The Fires of Autism
By Lynn Messing
Copyright 2014 Lynn Messing
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the events or characters in this story and real events or real people -- living or dead (except the author or her son) -- is purely coincidental.
This story is lovingly dedicated to my son Andy, who was the inspiration for Todd.
Table of Contents
The Sparks Ignite
Response to the Alarm
The Fire Rages
Firefighting
Afterword
References
Also by Lynn S. Messing
Bonus Story: The Not-So-Great Escape
Free Sample of Echolalia
The Sparks Ignite
"I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Wygant. Todd has autism."
The doctor's pronouncement sounded like a death knell to Calvin. The son he thought he would have did not exist. Todd would never speak. Never get married. Never even have a friend. He wouldn't play baseball or attend a prom. Todd's life would be so much less than Calvin had thought it would. So much less than Calvin wanted for his son.
Calvin set his jaw and pinched his lips into a tight line, the diagnosis tolling in his mind. Autism. He hadn't wanted to believe it.
He remembered how that word had first insinuated itself into their family.
It was his mother-in-law June who had been the first to notice something amiss. The conversation she and Laura had had was burned into Calvin's brain. It had occurred in the kitchen a couple of months after Todd's first birthday while Calvin had been playing Candy Land with Jerome in the living room. The door separating the rooms had been open, and the conversation was clearly audible.
June had hesitantly approached his wife, concern evident in her voice. "Laura, have you taken Todd to see Dr. Rosen lately?"
"Of course, Mother. I've taken him to all of his well-visit appointments." Although Calvin could not see Laura, he could readily imagine her rolling her eyes as she said this.
"Well, maybe you should take him again, soon. He's not behaving like other children his age. He should be pointing and imitating people by now. I think you should have an expert check him out. Ask Dr. Rosen to refer you to a neurologist."
"There's nothing wrong with Todd!"
"Laura, surely you've seen that his behavior is very different than Jerome's was."
Calvin heard something being slammed on the kitchen table as Laura began to speak. "So, he's a little different than his brother; 'different' doesn't mean 'bad.' You always have to have something to complain about. Can't you just for once be happy for me that I have such a wonderful family?"
Calvin had been surprised that June didn't rise to the bait. Instead, Laura's mother took a deep, calming breath and tried again. "Laura, I'm a nurse. I've seen lots of kids and I know. Todd's not reaching his milestones. There is something wrong. And the sooner you address it, the better off Todd will be."
"Oh, so now I'm a bad mother, just because I don't rush Todd off to the doctor at your slightest whim."
Calvin could tell that June's store of patience had run out. He had to admit to himself that although he thought June was way off-base, she was actually the one handling the conversation in a more reasonable fashion.
"That's my grandson whose life you’re playing with. OK, I tried to break it to you gently, but you're just not listening. So here it is: I think Todd has autism."
"You're insane. He doesn't rock. He looks at us. He likes to be cuddled. He's nothing like autistic kids."
"Laura, I know what he does and doesn't do. I've baby-sat him enough. But I've also seen plenty of kids with autism. Many autistic kids don't behave like that. Just go, have him checked out."
Calvin briefly considered interrupting his game with Jerome to go into the kitchen to smooth things over, to calm Laura down and to support her against June's accusations of Todd having autism. Before he had a chance to do so, however, the conversation came to an abrupt end.
"I think it's time for you to leave. Good night, Mother."
Of course as soon as the children were in bed, Laura railed aloud against her mother's advice. Calvin, ever the optimist and the proud father, had fully agreed with Laura. June's notion had seemed preposterous at the time.