Mary only like kids that are cute. A few years back, Mary was asked to help out for a kindergarden graduation ceremony in a church hall.
At the Kindergarden
Mary meet up with her friend at a little childcare & kindergarden located at near Fahjar LRT station. Mary sat on a children stool while waiting. She noticed somebody pulling her sleeves but when she turns around, she found no one. Its only during the third time Mary saw the "culprit". A shy little boy. This little boy led her to the front of the television. It was showing Mr Bean cartoon. The little boy pull her fingers, wanting her to sit down. Mary sat down on the floor with her legs crossed. This little boy sat beside her, leaning his arms comfortable on her lap. Mary didn't notice anything weird. After awhile, this little boy climb onto her lap and they watched Mr Bean cartoon together. After a while, Mary's friend walked over to her with a puzzled look. She told Mary that this is not a normal child. He is an autistic. Mary was pretty surprised. His name is Tendious. Not only my friend was surprised, all the caretakers in the kindergarden was surprised.
One of the care takers switched off the TV and gathered the kids. Tendious wasn't keen and started crying and ran around while they tried to carry him up. Mary friend told her that nobody is able to carry this boy up peacefully. He was running away from the caretaker when Mary picked him up. He stopped crying. After that, Mary become the in-charge for this little boy.
Mary is inexperience with kids. Tendious actually picked up his shoes, wore it, and step out of the kindergarden. He seems to hate the place because he dashed the moment he stepped out of the place. Mary managed to carry him back. Because Autistic children don't talk, Mary have to observe the little boy to understand him.
One of the care takers switched off the TV and gathered the kids. Tendious wasn't keen and started crying and ran around while they tried to carry him up. Mary friend told her that nobody is able to carry this boy up peacefully. He was running away from the caretaker when Mary picked him up. He stopped crying. After that, Mary become the in-charge for this little boy.
Mary is inexperience with kids. Tendious actually picked up his shoes, wore it, and step out of the kindergarden. He seems to hate the place because he dashed the moment he stepped out of the place. Mary managed to carry him back. Because Autistic children don't talk, Mary have to observe the little boy to understand him.
At the Church
On the bus, Tendious was sitting on Mary's lap. One of the caretaker was passing cuttlefish around. Mary offered Tendious and Tendious pushed Mary's hand away. Her friend told her this is the way autistic children do rejections. Before that piece of cuttlefish went into Mary's mouth, she double checked with her friend will she be rejected if she eat the cuttlefish. The answer is no.
Mary's friend told her that this little boy remembers things he like very well. She told Mary Tendious like the playground in the church. And true, Tendious lead Mary to the playground which was a distance away from the entrance they moment they step off the bus.
At the hall, the other children was preparing while Tendious sat aside, playing with his favourite puzzle. Tendious wanted a toy car but another child was playing with it. Tendious grab Mary's hand towards the toy car, wanting Mary to get for him. Mary did not know what to do cos it is wrong to snatch. Mary remembered she didn't manage to get the car for him.
Its time to change! Mary's friend challenged her. If she is able to change Tendious clothes, today lunch is on her. Well, Mary have no experience, but she gave it a try. She took his bob-dog t-shirt and shover it infront of tendious. No reaction. Then Mary lifted tendious t-shirt once. No reaction again. Mary did that again. This time round, Tendious lift up both his arms and Mary took off his t-shirt and dressed up for him. Her friend was impressed. And Mary show a proud face. Because Mary did not know how to change diapers, so she left it for the seniors to do it. Phew, free lunch!
On the bus, Tendious was sitting on Mary's lap. One of the caretaker was passing cuttlefish around. Mary offered Tendious and Tendious pushed Mary's hand away. Her friend told her this is the way autistic children do rejections. Before that piece of cuttlefish went into Mary's mouth, she double checked with her friend will she be rejected if she eat the cuttlefish. The answer is no.
Mary's friend told her that this little boy remembers things he like very well. She told Mary Tendious like the playground in the church. And true, Tendious lead Mary to the playground which was a distance away from the entrance they moment they step off the bus.
At the hall, the other children was preparing while Tendious sat aside, playing with his favourite puzzle. Tendious wanted a toy car but another child was playing with it. Tendious grab Mary's hand towards the toy car, wanting Mary to get for him. Mary did not know what to do cos it is wrong to snatch. Mary remembered she didn't manage to get the car for him.
Its time to change! Mary's friend challenged her. If she is able to change Tendious clothes, today lunch is on her. Well, Mary have no experience, but she gave it a try. She took his bob-dog t-shirt and shover it infront of tendious. No reaction. Then Mary lifted tendious t-shirt once. No reaction again. Mary did that again. This time round, Tendious lift up both his arms and Mary took off his t-shirt and dressed up for him. Her friend was impressed. And Mary show a proud face. Because Mary did not know how to change diapers, so she left it for the seniors to do it. Phew, free lunch!
After the performance, tendious returned to his mum. Mary stood behind them. A sudden saddness. Mary never have maternal feeling until she met tendious. After everything ended, they left the place. Tendious was sent to special school. After that day, Mary did not get to see him anymore. No news at all. I do hope one day I can see him again. Tendious, you are someone special to me. I miss you.
