[M.D. Holloway]

We live on a cul-de-sac, across the street from a nice wood park with a pond. Needless to say it is an active place for parents to bring their kids. A woman down the street brings her young son out to the park a few times a week. He is a sweet kid, about 4, maybe 5 and often walks up our driveway if we are out in front and proceeds to play with our kid’s toys. It is somewhat obvious he is not like the other kids.

The first time he did this Max was a bit concerned. The mother was a little embarrassed but I told her it really wasn't a problem and my kids like to share their things. Max and Emma just looked at me like I was blue. The kid eventually rode off with his mother yapp'n at him.

"Dad, what’s wrong with that kid?" Max asked.

“There is nothing wrong with him, he just thinks different than other kids - he is autistic that’s all."

“What’s that mean?”

“You know how you can look at that tree and you see the tree, then you hear a car go by then you hear Mom call us for dinner then you hear or see something else? It’s like one thing then something else right? Bang Bang Bang. Someone who is autistic sees things all at once and sometimes it gets really confusing for them.”

“But Dad, how can he do stuff if it’s like that?”

“Well, sometimes autistic kids just kinda pull in and don’t want to do anything with anybody and they just may want to count sticks or paint or just sit and rock back and forth. It can be difficult but he seems like a pretty nice little guy and doing well.”

“Ya, he’s OK I guess. But Dad, I wish he was like my other friends though.”

“Max, you bring to the track the car you have, not the car you wish you had.”



Now – I know I butchered that quote, but one of you guys had that as a tag and I want to give you the credit you deserve! So fess up!

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