Enter Abe: A Short Story
Amy Nixon was a prodigy. She could play any instrument, memorize any equation, and tell you the capital of any state or country. She was always incredibly gifted, and her parents supported her every interest. If Amy wanted to try cooking, they found her a class. If Amy wanted to learn to speak Spanish, they found her a tutor. Even though she was 5 years old, she was fluent in six months. Amy liked to let others know how gifted she was as well. When she was introduced to a stranger she would say, “Hello my name is Amy Katherine Nixon and I am a child prodigy. I can play 8 instruments, speak 4 languages, and name any state or country capital.” Adults found her charming and entertaining, children found her annoying. Amy didn’t have many friends, but that was all going to change.
On the first day of fourth grade, Amy Nixon walked into class and took a seat up at the front. She scribbled her name on the piece of paper in front of her, thus marking her spot. As kids entered, they sat behind Amy, or on the opposite side. As the seats started to fill, kids would sigh reluctantly and slump next to her. However, one chair next to her remained empty. Amy knew the kids didn’t like her, and she tried to not take it personally. “One day these kids will wish they had been kinder to you”, is what her mom always said, but in this moment it was hard to believe that was true. Until Abe Jackson walked into the classroom. Abe was a new kid, nobody had ever seen him before. Abe looked… different. Amy couldn’t quite figure out what it was about Abe that was different. He looked different, but Amy couldn’t quite find the words to describe it. Lucky for her, Caleb Franklin spoke up. “Ms. Casper why is the new kid so weird?”
Ms. Casper looked up and saw Abe, then greeted him at the door. She walked him to the one spot open, next to Amy. “Class”, Ms. Casper said. “This is our new friend Abe Jackson. Abe has something called Down syndrome.”
Ah yes. Amy remembers reading about Down syndrome in her biology book. She looked over at Abe, who looked embarrassed. When he looked at her, she gave him a soft smile. He smiled back. Ms. Casper went on to tell the class all about Down syndrome, and when she finished no one ever mentioned it again. But Amy did.
At recess, Amy ran over to the swing set where Abe was sitting. Amy proceded to ask him a million questions about Down syndrome, most of which Abe didn’t know the answer to himself. Then Amy realized this was the first kid in years who allowed her to ramble. She sat on the swing next to him and told him about all the things she knows. Abe told her he knows a lot about animals, bugs specifically. Amy and Abe exchanged fun facts the whole hour, and continued the conversation throughout lunch. Amy Nixon made her first friend in Abe, and he made his first friend in her. Throughout the years, they were inseparable. Always doing research and watching documentaries, or even going to learn new skills together. Amy and Abe enjoyed expanding their horizons and most importantly, doing it together.
Eight years later, here they were at graduation. Amy was the class valedictorian, of course, and was offered a great spot at a great school. Abe was not going to school, but instead decided to go spend a year working with wildlife. After the summer, the two friends would be apart for the first time. Amy told the administration that she wanted Abe to give her speech for her, and they approved. Abe would go on to talk about his life, and the schools he attended. He shared funny stories about his classmates, and other, not so funny stories about his bullies. As his speech was coming to a close, the whole room was teary eyed, and Amy could not have been more proud of her best friend. Abe looked up from the podium, right at Amy, and said. “ Sometimes the best things in your life come from the things no one else wanted.” Amy beamed, because she knew that the best thing her life was something no one wanted, and that the same went for Abe. And she knew how lucky were they to be that thing for one another.