Through their eyes

Chapter 4

Chapter 4-The first weekend

      A few days later it was the weekend. It was Friday at 3pm as I play on my phone, bored out of my mind. Ignoring the work in my binder that was whispering my name.

     Melissa was having a hard day, I could hear her in her room screaming. Today at school was a very sensory overloaded day for her, and the therapy's pushing her to work on things she has a hard time on pushed her over the edge. She's been upset since school but now she can do it in her own private room without 'bugging' the other kids.

     I go to her door and knock softly, "Melissa? Can I come in sissy?" I ask and she just cries in response, I'm not sure if she had her device do to her aggression at the moment. I slowly go in her room and smile softly at her. "Hey Mel, Is there anything I can do to help you right now?" I ask, going to her and rubbing her hair as she stays sitting on her bed.

     'Story?' She signs, sniffling at me. I nod and get her favorite book, reading it to her as she rocks. As I finish the book she frowns, 'More book'. She signs and I laugh, "Sure. Another book." I say, reading maybe four more books before she is half asleep.

     "Take a name okay? Well wake you up for dinner." I say to her before I tuck her in, rubbing her hair for a few minutes before she falls asleep. I smile before turning off her light and leaving her room, closing the door softly as to not wake her.

     I go to the kitchen to get a snack, Mom hugging me. "You calmed her down.. Thank you dear." She says to me and I kinda laugh at her, "Of course Mom." I say before making myself a sandwhich and going to my room. I eat and watch Netflix.

     I get a text as I eat, grabbing my phone. 'Hey. Wanna hang out today?' Leo has texted me. I smile and finish my sandwhich before responding, 'Sure if I can. Maybe we can have a sleepover?' I text back, cleaning the crumbs off of my bed.

     I go and ask my mom if I can hang out with Leo, or possibly have a sleepover. She nods, "Sure. I'm glad your making a friend." She says and I nod, running back to my room happily.

     I grab my phone and wait for a response. He responds, 'Sure. Sleepover at your house?' He texts and I clap. 'Sure! Of course make sure you can.' I text back and go back to my mom. "Can Leo stay over?" I ask and she nods, "Yes hun, You can have a sleepover."

     I smile and clap happily, going back to my room and watching Netflix while I wait for him to respond. 'My Dad said yes. Would your parents or guardians be up to meeting my dad?' He texts and I nod, going to the living room and sitting on the couch. I've been having to go back and fourth anyway.

     "Would you be up to meeting Leo's Dad?" I ask my Mom and she smiles, "Sure Hun. Maybe they can stay for dinner." She says and I nod. 'She said sure, would he like to stay for dinner? That's when dad is home.' I text back in response.

     I hum, him texting back somewhat instantly. 'Dad says sure.' He responds and I smile. "His dad said sure to staying for dinner." I say to my Mom and she nods and she had started dinner during my talking to him about sleepovers.

     Eventually Dad gets home, him kissing moms cheek and rubbing me and Melissa's hair as he sits down. Leo and his dad knock at the door, Mom getting the door. "Hello, You must be Leo. And you must be his dad." She smiles as she greets them.

     "Yes ma'am. I'm Leo. This is my father." He says, he was in his uniform standing y'all and proper, I was confused at him as she brings them in and to the dinner table. "This is my Husband Mark, These are my kids Asher and Melissa, and I'm their mother Sarah." She says to Leo's father.

     "Nice to meet you. This is obviously Leo, and I'm Ben." He says, sitting down and watching Leo as he sits down. "Thank you Mrs.McKenzie for having us. I apologize if we were late." Leo says to my Mom, he was being so formal. I didn't like how robotic he was being. Maybe when his dad leaves I can ask him about that.

Soon after dinner the parents chat for 30 minutes until Leo's dad, Ben, leaves. I grab Leo's hand and drag him to my room, I showed him the house while the parents talked. "Leo what was that? You were being so robotic and formal. I didn't like it." I said and he sighs, "My father expects perfection. Basically me being diagnosed with Autism wasn't even a thing to him. That made him push me harder." He says as he sighs and looks away.

"I'm sorry." I say as I rub his shoulder to try and comfort him. "It's okay I suppose. He hates if I'm stimming, it's an imperfection. And I'm sure he'll have plenty to say when I go home." He says, looking at me with a soft smile. I smile sadly at him.

"Perfection isn't everything. I think your perfect the way you are. Not by being formal and robotic, but by being yourself." I say, smiling at him as he smiles back. He hugs me happily and I laugh, hugging him back as we just hug for awhile.

"Thank you." He says, blushing of embarrassment as he pulls out of the hug. I hum, seeing Melissa come past my room. "Hey Mel! Leo is staying over is that okay with you?" I yell to her, her looking over and nodding at me.

~1,012 words