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Speech-Language Department

Ingiered Road, Luqa LQA3301,

Malta

Dipartiment tal-Kura Primarja

A story about friendship and autismA story about friendship and autismA story about friendship and autismA story about friendship and autism

We’re back at school. Summer holidays We’re back at school. Summer holidays We’re back at school. Summer holidays We’re back at school. Summer holidays are over. are over. are over. are over.

A new class and a new teacher. A new A new class and a new teacher. A new A new class and a new teacher. A new A new class and a new teacher. A new boy!boy!boy!boy!

I tried to say hi but he walked away …. I tried to say hi but he walked away …. I tried to say hi but he walked away …. I tried to say hi but he walked away …. how strange!how strange!how strange!how strange!

MorningMorningMorningMorning

Good morning chil-Good morning chil-Good morning chil-Good morning chil-dren. This is Jake. He is dren. This is Jake. He is dren. This is Jake. He is dren. This is Jake. He is a new boy in our class.a new boy in our class.a new boy in our class.a new boy in our class.

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He stays by himself. He He stays by himself. He He stays by himself. He He stays by himself. He must like stones because must like stones because must like stones because must like stones because he plays with them all the he plays with them all the he plays with them all the he plays with them all the time. He likes to put time. He likes to put time. He likes to put time. He likes to put them in a line. them in a line. them in a line. them in a line.

Break TimeBreak TimeBreak TimeBreak Time

Why did he scream? I wanted to play Why did he scream? I wanted to play Why did he scream? I wanted to play Why did he scream? I wanted to play too. Ok! Ok! I’ll try it at home! too. Ok! Ok! I’ll try it at home! too. Ok! Ok! I’ll try it at home! too. Ok! Ok! I’ll try it at home! Then Teacher came to calm him down. Then Teacher came to calm him down. Then Teacher came to calm him down. Then Teacher came to calm him down. She seemed to know what to do. “It’s She seemed to know what to do. “It’s She seemed to know what to do. “It’s She seemed to know what to do. “It’s ok Jake. He wants to be your friend”. ok Jake. He wants to be your friend”. ok Jake. He wants to be your friend”. ok Jake. He wants to be your friend”.

What a strange game! Boh! Perhaps it’s fun after What a strange game! Boh! Perhaps it’s fun after What a strange game! Boh! Perhaps it’s fun after What a strange game! Boh! Perhaps it’s fun after all! I went to play with him and his stones but he all! I went to play with him and his stones but he all! I went to play with him and his stones but he all! I went to play with him and his stones but he covered his ears and screamed! covered his ears and screamed! covered his ears and screamed! covered his ears and screamed!

Jake calmed down. He didn’t look at me. He just Jake calmed down. He didn’t look at me. He just Jake calmed down. He didn’t look at me. He just Jake calmed down. He didn’t look at me. He just gave me a stone and walked away with Teacher.gave me a stone and walked away with Teacher.gave me a stone and walked away with Teacher.gave me a stone and walked away with Teacher.

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All the children came back in but Jake wasn’t there. All the children came back in but Jake wasn’t there. All the children came back in but Jake wasn’t there. All the children came back in but Jake wasn’t there. “Where is Jake, Teacher?” “Jake is coming. He “Where is Jake, Teacher?” “Jake is coming. He “Where is Jake, Teacher?” “Jake is coming. He “Where is Jake, Teacher?” “Jake is coming. He needed some timeout”. needed some timeout”. needed some timeout”. needed some timeout”. Strange kid, I thought! But I like him … and his Strange kid, I thought! But I like him … and his Strange kid, I thought! But I like him … and his Strange kid, I thought! But I like him … and his stone! stone! stone! stone!

Back in ClassBack in ClassBack in ClassBack in Class

When he came back to class, he sat down and was When he came back to class, he sat down and was When he came back to class, he sat down and was When he came back to class, he sat down and was quiet. I didn’t speak to him for the rest of the day quiet. I didn’t speak to him for the rest of the day quiet. I didn’t speak to him for the rest of the day quiet. I didn’t speak to him for the rest of the day … but the stone was still in my pocket.… but the stone was still in my pocket.… but the stone was still in my pocket.… but the stone was still in my pocket.

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When the bell rang, Jake covered his ears and When the bell rang, Jake covered his ears and When the bell rang, Jake covered his ears and When the bell rang, Jake covered his ears and cried again. cried again. cried again. cried again.

Going HomeGoing HomeGoing HomeGoing Home

Everyone left with their mummies and daddies … Everyone left with their mummies and daddies … Everyone left with their mummies and daddies … Everyone left with their mummies and daddies … so did Jake. Jake …. why is he a different boy? Is he so did Jake. Jake …. why is he a different boy? Is he so did Jake. Jake …. why is he a different boy? Is he so did Jake. Jake …. why is he a different boy? Is he unwell? Oh! And what if I get it too … like a cold? unwell? Oh! And what if I get it too … like a cold? unwell? Oh! And what if I get it too … like a cold? unwell? Oh! And what if I get it too … like a cold? Aha! Or perhaps a wizard put a magic spell on him? Aha! Or perhaps a wizard put a magic spell on him? Aha! Or perhaps a wizard put a magic spell on him? Aha! Or perhaps a wizard put a magic spell on him? This is fun! I’m just like Detective Sam.This is fun! I’m just like Detective Sam.This is fun! I’m just like Detective Sam.This is fun! I’m just like Detective Sam.

