Billy has a fish named Eric. It's a homicidal maniac that killed its three tank-mates, but that's a Halloween story. Or maybe a Christmas story, since he got the tank and fish for Christmas.
But anyway, this is a heart-warming Valentine's Day tale.
Today, Billy had group therapy. A wonderful program at the FSU Speech and Hearing Clinic, group therapy allows him to get together with two other guys about his same age, and each of them have a grad student speech therapist assigned to them, and together they work on group interactions. They play games together, share snacks, complete projects.
Because Monday is the big V-day, they made Valentine's cards together. Great idea!
And this scene, worthy of a Hallmark movie, unfolds ...
INT. THERAPY WAITING ROOM – AFTERNOON.
Moms wait, purses in lap, staring at the clock as the final minutes of group therapy tick away. (Actually, we just barely made it back from Starbucks around the corner in time to pick up our kids before they locked the building.)
Beautiful Boy #1 – we'll call him CUPID – comes barreling into the room. He spots his mom and hands her his home-made card.
CUPID: I love you, Mom!
All the moms are choked up as she gives him a big hug and they admire his handiwork together. Heck, I want to hug Cupid.
CLOSE ON ME
Expectant grin on my face.
ANGLE ON WAITING ROOM DOOR
As Billy comes barreling in.
CUT TO:
CLOSE ON MY FACE
Expectant grin is wider. It's my turn. MY TURN!
ANGLE ON BILLY
As he drops his home-made card on the floor and heads for the water fountain.
CUT TO:
ME
Grin falters... but then I take a deep breath. It's OK. I've still got the card. I plaster the grin back on my face and reach for the card.
ANGLE ON THE CARD
As I pick it up and see this:
I swear to you I saw that evil fish laughing at me tonight.
Wednesday February 16 2011 11:15:52 pm
Smith
The Valentine's Day card I got from my husband was heartfelt. And the picture that my son Sam drew for me at daycare was sweet. But to be honest, this post is what kept me smiling all day long - and knowing that I wasn't alone. God bless Eric.
Whose side are those therapists on?
Saturday February 12 2011 07:24:54 pm
Lynn
Really? They couldn't have intervened on that? I'll give them the benefit of the doubt...maybe they thought that Billy's "mommy" was named Eric.
So funny!
Saturday February 12 2011 08:43:42 am
Ginny Marie
I've just been catching up, and am laughing hysterically at Eric the fish and the Tina Fey story! So funny! The Disney story, however, is upsetting...even though I don't have a child on the spectrum, that bullying scene should have been stopped. I'm hoping the copious notes the rep on the phone took will actually be used to help Disney's policies!
Agree with Maura
Friday February 11 2011 05:57:51 pm
JDinTLH
nobody can take the place of a boy's momma!
Friday February 11 2011 04:40:48 pm
Maura
Cute card! Nothin' says love like pipe cleaners.
I do hear the undercurrent of an "ouch," though. Chin up, friend. I'm sure Eric's one hell of a fish, but we all know you're Billy's girl.
(Tina Fey only comes in second.)
Oh My Goodness!
Friday February 11 2011 12:46:42 pm
Beth
Oh Amanda! I feel your pain and I KNOW that had to hurt but ... I am literally laughing out loud! I'm glad you found some humor there! :)
Cute!
Friday February 11 2011 12:12:02 pm
writerwoman61
Thanks for my morning giggle, Amanda!
Hugs,
Wendy
P.S. Just a heads-up that the text in your sidebar is doing weird things...font just keeps getting bigger and bigger as I scroll down the page...might want to get your personal technical advisor to work on that for you! WM
Too funny!
Friday February 11 2011 11:59:55 am
Laurie Wallin
Oh girl, I know that moment! It's such a crazy place we live in - suspended between reality and what we wish to happen. I love how you see the humor in this. Tina Fey's got nothing on you :).
Total 11 comments