June 27: Helen Keller Day

It was a general rule in the Booth/Brennan household that the TV was off before school. Booth would get up before the kids and watch the early morning news and turned it off before Christine and Hank got up. Today they were running behind and the TV was still on while Christine ate her cereal.

"Mommy, Who's Helen Keller?"

Brennan looked up from making Christine's peanut butter and honey sandwich, "Whose who?"

Christine laughed, "Helen Keller. The lady on TV just said today is Helen Keller Day…"

Brennan put the sandwich in Christine's lunchbox and closed it. "Hellen Keller is a well known deaf and blind woman who despite her challenges learned to communicate with the help of her teacher Anne Sullivan. Because she had learned to communicate and go to school Ms. Keller was able to become an advocate for others who are blind and have other disabilities. Some of the programs she was involved in are still used today."

"Cool. How come she couldn't see or hear?"

"She got vey sick with a very high fever when she was a baby. Doctors now think she had meningitis or a strain of the flu. She was born before doctors knew how to treat a lot of illnesses and people got a lot sicker than they do now. Whatever illness she had contributed to her blindness and deafness, not the fever like previously thought ."

"Oh. How did she talk if she couldn't see people sign to her?"

"Her teacher and later companion, Ms. Sullivan would finger spell words in the palm of her hand so she knew what things were. She also spelled things back to Ms. Sullivan to get what she needed and wanted."

"That sounds like it took a long time."

"It probably did, but she went to college and wrote books and speeches by finger spelling back and forth with Ms. Sullivan. You can look up more information about her tonight when you get home from camp. There was a movie made about her life that we can watch after Hank goes to bed if you want."

"Tonight?"

"If you finish your breakfast so we can leave somewhat on time…"

"Okay."

"Booth, are you ready? Cam needs us on scene as soon as we can get there."

"Yeah. Christine get your shoes on. I'll put your bowl in the sink."

"Okay daddy!' Christine skipped off to her room.

B&B

Later that night Brennan put Hank to bed a little early and joined Christine on the couch with popcorn and M&M's while they watched The Miracle Worker staring Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft.

"Mommy, it doesn't have color!"

"No, it was filmed before they filmed movies in color."

"Oh. It's old…"

"Yes, but this one is the best. There is a newer version in color that we can watch another night if you want to."

"Okay."

When the movie was almost over Booth came over and smiled at Christine cuddled into Brennan's side asleep.

"I see Christine is enjoying the movie…"

Brennan smiled and ran her fingers through Christine's hair, "Yes, she fell asleep ten minutes in. we'll watch it again this weekend in the afternoon so she's not tired."

"Good idea. I'll take Hank on my errands Saturday so you two can watch in peace."

"Thank you. If I can get up without waking her she can sleep here tonight." Brennan turned the TV off and let Booth help her up. Once Brennan was on her feet she turned and covered Christine up. "Goodnight sweetheart. I love you." Brennan kissed Christine's forehead. She smiled when Booth returned with Christine's bunny that he tucked next to her and kissed her forehead. " Goodnight, Angel I love you.."