It's Not a Tragedy, Loud!

by Pre-Animation Man

When Charity is diagnosed with autism, he is confused as to what this means, until the children help him out. Charlie Brown and Linus inform him that Autism isn't a dirty word, no matter what other people may say.

Loud Kiddington was walking along the street humming to himself when he saw Charity leaning on the wall and looking sad. Loud Kiddington walked over to his friend.

'What's the matter, Charity?' he asked.

'Things are weird at home, Loud Kiddington,' Charity replied. 'My parents won't let me have my blanket anymore. They say it's bad for me.'

'Why would it be bad, Charity?' Loud Kiddington took his place next to Charity.

'Because they want me to be normal.'

'But you carrying around that blanket is normal.'

'They seem more afraid than usual that I'm not normal.'

'But you are normal, Charity.'

Charity shook his head. 'No. I saw a psychologist and she said I have something called High Functioning Autism.'

Loud Kiddington frowned. 'High what?'

'I don't know myself, Loud Kiddington. All I know is that my parents told me that I'll never be normal unless I get rid of my blanket and stop sucking my thumb.' Charity sighed. 'That and Lucy is afraid of catching it from me.'

'How about Rerun?'

'He's just as confused as I am, Loud Kiddington.'

'Froggo might know what this means, how about we go across town and see her and Aka Pella?' Loud Kiddington suggested. 'That might cheer you up.'

'Okay.' Charity nodded. 'Let's go.'

The two set off across town to see Aka Pella and Froggo. The whole way, Charity was silent with worry. Mostly that he'd never see his precious blanket again.

Loud Kiddington rang the doorbell at Aka Pella's house, while Charity stood behind him, nervously. Aka Pella answered the door.

'Hey Chuck! Hey Charity!' she greeted enthusiastically.

'Hello, Aka Pella,' Loud Kiddington greeted. 'How are you?'

'Who is it, Sir?' Froggo asked, appearing behind her.

'It's only Chuck and Charity,' Aka Pella replied. 'And don't call me Sir.'

'Hello, Charles. Charity,' Froggo greeted.

'So what brings you two here?' asked Aka Pella.

'Well, you see, Charity is upset because his parents confiscated his security blanket,' Loud Kiddington explained.

'Oh no,' Aka Pella exclaimed. 'Did he not do well at school or something?'

'Charity, would you like to explain?' asked Loud Kiddington.,

'I have something called High Functioning Autism,' said Charity. 'And now my parents are worried I won't be normal.'

'Won't be normal?' Aka Pella frowned and cocked her head slightly. 'Charity, none of us are normal. I don't get good grades, Froggo calls me "Sir", Chalie Brown is obsessed with her "naturally curly hair", Pig Pen is always dirty, Chuck is afraid of everything -'

'I'm not afraid of everything!' Loud Kiddington protested.

'Point is, Charity, you're as normal as the rest of us,' Aka Pella said with a smile.

'That doesn't make me feel any better. Sorry, Aka Pella.' Charity sighed.

'Well, maybe you should come inside,' Aka Pella offered, holding the door open for the boys.

'Thanks, Aka Pella,' Loud Kiddington said as he walked inside. Charity followed.

'By the way, Toast's here. We were playing Monopoly. You should join us,' said Aka Pella.

'That sounds great, thanks, Aka Pella.' Loud Kiddington smiled as Aka Pella led them to her bedroom.

In Aka Pella's bedroom, Toast was sitting on the floor with the Monopuly board opened out and set up.

'Hey Loud Kiddington. Hey Charity,' he greeted entusiastically.

'Hei Toast,' Loud Kiddington greeted.

'Yeah, hi,' Charity said half-heartedly.

'What's wrong, Charity?' asked Toast.

'Nothing, Toast. I'm just a bit depressed. My parents took my blanket away because I have High Functioning Autism.'

'Autism?' Toast frowned in thought. 'Doesn't Linus have that?'

'I thought he had asperger syndrome?' asked Loud Kiddington.

'I'm pretty sure they're the same thing.' Toast looked over at Froggo.

'I've heard about autism before.' Froggo nodded. 'But I'm not sure where. May I please check your computer, Sir?'

'I suppose you can, but please stop calling me Sir,' said Aka Pella.

Froggo made her way over to the computer in the corner of Aka Pella's room. 'It's asking for a password, Sir.'

Aka Pella groaned. 'Don't call me Sir.' She typed in her password (BaseballRox50) which logged Froggo in.

'Sorry, Sir.'

'So, Charity, beyond your blanket, how are you feeling?' asked Toast.

'Still depressed, Toast.' Charity shrugged. 'I don't know what having autism means and I especially don't know what the 'High Functioning' bit means. I mean, as far as I'm aware, I function fine.'

