Words Without Voice

by Lisa Simone

Walking past his bedroom, she heard the voice, without intonation, but producing words rather than cries and squeals of demand. "Moo, baa, la la la," was recited, or perhaps read, and the breath caught in her throat as her mind whirled in confusion. He can talk was the thought that struggled up through the fog. Possibly autism, the experts said soon after, when he was two and a half. High functioning, mild to moderate autism, they said at age eight. "No," he answered at age thirteen - when she asked her daily question: did you talk to anyone today? - before he resumed reciting the words from Calvin and Hobbes.

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Lisa Simone is a full-time mom, wife and teacher who neglects laundry and other household duties to make time to write.