fun with autism
Because She Couldn't Take the Bus
Chapter 1 of 1
fyiagcgA crappy free-form poem written about my autistic niece. I wrote it because I was upset, and posted it because... well, because I?m still upset.
ReviewedMy hand is bleeding
From where she scratched it
And scratched it
And scratched it
While I tried to walk her to my car
Instead of letting her go on the bus
I try to make her look in my eyes
She won’t
I make a sad face
She giggles
I say ‘Ouch’
I say ‘No’
I say ‘Stop That’
She keeps scratching
I show her my hand
My bleeding hand and wrist
So she can see
How much it hurt
But all she wants to do
Is pick at the dead skin she’s removed
Of course I forgive her
I lean in to kiss her on the cheek
She slaps me
I give her a stuffed animal
She scratches my hand
Before taking it from me
And tries to bite off its eyes
My hand is bleeding
My stuffed animal is blind
Because I wouldn’t let her
Take the bus
Story Actions
To follow, favorite, like, and more either log in or create an account.
Leave a Review
Log in to leave a review.
Latest 25 Reviews for Because She Couldn't Take the Bus
6 Reviews | 6.5/10 Average
The poem is very touching. My daughter is a behavioral therapist in the autism labs (classrooms) in her local school district, and even though she says that it is hard work, and sometimes she would like to come home without a new bruise, she loves "her " kids so much and wouldn't dream of having a different job!
Thank you for writing this.
Beth
That's sad.
I worked with special needs children for four years, at the school district. Some were more difficult than others, but I loved them all. Each one had their uniqueness and special way of touching your heart. Their bad days were tough, indeed, but then there were the days that they truly shined and I held those like precious pieces of gold. Although one does wish each child more "shining" days than tough ones, I do understand why you wouldn't change your "niece".
I enjoyed your poem. It was very real and very touching. Your are both lucky to have each other.
I missed the point of the poem at first. I was so happy to read that she is able to go to a day school/ part time care facility - I'm guessing that that was the destination. Your heart must break though, and I'm sorry that this is something that must be dealt with in your family. I'd like to send you warm hugs and a self repairing teddy to your niece. {{{{hugs}}}}
Response from fyiagcg (Author of Because She Couldn't Take the Bus)
She does go to school, from 8:30 to 1:30 monday through friday. I was actually picking her up from school when this happened. She usually takes the bus home from school, but there were some communications problems with the bus folks and she would have been taken to a place called kindercare instead, which is no longer the plan, but the bus people didn't know that, so i had to pick her up from school. She wasn't pleased.And, technically, she's not actually my niece. She's my best friend's daughter, and i've been around for her whole life, so we call me 'aunt erin' and i refer to her as my niece because that's easier.Thanks for the warm hugs, and boy would that self-repairing teddy come in handy!
My heart hurts for you and for your niece. Autism is so hard to deal with, and it really does affect the whole family. I have a son on the spectrum.
Response from fyiagcg (Author of Because She Couldn't Take the Bus)
It is hard, but as i've said before, (especially in 'The A Word') as hard as it is to deal with them sometimes, you just love them so much. No matter how many times she's hurt me, made me bleed, or just upset me in general, i could never wish for her to be anything other than exactly who she is, cuz i just love her so much. It's a very difficult situation. My heart goes out to your and your little one.
That's very sad and must be hard to deal with.
Response from fyiagcg (Author of Because She Couldn't Take the Bus)
It is, but the truth is i only tend to write poems or stories for the bad stuff. There really is alot more good stuff that goes undocumented.