by Tara Kelly
I opened the door and ran into the freezing rain. Mist hovered around the rooftops, and the sky had a pink glow. The air was filled with a magic I couldn’t explain. But every nerve in my body buzzed with anticipation.
A bolt carved a jagged path above me, silencing the world for a few seconds. And then a roar pierced my ears.
Justin ran outside. He covered his head and squinted down at me. “So, this is your idea of fun?”
I grinned at his rumpled T-shirt. “Your shirt is on backward.”
He shook his head, pulling me close. Another flash illuminated his eyes. “We should go inside.”
I rolled my eyes at him. He didn’t get it. “It’s a present from Naomi.” I grabbed his hands and swayed my hips. Grace was something I’d never have, but I could still enjoy looking like a dork. “Dance with me.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed his lips against my ear. “I can’t dance.”
“Neither can I.”
We moved together in our own clumsy way. Our slick hands made any kind of grip difficult. The thunder faded into the distance, and the rain lightened some. Justin touched his forehead to mine, a half smile on his face.
“Have you ever kissed someone in the rain?” I asked.
“No. Am I missing out?”
I ran my hands through his wet hair, pulling him close. “Definitely.”
Wind echoed through the clouds, resembling laughter every now and then. I imagined Naomi looking down at us, a wide grin across her face. She wouldn’t have let me miss this moment for the world.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
I’d like to start off by saying that this book is not about defining Asperger’s syndrome (AS) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It’s about one girl’s story and experience—which I hope everyone (whether on the autistic spectrum or not) can relate to. Each individual has a unique personality and set of challenges, and this is an ongoing theme in Harmonic Feedback, both with Drea and the people in her life.
Drea’s story was inspired by my own experiences living with ADHD and by my younger brother who is on the autistic spectrum. Both of us experienced difficulties with socialization as children and as teens. I recall teachers calling me “socially immature” and feeling like I was on the outside looking in. My brother experienced this to a larger degree, both academically and socially, but he has made amazing strides. He is now a twenty-one-year-old college student living on his own and, like many of us, battling a tough job market.
I’ve learned a lot from my brother and from others in my life who have been diagnosed with AS or an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). They are among the most self-aware people I know, because most have been trying to compensate for their differences since childhood. Some display very mild symptoms. In fact, you probably wouldn’t know they’d been diagnosed with anything if they didn’t mention it. This describes Drea. She attends mainstream classes and exhibits only very mild symptoms, but she still has every-day frustrations and challenges, including questioning whether anything is “wrong” with her at all.
For more information, please check out a couple of my favorite Web sites:
Wrong Planet (Asperger and Autism Community): www.wrongplanet.net;
Dr. Tony Attwood, author of several books on Asperger’s syndrome: www.tonyattwood.com.au.
You can also find clinical information on Asperger’s syndrome, other autistic spectrum disorders, and ADHD at the following Web sites:
ADHD: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/ADHD/index.html;
Autism Information Center: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism.