I lay in bed the night before the fishing trip and thought it over, about my being deaf, about the years of not letting on I heard what was said, and I wonder if I can ever act any other way again. But I remembered one thing: it wasn't me that started acting deaf; it was people that first started acting like I was too dumb to hear or see or say anything at all.
The narrator reflects on his identity and experiences as a deaf person the night before a fishing trip. He contemplates the impact of others perceiving him as incapable of understanding or communicating, leading him to adopt the role of someone who cannot hear. This realization prompts him to question the authenticity of his behavior and whether he can change how he interacts with the world around him.
The narrator recognizes that his behavior was shaped by societal perceptions rather than a true reflection of his abilities. It was not his choice to act deaf; rather, it was the result of others treating him as if he lacked the capacity to engage. This insight sheds light on the complex dynamics of perception, communication, and identity, highlighting the power of societal attitudes in shaping individual experiences.
