I had a lisp as a child and struggled with the sneaky letter “S”. Having front teeth and then not having teeth suddenly, as children are prone to do, I believe caused the problem. To correct the issue, I was dragged quite obviously and embarrassingly out of class to go to a special class for children with speech problems. Day after day, I was forced to read Aesop’s fables aloud as they diagnosed my deficiency.
What I find interesting is that Aesop became a part of me without me realizing it. Talking animals inhabit many of my stories. They are as real to me as people. I know some readers may not enjoy talking animals, but I adore them. Even Aelda, a character in my last manuscript was born with a nod to Aesop’s name. The subconscious is so intriguing, so clever. Looking back, I can feel the littleness I felt as I was marked with what I perceived as the bad-sort-of different. Only, I am proud of it now. I even miss the lisp. Whenever I meet people with lisps, I am endeared. What we are made of, what we become, is often created from the most curious events. This is so charming. Cheers to whatever makes you, you.
kate-taggart.com 