

Lily liked to sign with her hands. She learned sign from her mom, who was deaf. Lily could hear, but she loved to talk with her mom in sign. She also liked to teach sign to her friends at school.
One day, a new boy came to her class. His name was Ben. He was very big and had a lot of weight. He looked mean and scary. He did not talk to anyone. He just sat in his seat and frowned.
Lily wanted to be nice to Ben. She thought maybe he was lonely or sad. She walked up to him and smiled. She said hello with her voice and her hands. She asked him his name in sign.
Ben looked at her and laughed. He said, "What are you doing with your hands? Are you crazy? That's not how you talk. You talk with your mouth, like this." He made a loud and rude noise with his mouth.
Lily felt hurt and angry. She ran away and cried. She did not understand why Ben was so mean. She did not want to be his friend.
The next day, Lily's mom came to her class. She wanted to show the kids how to sign. She said sign was a beautiful and fun way to communicate. She said sign was for everyone, not just for deaf people. She said sign was a gift that Lily shared with her.
Lily was happy to see her mom. She hugged her and signed, "I love you, mom." She also saw Ben. He was sitting in his seat and frowning. He did not look happy.
Lily's mom asked the kids if they wanted to learn some sign. All the kids raised their hands and said yes. Except for Ben. He said no. He said sign was stupid and silly. He said he did not want to learn it.
Lily's mom looked at him and smiled. She said, "That's okay, Ben. You don't have to learn sign. But you should know that sign is not stupid or silly. It is a way to express yourself and connect with others. It is a way to show respect and kindness. It is a way to make friends. Maybe one day, you will change your mind and want to try sign. I hope you do. Because sign is not just for deaf people. It is for people who want to listen with their hearts."
Lily's mom then taught the kids some sign. They learned how to say hello, goodbye, thank you, and sorry. They learned how to say their names and their favorite colors. They learned how to say they were happy, sad, angry, or scared. They had a lot of fun.
Lily looked at Ben. He was still sitting in his seat and frowning. He did not join the fun. He did not learn any sign. He did not make any friends.
Lily felt sorry for Ben. She thought maybe he was lonely or sad. She walked up to him and smiled. She said goodbye with her voice and her hands. She said, "I hope you have a good day, Ben. Maybe tomorrow, you will want to learn sign with us. Maybe tomorrow, you will want to be my friend."
Ben looked at her and did not say anything. He did not laugh or make a rude noise. He just watched her walk away. He saw her sign with her mom and her friends. He saw her happy and ordinary. He felt something in his chest. He did not know what it was. He wondered if it was his heart. He wondered if it wanted to listen.
