Mr. ILLY, the Deaf-Blind Clown was sitting on the porch at his home enjoying a breezy summer evening with his new hearing service dog, Chester, laying beside him. The evening sunlight began to fade into darkness. Streetlights and house lights began to glow.

It was the last day of June and Mr. ILLY was looking forward to the next day as it would begin to signal the July 4th holiday and weekend. He was anxious to see the holiday because it would mean a lot of different things for him. The number one thing it meant; he was going to be able to entertain some people at parties performing his tear-jerking, full of laughter skits!!

Sitting on the porch he was thinking of all the excitement when suddenly Chester became alert and stood up looking straight ahead. Wondering what his dog was looking at, Mr. ILLY looked in the direction of Chester's glance. Someone was walking toward him but he could not see who.

Then Mr. ILLY saw who it was as the person was standing right there in front of him. It was the new AADB President and not only that but his Vice Presidential choice was standing beside him.

With eyes wide as saucers, Mr. ILLY asked, "What are you guys doing here?"

Mr. Arabie answered, "Thought we would stop by to see you!"

"Well, I sure am surprised to see you here in my neck of the woods!"

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Mr. Jackson, the new Vice President.

"You are coming to our victory celebration in two days, right?" asked Mr. Arabie.

"Of course I wouldn't miss it for the world!" exclaimed Mr. ILLY.

"Well, great!" Mr. Jackson chimed in. "We want you to perform for the audience!"

"Would be most thrilled to do so!" Mr. ILLY exclaimed.

Two days later everyone that had been invited to the party was gathered about after laughing over a performance by Mr. ILLY. However, no one had seen Mr. Arabie or Mr. Jackson. Mr. ILLY knew where they were, though.

When the time came for the celebration to hit its high peak, Mr. ILLY was standing in front of a sign language interpreter who was voicing his signing.

"Good evening everyone!" he signed, "Many of you have asked where are the guys we came here to celebrate with? They are here and will make their grand appearance in a minute. Let me assure you that they are not going to be an ordinary team."

When those words were spoken curtains began to be parted. When the curtains were completely parted there sat Mr. Dan Arabie and Mr. Timothy Jackson. They were sitting in some fancy throne-like chairs with a backdrop of the world circled by hundreds of signing tactile hands! Mr. Arabie was wearing his famous LSU team clothes complete with a cap on his head and Mr. Jackson was all decked out in his favorite Denver Broncos attire!

Everyone began clapping, waving hands, and stomping feet! And of course laughing because there right smack in the middle of the two was Mr. ILLY holding up a USA flag and trying to bow at the same time to pay tribute to the "Chief' of the Deaf-Blind USA!!

Written by:
Mr. ILLY, the Deaf-Blind Clown
June 30, 2009