

Lila and Ben are twins. They like to play in the park near their home. One day, they see a big dog with black fur and brown eyes. The dog is friendly and wags his tail. He has a tag on his collar that says his name is West.
"Hi, West!" Lila says. She pets his head and ears. "You are a good dog. Do you want to play with us?"
West barks and licks her face. He follows Lila and Ben to the slide and the swings. He runs and jumps and chases a ball. He makes Lila and Ben laugh.
But West does not hear when other people call him. He does not hear when a car honks or a bird sings. He does not hear when Lila and Ben say goodbye. West is deaf. He can only see and smell and feel.
Lila and Ben do not know that West is deaf. They think he is just busy or shy. They go home and tell their mom about their new friend. They ask if they can see him again.
"Maybe," their mom says. "But you have to be careful. West is deaf. He cannot hear you or anything else. You have to use your hands and eyes to talk to him. And you have to watch out for dangers that he might not notice."
Lila and Ben are surprised. They do not know what deaf means. They ask their mom to explain.
"Deaf means you cannot hear," their mom says. "Some people and animals are born deaf. Some become deaf because of an illness or an accident. It is not their fault. They are still smart and kind and brave. They just need some help to communicate and stay safe."
Lila and Ben nod. They want to learn how to help West. They want to be his friends. They ask their mom to teach them some signs that West can understand.
Their mom smiles. She shows them how to say hello, goodbye, play, and good dog with their hands. She tells them to look at West's eyes and body to see how he feels. She tells them to always be gentle and respectful with him.
Lila and Ben practice the signs. They hope to see West again soon. They dream of playing with him in the park. They wake up happy and excited. They love West. And West loves them.
