๐ฅน LONG READ, TRIGGER WARNING : THE FEELS:
So, every Friday I take my son bowling at his favorite alley. We've been coming here since he was 2 years old and we know many of the regulars, including a much older gentleman in his 70s who I'll call "Dan".
We noticed that Dan was quiet and only bowled with one ball, always had a buddy with him. Dan is on the spectrum, but EXTREMELY quiet, reserved, and moves very slowly. Dan has never spoken a word to us in 10 years, except to pause his bowling, stand still, stare at us, nod once, and turn around. That's his way of saying hello and goodbye. Dan doesn't deal with hardly ANYONE. Dan will simply start walking toward the damn exit with the bowling ball when he's mad. ๐
I realized that maybe by now, 10 years lol, Dan might accept a little more from us, so we decided to grab Dan a late Valentine's Day present. Nothing major, but just a few things I noticed over the years he likes.
I expected absolutely nothing, knowing how painfully reserved Dan is and asked his buddy/advocate if I could sit his present down. We decided to get Dan a 6 pack of Sprite, new fun socks (he wears them all the time in white), a beanie (ive never seen hin without one), a gift card for more bowling, and exactly 2 Ferrero Rochers (he likes to snack in pairs only). ๐ญ
We sat his things down, waved and came over to our lane. After about 30 minutes, it felt like someone was hovering behind me. I turned around and it shocked the shit out of me.
Y'ALL IT WAS DAN. ๐ฅน๐ญ
He still didn't say a word. But he pointed at my son and did a rocking the baby sign. I nodded my head yes, I realized he was asking if that was my son. I promise you it took me everything not to cry because I couldn't believe Dan was FUCKING "TALKING TO ME". I could see the eyes of his buddy and he was teary eyed and smiling.
Dan still stood there for about 30 seconds and then he took exactly 2 steps towards me. I asked him if he was okay. He nodded. Then he took exactly 2 more steps. I paused to see what the hell Dan was doing. ๐๐ญ
Dan reached into the folded brim part of his beanie and pulled out a Ferrero Rocher. DAN HELD HIS HAND OUT TO GIVE ME THE FUCKING FERRERO ROCHER. I asked if it was for me and he held it out again. Then he picked the 2nd one from the brim and looked at me and nodded. I realized Dan wanted to eat it with me. ๐ญ๐ฉ๐ฅน
When I tell you I felt like collapsing in happy tears, it took everything to hold it together. Dan and I ate the candy and then quite perfectly, he also handed me his trash. I busted out laughing. My son came over to check on me and then he did the worst possible thing he could've done...
He crashed into Dan full force, squeezed him, and yelled HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, MR. DAN! I was terrified. ๐ฉ I knew Dan didn't like to be touched or yelled at. I pulled my son back to apologize and Dan put his arm around him. I realized all the regulars were sobbing.
It was like they knew they were both on the spectrum and different but exactly the same. Dan patted his back and then let go. He gave me the baby rocking sign again and then walked away.
I don't know if Dan will ever talk to us again or even act the same. But we waited 10 years to say hi and it was worth it.
april fools is coming up, hereโs your reminder:
-donโt fake coming out
-donโt fake a pregnancy
-donโt fake a serious injury
-donโt ask someone on a date as a joke
these are not jokes. april fools is for whoopie cushions and rubber spiders, not messing with peoples feelings.