'Maybe you should drop the 'High Functioning' bit and just say you have autism,' Toast suggested. 'I know that Linus has it too. He finds "High Functioning" to be offensive - but I'm not sure why. For what it's worth, I don't think there's anything wrong with you either, Charity.'

'I'm sure everything will work out just fine, Charity,' Loud Kiddington assured.

'I've just searched for "autism" on the Internet.' Froggo announced. 'Here's the first one that's come up - Autism Speaks.'

'That sounds good. Maybe you should check that out, Froggo.' Loud Kiddington said.

Froggo clicked on the site and everyone gathered around Aka Pella's computer.

'Click on "What is Autism",' said Aka Pella.

'No, click on "Facts About Autism",' said Loud Kiddington.

'How about "Symptoms"?' Charity suggested.

"I think we should go for "Asperger Syndrome",' said Toast.

'No!' Froggo announced. 'I'm going for "Autism and Your Family",' She said and clicked on the link.

Everyone leaned in close to the monitor as Froggo read the text on the page.

'It's not easy to hear the news that your child has autism, and realize that your life will be utterly different than you had expected it to be,' Froggo read. 'Daily life with a special-needs child presents many unique challenges. How do you come to terms with the fact that your child has autism? How do you cope once you get over the initial shock? We aim to help you by providing regular features on topics ranging from how autism affects your family to day-to-day survival strategies.'

'Special needs? Survival strategies?' Loud Kiddington looked at Charity, who was looking down at his feet. 'I'm not sure this is helping Charity. In fact, I think it's making him feel worse.'

'Maybe there'll be something better in the next paragraph?' Aka Pella said skeptically.

Froggo nodded and continued to read on. 'You are never prepared for a diagnosis of autism. It is likely that you will experience a range of emotions. It is painful to love so much, to want something so much, and not quite get it. You want your child to get better so much you may feel some of the stages commonly associated with grieving. You may "revisit" these feelings from time to time in the future. Part of moving forward, is dealing with your own needs and emotions along the way.'

'No, that's harmful.' Toast shook his head. 'It's not saying anything about validating Charity' feelings. I think it's just telling Mr and Mrs Van Pelt how they're supposed to feel.'

'I think you're right, Toast.' Aka Pella agreed. 'There's nothing for Charity to get better from. He's not dying. Heck, he's not even got the flu. And they're talking about grieving? Wait, that's what people do to dead people, right?'

'Yes, people grieve for dead people, Sir. Grieving is when people feel sad about people that they've lost.'

'But Charity is right there!' Aka Pella said. 'He isn't lost or dead. And Froggo, don't call me Sir.'

Froggo scrolled down the page. 'Caring for Caregivers.' She read.

'I hate this website.' Toast shook his head. 'I really do. What is it again?'

'Autism Speaks,' said Froggo.

'While it is OK to be sad that you have a brother or sister affected by autism it doesn't help to be upset and angry for extended periods of time. Your anger doesn't change the situation; it only makes you unhappier. Remember your Mom and Dad may have those feelings too.' Loud Kiddington read in disgust. 'What about Charity?! And his feelings?! Don't they care?!'

'It appears that they don't, Charles.' Froggo said, clicking on "Symptoms".

'Research suggests that children with autism are attached to their parents -' Toast read.

Charity snatched the mouse from Froggo. 'I love my mom and dad!' He cried out. 'I don't like this website. It's scaremongering unnecessarily and like Toast said, it leaves me out. It mentions my parents, Lucy and Rerun and my blanket hating grandmother, but not me. It doesn't say how I should feel. I feel confused and let down. And I just want my blanket back!'

Froggo took the mouse back from Charity.

'It's okay, Charity,' said Loud Kiddington. 'I don't care what that dumb old website says. You're my friend and I don't see you any different than I did yesterday.'

'My parents do.'

'Charity, I have just read that your blanket and thumb sucking is a behavior referred to as "stimming",' said Froggo.

'Stimming?'

'Short for self stimulatory behavior, apparently.' Froggo shrugged. 'I think the easiest explanation is that you suck your thumb and stroke your blanket because you enjoy the sensations.'

'Yes!' Charity exclaimed. 'Yes I do!'

'But sometimes you get overwhelmed with emotions or noises, sights, smells -'

'And my blanket's always there and I can stroke it.'

'I think it's safe to say, Charity, that you stim with that blanket of yours,' said Toast.

'And stopping stimming is harmful,' said Aka Pella. 'According to the internet.'

'You need to demand your blanket back, Charity,' said Loud Kiddington.

'But at least you still have your thumb,' Froggo pointed out. 'You can still suck it for stimming.'

'I guess...' Charity sighed. 'I have to go,' he said.

'But, Charity, what about Monopoly?' asked Toast.

'You heard it from Autism Speaks. I'm defective and my opinions don't matter.' Charity hung his head as he walked out of Aka Pella's bedroom.

