Redneck Fire Alarm + Autism

On the way to work/school this morning, I showed this picture to The Boy.  I thought it was amusing and figured he would too.  What I didn't know was just how he would react.

The Boy looks at it, kind of chuckles and says: "At least you would never have to change the batteries on it."

Now really.  Was that the first thing you thought when you saw that picture?!

He proceeds to then tell me all the reasons why this would not actually work.  What are those?  Well, first off, who would hear the popcorn popping and know that there was a fire?  And then there is the whole deal of the house would probably be already destroyed by the time the heat really caused it to even start popping.  Plus, the picture was titled as a Smoke Alarm.  It would never detect smoke, but if it was a Fire Alarm, then it might work...over time. 

I can only assume that this is the autistic way of finding the picture funny.  For me, I think it is funny because...well, because it is so crazy I guess.  I mean, really.  Using Jiffy Pop as a fire alarm?!  C'mon! But what The Boy immediately finds amusing is that he wouldn't have to deal with batteries!

Autism has also been showing itself in other mysterious ways lately.  Or at least I am going to blame that.  I would hate to say that The Boy is just not nice.


The Boy has a class during 6th hour at school called Transitions which I have discussed before.  Before Christmas, there was only one other boy in the class.  Since the new year, two more kids have been added.


One of those kids is also in The Boy's freshman class.  However, this child has severe delays (they say they are related to him having seizures) and can not read.  


On the ride home from school one day, The Boy asks me how someone can go through life without knowing how to read.  I tell him that these people usually find ways around it by knowing where things are and using visual cues.  He asks me how they can use a phone if they don't know their numbers or how they can pay for anything if they don't know numbers or letters.  I told him that some do know their letters and numbers, but just haven't figured out how to put them all together to form words.  He asked why they can't read.  I tell him that just like his brain is wired differently than mine, so is theirs.


When I asked what brought this line of questioning on, he told me that it was because what had happened in his Transitions class.  One thing they do as part of this class is called a Copy Center.  The teachers complete a form telling what they need, how many and when it is needed.  The kids in the class get it all done for them.  Kills two birds with one stone that way.  Saves the teacher time and teaches kids responsibility and a life skill.


Evidently the two new kids in the class were being shown how this whole system works.  Their teacher filled out a fake request sheet and gave it to "L" and told him to ask questions if he needed help.  "L" took the paper and began looking at it.


The Boy asked him if he needed help.  "L" never answered.  The Boy asked again.  No answer from "L".  Finally, The Boy just looks at him and says "L. Do you have a question?  Can you even read that paper?"  


"L" tells The Boy that he can't read it.  The Boy proceeds to tell him, "If you can't read it then how are you going to know what you are doing?  You are going to have to ask for help you know."


All that The Boy said may have been true.  But he needs to learn a little tact!

I did remind The Boy that maybe "L" is a little embarrassed about the fact that he can't read, so it may be hard for him to ask for help.

Yeah, autism sucks.  But sometimes it is funny too.  Plus it helps remind me that some things that you don't even think about that come naturally to most others has to be taught.  Like tact!