WILLIE WARNER

Boy Studying
courtesy photobucket.com

 

Although Willie was named William Lucas Warner everyone called him little Willie for he was seemingly slow and lived in a world of his own. As he was growing up he could play for hours by himself and carry on an interesting conversation with himself as if there was someone else there.

While many kids do this, Willie was getting to be about twelve, and his parents were embarrassed about his behavior to the point they left him at home when they went out.

Willie right in the middle of dinner would be oblivious to the people around him and light in to scolding his alter ego.  Because of this when company came over he had to eat in the kitchen.

At school he was entertaining for he was often the subject of ridicule.  Willie would never get angry, but would smile which was somewhat disarming and caused his want- a- be tormentors to be bonded with him.  Strangely enough his grades were good enough to keep him from having to be placed with the underperforming students as he was able to maintain about a “C” average.

When he was in high school one of his mechanical design teachers noticed that Willie could draw pictures that were three dimensional and to scale.

This was something that none of the other students could do as well. While doing this, he would at times still talk to himself, but had learned to keep it low keyed so no one could make fun of him.  In his senior year his teacher encouraged him to enroll in a college mechanical drawing class for he was far beyond what was being taught in high school.

By this time his parents were grasping at straws for they didn't know what to do with him at this point. The one thing they were sure of was they weren't looking forward to having to devote the rest of their lives to his care. They were acquainted with people with children having both psychical and mental deficiencies whose life was dictated by the circumstance they found themselves in.

This was such a sensitive issue to discuss that they were not able to express their feelings for it is automatically assumed that if you have such a child you no longer have the right to a life of your own.

The parents sat down with the counselor at the community college and were completely honest with her concerning their son’s needs, and their feelings about moving on with what was left of their lives.

The counselor said she would like to talk with Willie, and then all of them together.  

 

She spoke with Willie at length and found him to be charming in his own way. She had read the recommendations by his former teachers and their assessment and evaluation of him but then felt she should get some input from the teacher of the class he would be taking.

The counselor asked the parents and Willie to come in for a session and try to come to the best solution for all concerned.

She began by saying that no one has all the answers to problems like this but her suggestions would be as follows; by all means enter him into college and not only take the mechanical drawing class but also refresher courses in every day English and Writing for these would help his communication skills.  

After successfully completing the classes, the college would get the community services to help him find employment and hopefully eventually get him out on his own.

His parents agreed to pursue the suggestions the counselor had laid out.

After leaving the session they felt a little ashamed about their feelings but wondered if truth be known that most parents with challenged (handicapped) children, even though they love them, down deep didn't want to share some of their true feelings.

They were happy that the counselor cared enough to point Willie toward a goal of independence.

Not all children such as Willie were that fortunate.

 
This post is Shared with Laura at The Wellspring

 Also linked with Hazel’s “Tell Me a True Story”

 http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

Notice:  My fictional continued story will resume,

so please return for more of Billy Hill.