“Remember, guys.” I turned to James and Ian, tucked into their beds. “Your first day of school is tomorrow.” Neither boy answered me. Neither could. James had just turned 5 and Ian was 3 when we received the reason for their delay in speaking even the most rudimentary words.
Autism severely impacted their progress, and we needed to get them into a special program as soon as possible. Early February? No matter. Get them both started with professionals who could help them.
“Instead of a story, I’m going to tell you about tomorrow.” They kept their eyes on me as I continued. “Remember the school we visited today? Tomorrow, you’ll get on a bus and go back.” Ian yawned and James shifted in his bed. “After you’re done, it’ll bring you back to Mom and me.” I looked at each boy. “Understand?” They didn’t even nod. I bent over and kissed each good night.
The next morning had Sandi and me scrambling. Another diaper change for Ian, a dispute over a toy with James and a desperate search for a shoe, but we succeeded. Ahead of schedule, we had each boy dressed, coat on and wearing a backpack that reached to their knees. When the bus stopped at our drive, I took James by his hand while Sandi led Ian, and we walked them out of our home.
I put my arm around her shoulder and waved with her until the bus rounded the corner. For the first time in their lives, they left us and were out of our care. We returned to the house, warm, but now strangely quiet. I poured a cup of coffee for each of us and held one out to her. “Are you okay?”
She dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “Yes. I think so.”
William R. Bartlett lives in Belton with his family.