He's Used to It

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.” 
 ~C. S. Lewis


Yesterday was your typical Monday.  School for Ryan, cleaning up after the weekend for me in the morning while playing with and refereeing for Richie and Maelynn, then a trip to Waco to take big brother to ABA.  We had just finished our third library book and had gone into coloring when they tumbled up the stairs.

Usually, these brothers race ahead of mom.  The one who is there to work with one of the graduate students wasn't too thrilled to see that his therapist wasn't quite there yet.  Usually a kind, clean cut young man meets him with a smile.  This time, our Ms. C came out and told him that S wasn't here yet, and he'd have to wait.

He wasn't thrilled.  He did, however, knock on the door just as he usually knows he should.  About two seconds later, Mr. S came right up the hall, apologetic and ready to work.

Once his brother was in the room, the most energetic, vibrant young boy I've laid eyes on in years bubbled over with stories of the old phone his mom gave him and how he loves Scooby Doo and several other things I can't remember.  He was so friendly and sweet, how could anyone not be taken with his excitement with everything under the sun?

They usually go around the corner and sit where they won't bother us... or that's what I imagine is the reason.  Or maybe they just don't usually like dealing with people.  I can't help but hope they haven't decided to ditch community with the rest of the human race due to some sort of cruel experience.

Either way, this time they stayed over with us.  This little guy was so energetic!  I can't say that enough.  He pretty much runs everywhere he goes, says mom, and all evidence points to that.  After all, he led Richie and Maelynn up and down the hall, an activity I usually wouldn't allow.

They just loved this kid.  He seemed to enjoy them as well.  It wasn't until Ryan's exploding onto the scene that I realized why they had this instant connection.

As Ryan bounded from the BARC door, Ms. C trying to tell me how he did, RYan discovered the pail of small toys this other brother had brought.  Ryan was interested.  Definitely interested.  So interested, in fact, that he helped himself.  I spent the next few minutes scrambling around, trying to get this Lego ghost away from Ryan and back to its owner.

Then, as the other mom said, "He's used to it with his brother.  It's really okay!" I saw him dealing with my Ryan in with abundant patience and kindness.

A. Little.  Boy.

A little boy who had a stranger holding his toy and seemed ready to run off with it.

He was completely calm.  Maybe even calmer than he started!

There's a lot to be said for kindred spirits.  Common ground.  I can't help but think that, though they didn't discuss it, though their chatter was all about pets, toys, phones, pictures, and movies, they experienced a certain comfort; a certain safeness that comes from common ground.

So proud of my Richie and Maelynn, and of that great young boy outside the BARC. 

Thanks be to God for new friends.