Young Shellington Sea Otter (OtterMAN Of Autism) (COMPLETED)

Chapter 6: Swinging On The Swing

Molly and Kurt Polar Bear are the proud parents of a bustling household with five children: three sons, Edward, Bruce, and Barnacles Jr., and two daughters, Sue and Bianca. Molly, stylish in a pink sweater, bleached jeans, white socks, and pink flats, sports a hairstyle reminiscent of Winona Ryder. Meanwhile, Kurt, the French Polar Bear, keeps it casual with Levi's, a t-shirt, tennis shoes, a mullet, and double-bridge glasses.

Edward, the eldest, navigates high school, while Bruce, a sophomore, and Sue, a freshman, follow in his footsteps. Milly and Melody, the youngest daughters, are also high school sophomores. Barnacles Jr., Bianca, Shellington, and Pearl enjoy the tailored homeschooling experience. Despite their varied educational paths, the Polar Bears cherish their tight family bonds, flourishing in love and togetherness.

Shellington and his brother initially shy, took refuge behind their mother. With gentle encouragement, Molly coaxed Barnacles Jr. from his hiding spot.

"Barnacles Jr.," she said softly, introducing him to Shellington. "Meet Shellington."

Witnessing the children's kind interactions is truly heartwarming. Barnacles Jr. and Shellington shared timid smiles and greetings, with Sanda joining in. The boys all pitched in to carry the suitcases upstairs, showing remarkable kindness to each other. In the meantime, Bianca and Pearl hugged warmly before they went to the playroom to enjoy their Barbie dolls. It was delightful to watch Sue, Milly, and Melody engage in conversation and enjoy each other's company in the living room.

"Shellington," Sanda said, turning to her son, "meet Barnacles Jr.; he's a lot like you."

The sea otter pup looked at the polar bear cub, understanding the conversation their mothers had just had.

"Is he special?" asked Shellington.

As Shellington observed Barnacles Jr. with keen interest, his heart filled with a warmth he hadn't felt before. Was it joy or a newfound sense of connection? He was unsure, but one thing was clear: he was eager to learn more about this remarkable new friend. Seeing his mother's affirming nod, Shellington's excitement grew at discovering more about Barnacles Jr.

"Jumping Jellybeans!" exclaimed Shellington.

Barnacles Jr. looked slightly bewildered after hearing Shellington's exclamation. A small smirk crept onto his face, seemingly to mask his confusion.

"Jellybeans?" inquired Barnacles Jr.

"I'm not entirely sure of what I just uttered," confessed Shellington with a nonchalant shrug, "but next time, I'll get it right.."

Molly and Sanda burst into laughter before rising to their feet and sharing a warm embrace. Barnacles Jr. and Shellington observed their mothers' interaction with bemused expressions.

"Hold on, Mummy, you're friends with Shellington's mother?" Barnacles Jr. asked.

With a tender smile, Molly responded to her son, "Yes, my dear, Sanda and I share a bond that goes back further than your birth and that of your siblings."

"How long have you been friends?" Shellington inquired with curiosity.

Sanda, radiating excitement, casually slung her arm around Molly's shoulder, smiling broadly at the two young ones.

"Our friendship spans a lengthy and meaningful history," Sanda announced, her tone brimming with affection. "We've shared countless experiences, from the moment we became pen pals in high school to the day she stood beside me as my maid of honor. Truly, our bond has endured the test of time."

Molly proposed that Barnacles Jr. and Shellington should get to know each other while the adults got comfortable. With a moment's consideration, the young polar bear and sea otter pups nodded in subtle agreement. Molly and Sanda, filled with pride and contentment, shared warm smiles and tender kisses before heading upstairs for the night. In the meantime, Barnacles Jr. and Shellington watched each other closely, mimicking movements with seamless coordination. After a short pause in their playful mimicry, Shellington broke the quiet with a gentle question.

"Do you want to swing on the porch in my backyard?" asked Shellington.

"Sure," responded Barnacles Jr.

The two mothers walked through the kitchen to the back door leading to the porch. Stepping outside, they were welcomed by the sight of a gleaming white swing hanging from a robust apple tree. They took a moment to admire the view and noticed their sons on the swing, sharing a peaceful and joyful moment.

Barnacles Jr. inquired if Shellington liked baseball, to which Shellington admitted a preference for football. They swung in contemplative silence until Barnacles Jr. broached the topic of favorite colors. Blue was his choice, while Shellington favored green. Their talk then turned to musical preferences, with Barnacles Jr. expressing admiration for Freddie Mercury and Shellington for John Lennon and The Beatles. Realizing John Lennon had passed away seven years prior, Barnacles Jr. was puzzled, and Shellington felt a touch of sorrow. A silence fell over them until Barnacles Jr. simply uttered "Oh" and arched his eyebrows in realization.

Noticing a chocolate bar in the otter pup's possession, Barnacles Jr. asked with curiosity, "Do you like chocolate?" Shellington responded with a slight smile and a "Yeah," before kindly offering a piece to Barnacles Jr.

Barnacles Jr.'s nod was filled with happiness, and a broad smile unfolded across their face upon discovering their shared interest. Shellington, with a heart full of generosity, handed the chocolate to Barnacles Jr., and together they reveled in the chocolate's luscious sweetness. Molly and Sanda were swept up in a wave of joy, tears glistening in their eyes as they observed their sons forging a connection over this simple pleasure. It was clear to them that this was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.