PERSONAL NARRATIVE
“Come on, let’s lose him,” and they started to run.
She was laughing. Once they turned the corner just
ahead, they would be out of sight. Aaron stole a look
behind him; his dad was still filling his pockets, obliv-
ious. He ran faster, and within a few seconds, he and
his mom rounded the corner and slowed to a walk.
Dad was out of sight.
“We lost him!” his mom said. Just then he heard his
dad running to catch up. The rocks rattled in his
pockets, and his feet slapped against the pavement
with the extra weight.
“Hey!” he called. “You guys must not have realized I
was still back there.”
Next to him his mother groaned, “He’s back.” Aaron
heard the smile in her voice though, and he smiled.
He was beginning to like this game.
Aaron reached out to hold hands as his dad settled
into a walk next to him.
“You know you both are tied for last place, right?”
Aaron said, “So? I’m not playing.”
“Too late. You can’t quit now.”
“But I never started!”
“You started the game the minute we stepped out
the front door. The game is on, buddy.”
“It’s a stupid game.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you were winning.” His dad
hefted his pockets proudly.
“What do you get if you win?”
“You get the prize.”
“What’s the prize?”
No answer. Aaron smirked. No surprise there.
They walked a bit further, no one but Dad picking up
rocks.
“OK, OK, OK. New rule: For every rock you don’t pick
up, you get negative 10 points.” Dad picked up an-
other rock. “And for every rock you pick up, you get
30 points.” He picked up another rock. “And if you pick
up two rocks in less than 30 seconds you get double
points.” He looked up. “So far I’m winning, and both
of you have zero points.”
48 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 71
“Good,” Aaron said, “because I want last place.”
His mom said, “Too bad Aaron, I’m already in last
place.”
“Then we’ll tie.”
Dad shook his head. “New rule: Ties are not allowed
in this game.”
“Oh really,” his mom said. “What happens if there is a
tie?”
“There won’t be. Only one of you can be in last place.”
“And if neither one of us picks up a rock?”
“Then you’ll have to face off.” He paused for dramatic
effect. “And one of you will have to die.”
Mom said, “Well I will gladly take negative 1,000,000
poi