We hung out at the autism clinic office all day while I displayed my boy to those who seemed very interested with notepad in hand.

See, how he smiles, jokes, asks questions brightly? See his knee jerk to the reflex hammer? See his spine notched more perfectly than a crocheter's chain stitch? See his hands with a slightly curved pinkie?

Make him say "Ah", hug his arm, mine his ear, review his thick records.

Three and a half hours later ....

"Your boy will marry one day, hold a job, go to college if he wants -- he has much potential despite the acknowledged high functioning autism (Asperger term for the schools). I think he's a wonderful kid. You are making a good choice to homeschool him since you have the option to do so. Call me for a follow up app't in six months."

We waited one year for an appointment to receive new information, and the doctor told us everything we already knew! I felt like Dorothy after a lengthy dangerous journey to beseech the legendary Oz. I wanted to say, "Wait: they said along the path that you could help us." But, I reckon the doctor did help us, for with her expensive incantation, we became officially "autism spectrum" kid and parents, and were given a blessing for the future. Hmmmm.... I think we still need to search for the straw broom, the reason why. The doctor has pointed us in a certain direction (a research direction for her), yet it seems like the cause, thus the cure, for autism spectrum, still sleeps in the poppy field. But, my boy displayed well, and I'm content to rest for a while on simply his possibilities. That's a good place. Yeah!!!