When I stayed home from school for no particular reason, no one noticed. As a teenager I was never severely questioned about the hours I kept, the many activities I was engaged in. I don't think anyone noticed."
Wilhelm's private world provided her with a rich inner life. When she was put in charge of taking care of her younger brothers, she told stories to entertain them, and they were transfixed. As a child, Wilhelm's mother read to her a lot, and although people couldn't understand her speech, she began to read on her own without being taught. Her mother's dedication to reading helped Wilhelm grow as a reader. She related in CAAS that "I cannot remember a time when I could not read. Every week my mother went to the library with a shopping bag and brought home the world."
In kindergarten Wilhelm was cured of her disabling speech impediment. There was a speech therapist who worked there; Wilhelm was sent in for an evaluation. "The teacher listened to me for a few minutes and knew exactly what was wrong. She made me slow down and pronounce each syllable. My tongue had been put on fast forward at birth, and it was relatively simple to change it to normal speed," Wilhelm told CAAS.
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