Reaching the 'Point of No Return' in Public

摘要

On a seelthering au-gust day, I decide to spend the afternoon with J, my 3(1/2)-year-old, riding the trolley that cruises around our city. J is autistic with limited speech, but his smile tells me he agrees with my idea. "Should I follow you in the car?" my husband, Karl, asks worriedly. "We'll be fine," I say confidently. J's waiting patiently at the trolley stop. Karl's worries aren't unfounded. Because J can't communicate functionally, he gets frustrated easily. Add to that his hypersensitivity to stimuli, and we never know what will happen. J boards the trolley: no problem. Reluctantly, Karl drives away. Today's ride is free because it's so hot out, but that also means it's crowded. The clanging of the bell, which sounds so quaint on the out-. side, is much louder on the inside.