The Cookie Store

I went to pick up Matthew at Camphill, the residential community where he lives near Santa Cruz for the Memorial Day Weekend. I was anxious to get on the road by noon so that we could beat traffic. But when Matthew walked out to great me, I could tell by the look on his face that he had his own agenda.

Matthew

“Let’s hurry,” I said, grabbing his duffle bag and throwing it in the car. “Let’s see how fast we can get home!”

“First I want to go to this good cookie store,” he said earnestly. “I’ve been planning on it all week.”

**

We found a parking place a half of a block from the cookie store, and Matthew bounded ahead of me, then paused once we were in front.

“Let me handle this,” he said, reaching into his pocket. “I brought my own dollars.”

When we walked in to the cookie store, I hovered by the door and hoped that the young lady behind the register would be kind to Matthew.

Behind the glass there was every kind of cookie you could imagine-each with a large label that was impossible to miss.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. GINGER COOKIES. SNICKERDOOLE COOKIES. OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIES etc.

“So!” Matthew blurted awkwardly, “Do you have any cookies here?”

The sales lady, who according to her nametag was Jenny, nodded with an amused smile, and pointed and named each row of cookies.

“I’ll buy 7 oatmeal cookies with those raisins in them,” Matthew announced, pulling out a wad of crumpled one-dollar bills. “Give me my change.” Jenny flattened out and counted the crumpled dollar bills. He was actually two dollars short, but she winked at me, handed Matthew his bag of cookies- and a nickel in change.

“Thank you,” I mouthed, putting my hand to my heart, and Jenny flashed the most glorious smile.

“Well, I’ve got to get going now,” said Matthew, “I’m very busy.”

As we walked back to the car, Matthew grinned as if he had just hit a grand slam.

And Jenny? She hit it out of the park.

Laura

Laura Shumaker is the author of A REGULAR GUY: GROWING UP WITH AUTISM

and a contributor to A CUP OF COMFORT FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

She writes each Friday for 5 MINUTES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS.


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