It was loud!It was loud!It was loud!It was loud!

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Today I saw Jake smiling and laughing. He enjoys Today I saw Jake smiling and laughing. He enjoys Today I saw Jake smiling and laughing. He enjoys Today I saw Jake smiling and laughing. He enjoys

PE … like I do. He likes football and running … like PE … like I do. He likes football and running … like PE … like I do. He likes football and running … like PE … like I do. He likes football and running … like

I do! I do! I do! I do!

He flaps his hands and moves around when he is He flaps his hands and moves around when he is He flaps his hands and moves around when he is He flaps his hands and moves around when he is

very happy, but he’s not happy when it’s too noisy. very happy, but he’s not happy when it’s too noisy. very happy, but he’s not happy when it’s too noisy. very happy, but he’s not happy when it’s too noisy.

The Following DaysThe Following DaysThe Following DaysThe Following Days

Now he is sitting Now he is sitting Now he is sitting Now he is sitting next to me in class. next to me in class. next to me in class. next to me in class. Jake is starting to Jake is starting to Jake is starting to Jake is starting to talk to me and he is talk to me and he is talk to me and he is talk to me and he is fun too. fun too. fun too. fun too. Sometimes, he just Sometimes, he just Sometimes, he just Sometimes, he just gets up and walks gets up and walks gets up and walks gets up and walks out of class when he out of class when he out of class when he out of class when he needs timeout … needs timeout … needs timeout … needs timeout … but that’s ok … but that’s ok … but that’s ok … but that’s ok … we’re getting used we’re getting used we’re getting used we’re getting used to it.to it.to it.to it.

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I’m still trying to find out why Jake is different. He I’m still trying to find out why Jake is different. He I’m still trying to find out why Jake is different. He I’m still trying to find out why Jake is different. He knows everything about planets and the universe. knows everything about planets and the universe. knows everything about planets and the universe. knows everything about planets and the universe. Jake told me that his stones are Mars, Earth, Venus, Jake told me that his stones are Mars, Earth, Venus, Jake told me that his stones are Mars, Earth, Venus, Jake told me that his stones are Mars, Earth, Venus, Jupiter and the moon. Jupiter and the moon. Jupiter and the moon. Jupiter and the moon. Today I discovered Jake’s secret. He‘s not ill at all. I Today I discovered Jake’s secret. He‘s not ill at all. I Today I discovered Jake’s secret. He‘s not ill at all. I Today I discovered Jake’s secret. He‘s not ill at all. I heard Teacher say he has autism. It sounds like a heard Teacher say he has autism. It sounds like a heard Teacher say he has autism. It sounds like a heard Teacher say he has autism. It sounds like a very hard word and I don’t know exactly what it very hard word and I don’t know exactly what it very hard word and I don’t know exactly what it very hard word and I don’t know exactly what it means. But it’s all because of the things that Jake means. But it’s all because of the things that Jake means. But it’s all because of the things that Jake means. But it’s all because of the things that Jake does … I guess.does … I guess.does … I guess.does … I guess.

Detective Sam Detective Sam Detective Sam Detective Sam

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Jake may be different. Jake has autism. Jake is Jake may be different. Jake has autism. Jake is Jake may be different. Jake has autism. Jake is Jake may be different. Jake has autism. Jake is

special. But we are friends. We have many things special. But we are friends. We have many things special. But we are friends. We have many things special. But we are friends. We have many things

in common. I learned a lot about the universe and in common. I learned a lot about the universe and in common. I learned a lot about the universe and in common. I learned a lot about the universe and

now I can play with Jake and his stones. Jake likes now I can play with Jake and his stones. Jake likes now I can play with Jake and his stones. Jake likes now I can play with Jake and his stones. Jake likes

me too because he smiles at me and he calls me me too because he smiles at me and he calls me me too because he smiles at me and he calls me me too because he smiles at me and he calls me

ffffriend.riend.riend.riend. When Jake needs help, I’m there for him. When Jake needs help, I’m there for him. When Jake needs help, I’m there for him. When Jake needs help, I’m there for him.

When I want to know something new about the When I want to know something new about the When I want to know something new about the When I want to know something new about the

universe I’ll ask him. I hope we remain friends universe I’ll ask him. I hope we remain friends universe I’ll ask him. I hope we remain friends universe I’ll ask him. I hope we remain friends

forever!forever!forever!forever!

Illustrations: Marisa Attard

FriendsFriendsFriendsFriends

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