The Sun Will Come Out

When Crew and I recently picked up Crew's brother Cross from Homework Club, Crew spotted the video Annie on one of the shelves in the school library. For some unknown reason, Crew wanted the video, and he wanted it bad! Cross asked the librarian for the video, but she said “No,” explaining that the videos are only for teachers to check out. Cross then explained that his brother was autistic. But this made absolutely no difference to the librarian.

Where was I going to find another video, a VHS tape specifically, because this is what Crew demanded. I checked the local library, which didn't have it. My mother went to Blockbuster and bought a DVD; however, that was not good enough either. Crew wanted the VHS from the middle school— nothing else.

The next day, Cross came home from school with the video in his backpack. When I asked him how he got it, my son responded that the video was given to him from a friend, whom got it from another friend, Nicolette. Immediately I called her and asked how and why she did it.

“That morning drive to school, CJ and Taylor mentioned what had occurred yesterday afternoon in Homework Club— how the library teacher would not let Crew take out the video even after Cross explained that Crew was autistic,” revealed Nicolette. “At lunchtime, I decided to skip recess and go to the library. I knew that the library teacher took her lunch at this time and her assistants would be there alone. I took the movie Annie off the shelf and went to the counter to check it out. The assistant at the counter was not aware that videos must only be taken out by teachers. Mission accomplished! I gave the VHS tape to Taylor, who later gave it to Cross to bring home for Crew.”

Nicolette continued: “I felt that deep in my heart, if the library teacher had a child with a similar disability, she would have put aside the fact that teachers are only allowed to check out videos and would have taken into consideration the situation and seen the whole picture, and then would have made an exception to the rule.” Sometimes it seems like school kids are the best teachers.