'Charity, no.' Toast shook his head and walked after him. 'We want you around. Loud Kiddington is right - you're our friend no matter what that website said.'

'I just want to be alone, Toast.' Charity turned to him.

Toast nodded. 'It's okay, I understand.' He said as Charity left Aka Pella's house.

Toast walked back to Aka Pella's bedroom.

'Where's Charity?' asked Froggo.

'He wanted to be alone. I assume to think about things.'

'Yeah. Probably,' Aka Pella agreed. 'Poor kid.'

Charity walked around the neighborhood with his head down and his hands in his shorts pockets.

'Hey, Charity!' Chalie Brown greeted. 'What do you think of my naturally curly hair today?'

Charity gave a monosyllabic grunt in response, not even looking up.

'Charity?' Chalie Brown asked in concern. 'Are you okay?'

'I guess.' Charity shrugged.

'You're upset.'

'Way to go, Sherlock.'

'Where's your blanket?' Chalie Brown asked, noticing the missing item.

'My parents took it,' Charity replied. 'I have autism now and they were worried that I'm not going to be normal.'

'You were born with autism, Charity.' Chalie Brown said. 'I have Asperger Syndrome which is on the autism spectrum. According to my Mom, everyone with autism has a different place on the spectrum and everyone with autism is born with it. Nobody develops it.'

'You too?' Charity raised his head. 'Is it true about Linus?'

Chalie Brown shrugged. 'I'm not sure. Who told you?'

'Toast,' Charity said.

'Toast's usually reliable - it's probably true. Are you going to Linus's?' Chalie Brown asked.

'I might,' Charity said. 'I haven't decided yet. Hey, what can you tell me about "stimming"?'

'Mom says I do it when I brush and flick and run my hands through my naturally curly hair.'

Charity nodded in response.

'I'm very proud of my naturally curly hair. I love my naturally curly hair.'

'Why do you say that?' Charity asked.

'What - naturally curly hair? Mom says that when I say naturally curly hair, it's called echolalia.'

'Echo-what-ia?'

'Echolalia. Saying words over and over again. That's the word she used. I prefer the term naturally curly hair.'

'So did your parents grieve for you being lost too?'

'Why would they? I'm still here, aren't I?' Chalie Brown asked in confusion.

'It's just Froggo came across a website saying that my parents should grieve for me and said nothing about my feelings.'

'Well that's not very nice.'

'No. It isn't.' Charity sighed. 'I mean, I was already feeling bad about it, but now I feel worse.'

'Cheer up, Charity,' said Chalie Brown. 'I'll let you touch my naturally curly hair. Provided you don't mess it up of course.'

'No thanks, Chalie Brown. I think I'll just go and find Linus.'

'Okay, Charity. You have my number if you want to talk,' Chalie Brown said as Charity walked away.

Charity passed Lucy's psychiatry booth on the way to Linus's. Lucy wasn't there though. It was just an empty booth. He also passed Pig Pen and his dust cloud, Patty and Violet playing with a skipping rope, having roped in Shermy to hold the rope for them along with Snoopy and Woodstock on the other side.

Then there was the oddly named siblings 3, 4 and 5 playing marbles with his own oddly named sibling, Rerun.

Sally and Eudora were talking at the wall and giggling over something, and Lydia was eating a sandwitch under the Kite Eating Tree.

It seemed most people were out today with the exception of Lucy. But that would just be because the weather was nice. Nice weather attracts playing children.

Charity sighed. Too bad he wasn't in a playing outside kind of mood. He was more interested in finding Linus. Who would probably be at his house. With Lucy. Charity' heart sank. The last thing he needed was to be made fun of by Lucy.

When he arrived at Linus's house, he knocked the door and paced on the doorsteps for a few moments. Linus answered it.

'Hello Charity,' Linus greeted. 'Lucy isn't here.'

Relief suddenly washed over Charity. 'Actually, I wanted to talk to you.'

'Do you have to do a school report on Beethoven?' Linus asked. 'Because if you do, I can tell you all you need to know.'

'Uh, no, Linus.'

'Did you want to do your annual proselytisation for the Great Pumpkin? Halloween is coming up right? I think I'll go as Beethoven this year.'

'No.' Charity shook his head. 'I wanted to talk to you. Toast said you had Asperger Syndrome?'

Linus raised an eyebrow. 'You should come inside,' he said, opening the door wide and letting Charity in.

'So is what Toast said true?' Charity asked.

'Yes. It's true,' Linus said, walking over to his toy piano. 'I'm autistic.' He sat down and began to play some Beethoven.

'How did you find out?' Charity asked, sitting down by him.

'My parents took me to a psychologist after they saw how much I loved Beethoven. Apparently he is not a normal thing for young children to like.'

'Well, it is kind of odd -' Charity began.

'So is the Great Pumpkin and the Easter Beagle,' Linus countered.

'The Great Pumpkin is real, Linus. I'll show you this Halloween!' Charity announced. 'I'm going to prove that our pumpkin patch is the most sincere and the Great Pumpkin will just have to come and give presents!'

Linus stopped playing his toy piano and turned to Charity. 'So you are proselytising for the Great Pumpkin?'

'No, I wanted to ask you about autism,' Charity replied.

'Well, you know how much I love Beethoven?' Linus asked.

Charity nodded. 'You even celebrate Beethoven's birthday.'

Linus began playing his toy piano once again. 'Apparently that's known as a "special interest". I have an intense focus on Beethoven. But I don't care, because it gives me so much pleasure. I just can't imagine my life without Beethoven.'

'How do you feel about having autism?' Charity asked.

Linus shrugged. 'I don't care. As long as I have Beethoven. Why?'

'My parents took my blanket away from me,' Charity replied. 'They are afraid of me not being normal.'

'Well, you do believe in the Great Pumpkin, Charity.'

'Because the Great Pumpkin is real.'

'You're autistic too, aren't you, Charity?' Linus asked, without missing a beat.

Charity nodded.

'So your parents are afraid you'll make other people uncomfortable,' said Linus. 'It's called stimming. I do that by playing my piano, but my parents have never tried to stop me.'

'Yeah, I know. Chalie Brown does it with her hair,' Charity said.

'I didn't know Chalie Brown was autistic,' Linus said flatly.

'She said she had Asperger Syndrome,' said Charity.

'They're the same thing according to the DSM-V diagnostic criterion,' said Linus.

Charity looked at the pianist in confusion.

'I paid attention to the psychologist,' said Linus.

'Why did you tell Toast?' Charity asked.

'He had to do a report on 18th century music. So I helped him out by telling him all about my favourite composer- Beethoven. Did you know, Charity, that Beethoven's favourite meal was macaroni and cheese? Or that he had a blue coat with metal buttons that he liked very much?'

'Yes I did, Linus. You know everything about Beethoven and tell us all the time,' said Charity.

'I do it because I enjoy it. Beethoven is my hero. I love Beethoven,' Linus said. 'Anyway, I told Toast because he thought it was odd I knew so much about Beethoven.'

'What do your mom and dad think?'

'Mom and Dad don't care. They get me Beethoven records and other items. It makes me happy. And they know it. So they get me the Beethoven stuff.'

'Don't they worry about you, Linus?' asked Charity. 'That you won't be normal?'

'I think they already know I am not normal, Charity,' said Linus. 'They don't care. I guess it just doesn't bother them.'

'Does it bother you?'

'No.' Linus replied. 'I'm happy as I am. I don't think I'd get as much joy from Beethoven if I wasn't autistic. So I'm definitely fine.'

'Chalie Brown's fine with it too,' said Charity.

'I know some people out there think it's tragic and I'm "barely existing" - one of Mom's ex-friends said that,' Linus said. 'I'm existing just fine. And I'm happy the way I am. Does that answer your question, Charity?'

Charity smiled. 'Yeah. I think it does.'

The next day, Charity walked through the neighbourhood proudly, carrying his blue blanket as he went to the rest of the gang.

'Hi, Charity,' Loud Kiddington greeted cheerfully. 'You got your blanket back, I see.'

'I did, Loud Kiddington.' Charity rubbed his blanket.

'How'd you do it?' asked Loud Kiddington.

'I saw Linus and Chalie Brown yesterday,' said Charity. 'And I realised there's no reason for me to be uncomfortable. I talked to my parents about everything I learned with you all from yesterday. And they gave me my blanket back.'

'Good for you, Charity,' said Toast.

'Toast, I realised that you were right. "High Functioning" is stupid and I don't understand it. Nor do my parents. So I dropped it - I'm just autistic now.'

'Glad to hear you're feeling better, Charity,' said Aka Pella.

'Yeah, I'd hate it if you didn't feel up to waiting up for the Great Squash,' Froggo added.

'It's the Great Pumpkin,' Charity corrected.

'Don't worry Charity. Beethoven had problems too,' said Linus.

'What's that got to do with anything?' Aka Pella asked.

'Nothing.' Linus shrugged. 'It's just something that came to mind. Something comforting for Charity.'

'Well, I'm sure the Great Pumpkin has problems too,' said Loud Kiddington.

Charity perked up. 'You really think so?'

'Yeah. Like which sincere pumpkin patch to rise from each year.'

'Yeah, that could be a problem.' Charity nodded. 'Thanks, guys. I feel a lot better and a lot less confused now.'

'Wanna go play Monopoly now?' Toast asked.

Charity nodded and smiled. 'Yeah. I think I do.'