I recently moved from Singapore, and to NY. It's been a rocky road, and let's just say my mental stability hasn't been the best. The school was different, I hated my town, and I was lonely. I had no friends. But there was Jack. (not his real name)
When I first started school, I noticed him. He would flap his arms, and scream. He also jumped and ran around. He also didn't talk much. There was an older lady who always walked around with him and told him what to say and where to go. Often he was pulled out of class too. During lunch I was alone a lot of the time, and I saw Jack. He would always talk and smile with the aids. I decided to go talk to him. I started by saying "hi". He smiled and started questioning me.
He did his usual roll. "Where do you live? What store do you go to? What restaurant?" etc. I answered them all. Everyday at recess we would play. He would question me 2 or 3 times everyday. I started to talk to him regularly. We would go to the "rocket ship" and go to Mars. He would comment on the fact that there was no gravity and we would float. We would sometimes go shopping. He would talk about how there was popcorn in the 3rd aisle at the local store, "Stop and Shop." One day I went to "Stop and Shop" and there actually was popcorn in that particular aisle.
I've been bonding with him. I love him now, as a friend. He and I simply are there for each other. He was there for me when I truly needed him. He's inspired me to later become a child psychiatrist and I've learned so much about Autism and it's a subject I am very passionate about.
I am not going to be going to school with him next year and am very nervous for him.
I don't want this friendship to fade. Because he changed my life so greatly, and I'm thankful for that.
Dobbs Ferry, NY