A young man is running back and forth
Growling
Grrrrr Grrrrr Grrrrr
Tense and intense but happy
Grrrrr Grrrrr Grrrrr
His mother stands nearby
Watchful, giving him room
ready to respond
in case another shopper needs the space he's occupying
As his father pays for the groceries
I'm placing in a brown paper bag
I don't want to acknowledge that he's
likely neurodivergent
clearly neurodivergent
I don't want to offend
But part of me very much wants to say,
wants to hollar
"I see you neurodivergent brother!
We are mighty!
We are strong!
Grrrrr Grrrrr Grrrrr litter brother!
Grrrrr Grrrrr Grrrrr!"
Instead I look at his father
his face unsure as I ask
"That your boy?"
He says "Yes." Softly
"Just the one?" I ask
"Just the one." He replies
And I pause in my chore
Look him in the eye
"Me too."
