Two Aspies Are Better Than One

Yesterday was my last day of mentoring for the current school year. And since LM is already out of school, I asked him if he wanted to come along with me-- you know, to help.

"Why?" He asked. He always asks such awesome questions.

"Because LPB has Asperger's just like you! And I thought you'd like to meet him-- he doesn't have very many friends."

This got LM to thinking. He's a champion of the underdog, after all, and I knew I'd reel him in with that little tidbit.

"Okay."

When we got to the school and caught sight of LPB, my little man walked right up to him. Shy is not a word in his vocabulary.

"Hi! My name's LM, what's your name?"

LPB didn't answer at first, but then reluctantly proffered his name. LM then stuck his hand out to shake (the wrong hand), and LPB took it (with the doubly wrong hand) and I smiled down at their awkward exchange. This was gonna be fun.

We sat down to play a game together and I marveled at these two boys. One would say something, the other would completely ignore it, and neither seemed offended by this trend. I thought to myself, "Sheesh-- why bother with conversation at all?" but for some reason unbeknownst to me, this style of communication was working for them.

The game soon morphed into a sort of imaginary scenario in which game pieces became bombs and all hell broke loose. I don't know when or how it happened-- but they were totally tracking with each other.

"Pretend this is their ship and they are going to attack the enemy."

"This one's army is about to bomb the bad guys!"

"I'm sending a spy to see what the enemy is doing."

Sometimes they'd listen and go along with the other one's idea, but more often than not, they played in a sort of parallel manner rather than actually intersecting. And yet, they managed just fine. (Neither of them talked to me one iota, by the way. I could have gone out for coffee and wouldn't have been missed.)

At the end of our hour, LM and I left, and you know what? He hasn't mentioned LPB since. And I'm pretty sure LPB hasn't given LM any thought either. Aspies....