A heartwarming story about a girl whose disability keeps her imprisoned by bias and prejudice.
They Call Me Retard is a heartwarming novel about a girl with Multiple Sclerosis. Joey Parkins tells a touching story about all of the atrocities that she is forced to endure after her doctor labels her retarded. After being forced to live in a group home, she meets a staff member and four other girls with developmental disabilities. They grow together and reach beyond the shackles of prejudice and injustice that have kept them imprisoned for so many years. But something terrible happens that threatens their future.
Excerpt
I woke up with cold sweats. My heart was beating so fast that I felt as though I was going to faint. My mouth was dry and I felt as though I were going to vomit.
I had a dream. I don't even remember the details of the dream. I couldn't even remember it when I was ripped from my slumber. All I know was that in my dream, something very bad had happened to Vera.
A feeling of dread washed over me again and again. The anxiety was so high that I felt as though I were going to lose my mind. I felt as though I may just be having a nervous breakdown. I was terrified.
I managed to sit myself up in my bed. I looked at the clock. It was four o'clock in the morning. I hated to wake the staff. But I couldn't shake the feeling that came over me, try as I might.
"Hey," I called. I wasn't sure who the overnight staff was. "Someone, can you come in here?"
Nothing. The house was so quiet that I could hear my own heart pound. The terror was mounting in me. I tried to calm my shattered nerves. But I couldn't. I was feeling more and more fear by the minute.
"Hey," I called out again. I banged my fist on the wall.
Finally, a staff that I hadn't seen before came into the room. I'm usually asleep when the night staff arrive. And I don't wake up until after they are gone in the morning. So I haven't met any of them.
"What's the matter?" the staff said. "Oh, by the way, my name is Brenda. What can I help you with?"
"Something is wrong with Vera. I just know that there is. Can you please go check on her?"
Brenda shook her head. She didn't expect me to have such a terrible speech impediment. "I'm sorry, What did you say?"
"Please check on Vera," I said.
She still had a difficult time understanding me. "Just slow down a little," she said. "You seem very agitated."
I slowed down my speech as much as I possibly could. I tried my best to pronounce my words slowly and carefully. Again, I said, "Please check on Vera."
"Oh, I see what you're trying to get across to me. It's okay. I'm sure Vera is sleeping. Just go back to sleep now. You must have just had a bad dream. Everything will be fine when you wake up in the morning."
Brenda covered me up a little and turned and walked toward the door. She smiled and walked out.
Panic again raced through me. I couldn't think. I had to do something quick. That dream was far too real. I still couldn't remember what it was. However, in the dream, I knew that Vera was hurt in some way. It could already be too late. I had to find out what happened to her.
"Hey," I said even louder than before. "Help!"
Brenda hurried back into the room. "Sh," she said. "You'll wake the others. I already told you..."
"Please, I begged. "You have to go check on Vera. Something is very wrong."
I'm sure that what I was saying sounded like simple babbling to Brenda. But I was determined to let her know that I meant business. I had to let her know that I was positive that something was wrong with Vera. And I was going to call her back into the room all night long if I had too.
Brenda looked at the clock. "It's nearly four-thirty. Everyone will be getting up in an hour and a half. Then you'll know that Vera is just fine. When I went to check on her before, her door was locked. And we can't go into a locked door. That's a right to privacy issue. I could lose my job for that. So, just go back to sleep. I'll have the next shift send her in to see you as soon as she wakes up. Is that alright?"
That was absolutely not alright. But I guessed that I didn't have any other choice but to leave her alone. This was one staff that obviously believed in doing everything by the book. And there was nothing that I could do or say to change her mind.
I leaned back against my pillow. I shot her an angry look and glared at her as she turned and left the room. Angry and frustrated, I kicked and turned for the rest of the night. There was no way that I was going to get my way in this. Thank God there was only an hour and a half left until it was time to get up. To me, it was going to seem like an eternity. I just knew it.
I lay there and stared at the clock. Then I said a prayer. I asked God to protect Vera and keep her safe until morning. Then I prayed that he calm me and reassure me that everything is alright.
I must have fallen back to sleep. I don't know how, with all that was going on in my head. But I woke up to the sound of someone screaming.
Professional Reviews
Awesome Book
I would highly recommend this book to everyone to give them a better insight into the life of people with disabilities and show they are no different than you or I. This is a great book. And I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
L. Wahl
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