant Boston, right?" (class still bewildered, looking at the clock as the day ticking away)

Child #8: "What's your favorite program, my is "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" on the Disney Channel on cable."

Sub: "My is Rowan and Martin Laugh-In, cable, do you mean you live in the rural area, I am familiar with the Wonderful World of Disney on ABC Sunday night and I don't recalled that episode with Zack & Cody, whoever they are."

Child #6: "You wouldn't know if you keep watching all that reruns on syndication." (after a full day, strange it may be, the light flashes, finally the kids rushes off to their dormitory)

MSD Bus

The following week, their regular teacher came back, wondering what they have learned while she was gone, naturally the children are in anticipation to express themselves.

Teacher: "Class, how was everything while I was gone?"

Class: (everyone signing at the same time) We admitted that we are confused by what Mr. Michael Johnson have taught us."

Teacher: "I know Mr. Michael Johnson, he died during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam defending the United States Embassy in Saigon forty years ago, he was my teacher when I was young in this very classroom."

Children: "You meant it was his ghost who taught us last week?"

Teacher: "Let me show you the 1968 MSD yearbook, that's his photo."

Children: "Yes, that's him!"

Teacher: "He was a dedicated teacher and Marines, he loves his Deaf children and his country!"

Smokey: "It is important for us to get to know our substitute teacher, he may not be who we think he is, being a ghost as in Mr. Michael Johnson case, he continues to walk the halls of the Maryland School for the Deaf, waiting for an opportunity to teach again, maybe that expains the high turnover rate among hearing teachers, he haven't been seen since, the children shown their appreciation by honoring him placing flowers on his gravesite at the Arlington national military cemetary, the following Memorial Day. As to why Mr. Michael Johnson continues to guard the former embassy until the United States restored diplomatic relations and his desires to return to teaching, beyond the graves at MSD, that's the unknown, let's leave it at that, as we departs the Twilight Deafzone."

Revised 10/26/08