Chapter Twenty-one: Jumping for Joy

Summary

• The narrator experienced prejudice in Korea for not speaking Korean, which led to feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. They were known for their intelligence, but not being able to communicate overshadowed this.
• John, the narrator's sibling, was praised for learning Korean despite lower expectations due to his appearance, whereas the narrator continued to face pity.
• Their mother, who had experienced similar challenges when moving to America, understood the narrator's struggles and provided comfort.
• The mother's career in linguistics seems to stem from her experience with the interplay between language skills and perceived intelligence.
• The family discusses a video of Eugene, another family member, possibly demonstrating an ability to communicate which they had previously not realized.
• The narrator reflects on how harmful it can be to someone's self-esteem and mental health when they’re fully cognizant but unable to communicate.
• There's a description of Angelman syndrome as the “happiness syndrome” and how this might be a misunderstanding of the true internal experience of those with the condition.
• An attempt to communicate with Eugene using a letterboard is delayed as the family prepares by watching instructional videos.
• The family learns about the concept of 'encoding' and how motor skills impact the ability to communicate verbally.
• Anjeli, a speech therapist, rejects the outdated idea that speech and intelligence are directly related and introduces a tailored communication approach for Eugene.
• Eugene uses a simplified letterboard to communicate 'yes,' suggesting that he is capable of understanding and forming thoughts that he was previously unable to express.
• A past event is recalled where the narrator bonded with Eugene over a trampoline, an activity that had helped him learn to jump.
• The chapter ends with the narrator joining Eugene on a trampoline, cherishing the moment of reprieve from their current worries and reflecting on the freedom and agency that jumping provides Eugene.
• An abrupt departure is prompted by a phone call, signaling urgency and possible troubles awaiting at home.