Little Miss Pardon

Little Miss Pardon lived in a little house in a place called Hearingtown.  Everyone could hear from a mouse sneeze to giants footsteps without any problem.

Little Miss Pardon couldn't hear properly and found it difficult to meet people and understand them.

One day Little Miss Pardon met Mr Quiet.  "Mmmm" said Mr Quiet.  "Sorry" said Little Miss Pardon, "I can't hear you, can you speak a little louder?"  "Mmmmmmm, mmmm" he said a bit louder.  "I'm sorry I still can't hear you", and off she went.  How rude thought Mr Quiet.  Little Miss Pardon felt sad and silly at not being able to hear and be able to talk to Mr Quiet.

Next day Little Miss Pardon met Mr Noisy. "BOOM, BOOM, BOOM" he said.  "I am sorry" said Little Miss Pardon, "could you say that again a little quieter?" "BOOM, BOOM, BOOM" he said again almost as loud.  "I'm really sorry" said Little Miss Pardon, "but I really can't tell what you are saying", and she went on her way.  How rude thought Mr Noisy, I thought shouting at deaf people was helpful.

How sad Little Miss Pardon thought, I wish Mr Noisy were not so loud, it makes the sounds funny and I can't hear them properly.  I would like to have a nice peaceful chat.

Later she met Mr Rush.  "Blah, Blah, Blah" he said zooming around.  "Sorry" said Little Miss Pardon "please could you stand still when you talk to me?"  "Blah, Blah, Blah" he said again, still rushing about.  "I'm so sorry said Little Miss Pardon, "I have no idea what you are saying," and she went on her way.  How rude thought Mr Rush.  How sad thought Little Miss Pardon, I wish people could keep still when they speak to me, so that I can understand them better.

The next day she met Little Miss Chatterbox.  "Blah, chat, boom, Mmmmmm, Mmmmm" she said.  When Little Miss Pardon could get a word in, she said "sorry I can't tell what you are saying, would you slow down a bit?"  Miss Chatterbox was already talking about something else.  "Blah, Blah, Mmmmm" she said.  "I'm really sorry," said Little Miss Pardon, "I really have no idea what you are saying, and off she went.  How rude thought Little Miss Chatterbox.  How sad thought Little Miss Pardon, I do wish people would slow down and pause so I can tell what they are saying.  I feel so silly, but would love a chat with Little Miss Chatterbox.

By now Little Miss Pardon was getting fed up of not being able to understand and thought she would be better not meeting people at all.

She decided to give it one more try.  Before long she met Mr Rude. "Meh, Meh, Meh" he said facing away from Little Miss Pardon.  I'm sorry said Little Miss Pardon, "but I need you to look at me so I can tell what you are saying."  "Meh, Meh, Meh" he said again looking in the other direction. "I'm sorry, I can't tell what you are saying" and she went on her way really fed up at having no one to talk to.

On her way home she met Mr Perfect.  He looked at her and in a nice clear voice said, "Good afternoon"  "Good afternoon Mr Perfect" she replied.  "What a lovely day for a chat," continued Mr Perfect, perfectly.  "It is indeed," said Little Miss Pardon, "it's so nice to be able to hear you and chat with you."  After a while Mr Perfect and Little Miss Pardon said goodbye.  Little Miss Pardon felt much happier and didn't feel stupid any more.

On his way home Mr perfect thought, what a lovely person to chat to, I really can't understand why people think Little Miss Pardon is rude and stupid.

Remember next time you speak to someone, speak in a nice clear voice, not too quiet, not too loud, stand still and look at them and you might well be their Mr Perfect.