I’ve said before that this story is a lot like other epic tales. Our hero must first overcome a series of challenges before he may eventually gain the honor of doing battle with the dread foe, thus saving the world and redeeming himself in the process. The writer in me likes this metaphor and the narrator in me finds a means of expression from it. It works for the nonce, and I’ll continue in that bent.
There are other parallels in our tale that mirror the epic tales of old. In those tales our hero almost always seeks the aid of a mentor to help him learn the skills or gain the golden gloozlegig that will aid in his battle against the great evil he must face. This mentor may be an aged wizard with motives of his own, a knight of the Old Republic, quietly waiting in his hut in hopes that a hero will one day arrive, or a master at arms who is rumored to have defeated the same foe in the past (this last is a new trend in literature, but it is still valid.)
Our hero is no different from these heroes of old and yesterday marked his first meeting with the “Wise Lady of the Plains” (Played by the lovely Sandra), who has taken on the task of training our young hero in some of the skills that will help him along his way. The magic she teaches is called occupational therapy.
According to the Wise Lady of the Plains, our heroes first session went better than expected. he managed to stay on task and at times even mastered one or two of the lessons she has begun teaching him. Some of these skills include following direction, critical thinking, problem solving and the beginnings of a great magic that will allow him to speak, even in the worst throes of the silence. A magic called sign language.
Our hero has not grasped the significance of speaking in the silence, but then since silence is all he has ever known, I expect that it may take some time before he catches on. he has found his own ways to let his sidekicks know what he’s needed in the past, but the wise one wishes that her way be used instead. Our hero is confused by this, but as the hero of the story, this narrator is sure that he will adapt in time and overcome, it’s just the way these stories go. They always lead to a happy ending.
I’m not narrating a tragedy here. It’s my job, were the story to turn in that direction to don my not-so-shiny armor and face any foe that might stand in our hero’s way. After all, the only evil the knight in not-so-shiny-armor cannot defeat is the dread Aut-ism itself. And if I’m not enough, the good Queen will get involved. That is a fate I wish on no one.
Trust me, they would rather deal with me.
At the end of his first day in training, our hero found himself tired and worn. How he felt about it is something i cannot tell you. What I do know is that he settled in for a much needed respite and slept for a few hours before facing taking his evening meal, then returned to bed at a far earlier hour than usual.
Who would have thought that a couple of stacking toys, a shape sorter and a bottle of bubbles could wear him out so easily?
For those of you who aren’t happy reading this tale in metaphor, here’s the short of it.
Therapy went well. Lil’ B. was exhausted afterward and took a long nap, followed by an early bedtime. The therapist said it was a great first day.
Only time will tell if we continue with “great days”
Now, I’m off to narrate another tale. Peace and the grace of whatever powers you hold dear be with you.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
@Jo,
That’s the way I’m playing it. He’s never even waved “hello” or “bye-bye” so getting him to use signs may be more of a challenge than getting him to talk, but we’ll see!
I am so glad that they are teaching him sign language. For us it was definitely the key to empowerment…but our little one is not autistic just behaviorally challenged.