The silent boyHassan sits at his desk staring at the blackboard. The teacher writes on the blackboard, then turns and asks a question. Hassan knows the answer yet hopes the teacher does not ask him to answer the question. Is Hassan lazy? No. But he is painfully shy about his rural accent and he fears being made fun of. Hassan is so shy that the only place he feels entirely comfortable talking out loud is at home. It’s been this way since he moved with his family to Tehran from the south six months ago. His accent isn’t something he ever noticed before. Now it’s almost all he thinks about. The more people make fun of him the more he slips into a dream-world, where he re-visits his hometown, and plays sports with his distant friends. He doesn’t like the real-world behavior of Tehran’s haughty citizens. It all began the first time he went to the bakery. There he noticed people looked at him strangely. The baker laughed. Others teased him. He left without buying bread. He ran all the way home, crying. It’s been no different at school. Other students wait for him to speak then erupt in laughter. At first, his teacher didn’t notice. Then he tried to correct the students. But who really listens to teachers? Finally, fearing more embarrassment, Hassan pleaded with his teacher to no longer ask him questions so he wouldn’t have to speak in public. What right is Hassan being denied? Is there just one correct accent? Is it correct to tease sensitive children because they are different? What would you do if you were Hassan?
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