My son has always had an unusual attachment to inanimate objects, something that is not uncommon for a person with Asperger's Syndrome. Through the years his obsessions have included metal Thomas the Tank engine trains, a Jay Jay the Jet Plane stuffed toy, a purple Game Boy Color, an iPod and his laptop computer.
I have a special place in my heart for objects that have brought Stephen such great joy. My favorite attachment of Stephen's was something called, "Larry Chocolate Licorice."
Once we were riding in the car and I handed a half-eaten package of chocolate licorice to my 4-year-old son in the back seat. After eating a few pieces, Stephen proudly announced that he found one piece of licorice that was different than the rest and he decided to call it, “Larry".
Stephen and the six-inch long piece of licorice were inseparable. He carried "Larry" around during the day and slept with him clutched tightly in his hand at night. After several days the licorice became a sticky mess. I tried to exchange it for a fresh piece of licorice, but Stephen wouldn't hear of it: "Larry" was special and he refused to have him replaced. I attempted to prolong "Larry's" longevity by rinsing him off and putting him in the freezer for a few minutes.
About a week after "Larry" became a fixture in our family, I heard a painful howl come from my son's room. I raced upstairs to find Stephen in a heap on the floor, too despondent to communicate with me.
After several minutes of trying to comfort him, my son finally told me through his tears that Larry was gone forever. “I ate the best friend I ever had,” he wailed. I tried to soothe Stephen by telling him we could buy more licorice, but my little boy was inconsolable.
"Larry Chocolate Licorice" was never replaced. Although I still love to eat chocolate licorice, I do feel a little guilty each time I indulge.
UPDATE: Stephen admitted he got a little emotional when he read this post about his old friend, "Larry Chocolate Licorice". I think I might get him a Pet Rock .....it certainly would have a better survivability rate.
I have a special place in my heart for objects that have brought Stephen such great joy. My favorite attachment of Stephen's was something called, "Larry Chocolate Licorice."
Once we were riding in the car and I handed a half-eaten package of chocolate licorice to my 4-year-old son in the back seat. After eating a few pieces, Stephen proudly announced that he found one piece of licorice that was different than the rest and he decided to call it, “Larry".
Stephen and the six-inch long piece of licorice were inseparable. He carried "Larry" around during the day and slept with him clutched tightly in his hand at night. After several days the licorice became a sticky mess. I tried to exchange it for a fresh piece of licorice, but Stephen wouldn't hear of it: "Larry" was special and he refused to have him replaced. I attempted to prolong "Larry's" longevity by rinsing him off and putting him in the freezer for a few minutes.After several minutes of trying to comfort him, my son finally told me through his tears that Larry was gone forever. “I ate the best friend I ever had,” he wailed. I tried to soothe Stephen by telling him we could buy more licorice, but my little boy was inconsolable.
"Larry Chocolate Licorice" was never replaced. Although I still love to eat chocolate licorice, I do feel a little guilty each time I indulge.
UPDATE: Stephen admitted he got a little emotional when he read this post about his old friend, "Larry Chocolate Licorice". I think I might get him a Pet Rock .....it certainly would have a better survivability rate.
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