Say Anything

Kids are always really great. I had a wonderful group this year, and will miss them all. Some more than others, although every one of them is a valuable and wonderful person.

But so much went on the last couple months with corporate crap that some of the kid stories I wanted to share just didn't happen.

Malaya is 11 years old.
Just had her birthday last month, actually.

She says whatever she thinks as soon as it's on her mind, a characteristic of her particular brand of autism.

She's tall and beautiful, with high cheekbones and an amazing smile. She looks a lot like her mama, actually. Both of them are really great humans. Malaya notices everything, and has questions or comments about all of it. She is one of the most honest people I've ever known.

While that's not a bad thing, as I value honesty, she doesn't have a filter. The things that she says just... tumble out. She has no concerns about how someone might take her commentary.

Cammie and Oscar's dad is prematurely grey. He always takes a moment to interact with me, with my assistant, with the friends of his children. Very nice man.

A couple weeks ago, as he was chatting with me at pickup time, Malaya walked up to us, and in her normal manner interrupted our conversation.

"How old are you?" she asked Dad.

He smiled. "I'm 48."

"Well, you look like you're 90," she told him, and walked away.

Dad just lost it. He laughed so hard he had to get a tissue from the box on the table and wipe his eyes. At least he wasn't offended.

Later that week, a mom came to pick up her two boys. Mom and her partner are both very slender women with short hair. They dress in jeans and button down shirts, sometimes with a beanie. They're very nice, and the boys are just a crackup. SO smart and so full of enthusiasm for everything. The moms share custody with Dad, and often take the boys to events together. They're making their blended family work and everyone seems happy together. Oops, I'm heading off on a tangent here.

So Malaya was watching the interaction with Mom, her partner, and the boys from across the room. She walked closer to us and observed everyone. Then she said to Mom, "Are you a boy or a girl?"

Mom didn't even blink.
"I'm a woman."

Malaya considered a moment, then, pointing at Mom's partner, said, "Is that a woman or a man?"

Mom said, "That's Sharon. She's a woman. She's my partner."

Malaya looked a little confused, but said nothing. Started to walk away.
Then, she had that light bulb moment.







She spun back around and said, amazed, "OH! You're GAY!!!"

Mom and Sharon both laughed, and Mom said, "That's right. We're a couple."

Malaya clapped her hands and jumped up and down excitedly. In a pleased tone, she said,  "I figured it out all by myself!!"

Fortunately the moms weren't offended.
Mom actually works with autistic teens, so nothing anyone says bothers her.
Her partner is a very nice, open minded human as well, and there were no ruffled feathers.

I'll miss all of them, of course. Everyone was very nice to me there.

Malaya's mom works for the same organization I did in a different facility, she's also looking for a job. Malaya made several remarks about how horrible the company is, but I took care to say that I've mostly been happy working there, and that I've met many wonderful people in the course of my job.

Have to say she's the most straightforward one, though.