BUMPING INTO OLD FRIENDS
When Charles was still quite young we bumped
into someone I hadn’t seen for a long time in our local supermarket. Charles
began to talk excessively about robot wars, which was something he had started
to do and to anyone who would listen. She stared at him and asked how he was
doing now, while commenting on how differently he talked.
‘Different; from
what?’ I asked.
‘I mean, he speaks
so precisely, his words…’ Now she looked uncomfortable and her voice trailed
off.
‘Probably because
he has speech therapy,’ I said.
She glanced down
to watch Charles wriggling all over the floor, pretending to swim. Again I
found myself excusing him, telling her he’s autistic. Instantly I felt annoyed
with myself for feeling the need to explain to everyone.
I asked Charles to
get up, and for once he did as he was told. He then lurched forward and wrapped
his arms around her legs. She stepped back, alarmed. Her eyes were as large as
saucers, jaw wide open.
‘Well, we must be
going,’ I said, as I dragged Charles away.
I always felt I
was being judged by people, which left me feeling embarrassed, I’m not sure
why. Some people didn’t have a clue what
we were going through and most likely didn’t care either.
All I did know is
that it was the loneliest feeling in the world.
A bit later on, as
we approached the tills, Charles thought he saw this person again and instantly
let go of the trolley. Before I could say a word, he’d run off towards them,
waving and giving a complete stranger a bear hug.
‘Come here,’ I
shouted,’ that’s not who you think it is.’
Astonished faces
stared.
Toys, thank
goodness, distracted him. My face was burning and I sensed that I was the
entertainment of at least two tills down.
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