"Alexa, What's an Aspie?"

My name is Kendrick and I am an Aspie. I'm not sure what it really means just yet, since I'm only 5 yrs old. But I think it means that I'm really smart. Mommy and Ms. Dixon said so.

I started school this year, kindergarten. It's been really cool. I like the kids, I like my teacher Ms. Dixon and I really liked the new adventures. But, I can't stay in my seat. There is always something that I need to do, or my brain wants me to do. Like, going to play with a puzzle while Ms. Dixon reads to the class during story time. Or checking my backpack for my red Mario Brothers pencil while everyone else is eating lunch. Of course I'm supposed to stay in my seat like the other kids; but sometimes, I don't want to and I don't see any harm with getting up.

I like my classroom and doing all the different activities. But if my brain tells me to do something, I don't really think about it, I just do it. I already know how to do everything Ms. Dixon wants us to learn. I can read, spell and do math. I know colors, shapes, months of the year and seasons. I know about weather, landmarks, presidents; a lot of different stuff. So all of the things Ms. Dixon wants us to learn, I already know. And I get bored fast.

What I really want to do is look at Shark books. I love everything about sharks. I remembered that Alexa said that "The fastest shark by top speed is a Mako." I know that a Megalodon had 276 teeth. And I know that a Thresher shark uses its tail like a whip to kill its prey. My favorite shark though is the Basking shark. It was the second largest living shark, after the whale shark. Alexa told me that too. So I want to read more about sharks in school instead of doing what Ms. Dixon wants us to do.

One day, Ms. Dixon asked me to come over to the reading corner with her while the other kids ate lunch. I never ate my lunch, I always waited until I got home. Ms. Dixon wanted to hear me read. So I read to her Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss. Then she asked me to read another book, so I picked Go Dog Go and read it too. I liked these books. Ms. Dixon smiled, she seemed happy. She started to ask me a lot of questions about different things. I told her about all of my favorite things; planets, dinosaurs, tornados and finally Sharks. Ms. Dixon listened to me as I told her about the different sharks I knew about.

I remembered the Blacktip reef was known because it had a black tip on its dorsal fin. I told Ms. Dixon all about the different shark fins like the dorsal fin, pectoral fin, anal fin and caudal fin. I even spelled pectoral fin for her. Ms. Dixon was very happy so she told me that I could stay in the reading corner and read while everyone else was finishing lunch.

I had a great day at school and I couldn't wait to tell Mommy. Later that day when Mommy picked me up, Ms. Dixon stopped her and talked to her. She gave her some papers and a little book. My mommy talked with her for a few minutes and then we left.

The car ride home was the best. I loved car rides and talking with Mommy. She's my favorite person. She always listens to me, even when I say the same things all the time. She even tells me new things that I didn't know.

"Bud, did you know that a hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world?" she said.

"Yep! And it can fly backwards too." I said

Me and Mommy always talk about different things when we drive. It's not a long drive home. But we always drive by the fire station so I could see the fire trucks and the big flag on the post. I liked fire trucks and construction vehicles too.

That night, Mommy told me that Ms. Dixon said I was really smart. So smart that she wants me to see another person and read to them too. Mommy said it would be fun, so I was happy.

The person came to my school that week. Her name was Ms. Candy. I liked candy so I liked her too. Ms. Candy was nice like Mommy and Ms. Dixon. She asked me questions and listened to me talk too. I like when everyone listens to me. We also did some activities too. I didn't like writing though. It's not hard to do, I just don't like it.

After Ms. Candy left, I went back to doing what I always do, reading books or doing puzzles. Sometimes I look at the big map on the wall too. I like to find California because that's where the Golden Gate Bridge is. Or New York, because that's where the Statue of Liberty is.

When mommy came to pick me up that day, her and Ms. Dixon talked again. They stood off to the side. Mommy looked worried, because her forehead was scrunched up. But then she smiled at me, so I guess she's ok. Then we left.

On the ride home, we talked about different things again.

"Hey Bud, guess what?" Mommy asked.

"What?"

"I think you may be an Aspie. That's a really smart and cool but different person." she said.

I listened as Mommy talked, but then I remembered the fire station was coming.

"Look mom, there's the fire trucks!" I yelled as we passed by.

That night after my bath, Mommy let me play on my tablet until bedtime. I started to watch some Dino Dana videos. Then I watched a few Roblox videos. I liked watching different types of videos. Again, when my brain wanted me to do something, I did it. But then I thought about what Mommy was talking about in the car. I had almost forgot. But I had to know. So I spoke into my tablet and asked…

“Alexa, what’s an Aspie?”