Susan Senator

I got the call I hate to get today in the afternoon: Nat had had an outburst with aggression. He had bitten himself (in the arm) and had scratched and pinched the teacher he’d been working with. Terese, the head teacher (whom I love), naturally had an explanation for this. I didn’t even need one, because I could see this coming, what with the weather and the past two weekends, with Nat commenting on lights left on outside and bags that needed to be zipped up.

Terese said that Nat had been saying over and over, “No schedule, no schedule.” Still, the teacher he was with knew that she had to set up his schedule so that he could begin his school work.
“No schedule, no schedule.” As she got the items she needed off the shelf, Nat screamed, bit his arm, and went for her. Terese told me that he calmed down quickly and went on to have a great day, including going to his job.

Later, when the House called, I heard that Nat really loved basketball practice and was happy all evening. When he got on the phone, he sounded tired and hoarse. I asked him, “What happened in school today?”
He said, “You bit yourself.”
I said, “Oh, Natty! You didn’t want to set up the schedule, right?”
“Right.”
“Oh, Darling. You must have hurt yourself. Don’t bite yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Nat,” I said, my throat full of tears and love for this guy who just tries so hard to get it right. “You’re a good boy. I love you.” I didn’t know what else to say. He pinched and bit, but he really is a good boy, living in a very hard world.