Wednesday, March 26, 2008

An Interesting Experience

The strangest thing happened this afternoon. I was on the deck sitting in the sun reading a book, when the dog went completely bolistic. I got up to pull her from the front windows when the door bell rang and then the front door opened. I thought it was an intruder and I yelled, "NO!". The door slammed shut. I got the dog under control and stepped out.

One lone little boy about the age of 4 1/2 or 5 standing there with my doggy door bell in his hand. I asked if I could have it back and he handed it to me, then opened his arms and wrapped them around my legs and said "Hiiiiiiii!"

"Where do you live?"

he repeated, "Where do you live?"

What is your name?

"What is your name?"

I took him to the end of the sidewalk, knowing there were new neighbors at the end of the street. "You want to show me where you live?"

"You want to show me where you live?" he repeated.

We started walking. I didn't know what to do. We came to the first house with a playground in the front yard. "Is this where you live?"

"PBS Kids rule!" he started singing.

We walked, hand in hand up to the front door where I rang the bell. I could see people there but they didn't answer the door. "Is this where you live?"

"There is a playground! Is this where you live?"
"What is your name?"

He repeated. "What is your name?"

We continued up the culdisac hand in hand. I would ask a question and he would repeat it. I could hear something in the woods and as I got closer I could hear a frantic screams of a woman calling "Antonio! Come home Antonio! I love you!"

As we got closer to the house I started calling, "I found your little boy!"

Closer to her house she heard me. She came out of the woods weeping hysterically. Calling "Antonio! Antonio!"

I think she hugged me three times. I told her to calm down, her boy was home and if I could ever help again, please call my cell.

My heart wrenched for her. I can't imagine having a child missing.

She told me, "He is Autistic and has moderate RA."

I just know I found a new friend....and I don't mind running a sweep the next time he decides to go on the lamb.

He was an Angel.

I called Ian's Jennifer later to explain his symptoms. She said it was Echo Autism. But can I tell you the pure joy of holding his hand and talking to him? Like a visit from God himself.

3 comments:

Dominic said...

Wonderful moments seem to be a special property of that deck of yours. Thanks for sharing yet another one.

Roberta said...

Hmph. This place is magic. I just don't ever forget it.

Unknown said...

Oh, that awful feeling when they wander out of sight - glad he had you to bring him back!