Ryan and a Girl Part II

"Grandma, guess which grandson asked a girl out?" I asked my mom over the phone. I could hear her think a moment. She replied, "Cody." I answered, "Nope."

Pause. "Zach?" She tried again. I answered, "Nope."

Silence. S i l e n c e.

"Ryan?????" Her tone slid up slowly as she really questioned her own answer. "Yep," I said. "Ryan!"

My mom couldn't believe her ears. "Really??" Obvious disbelief. I relayed the entire story to her. "Wow!" was all she could say. "Wow!"

Now to get to Kim's answer. On Tuesday morning, she told Ryan that she'd have to think about it. When Ryan told me that Tuesday evening, I simply said that was fine. Wednesday evening Ryan called her to ask again. She still had to think about it. I again responded, "That's o. k." Finally, on Friday morning Kim said that she could not go. Ryan called me to let me know. What else could I say, but "I'm still glad you tried."

It really frustrated me that Kim could not give Ryan an answer, be it yes or no. However, I did not know her circumstances, so I could not get angry. I only knew that my teenage son with autism could say the words AND get the courage to ask her--simultaneously.

Ryan was my son who did not talk until he was five. I remember doctors telling me, when he was diagnosed with autism, to accept it, deal with it, but there was/is no cure for autism. Without saying it, this was their message: No hope. I would love to have them see Ryan now and dare to tell me those same words. There is always hope!