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MidReal Story
Special Needs Love
Scenario:Jake and Alex wanted to adopt a child. They were warned about me, but adopted me anyway. I'm Y/N, I have Autism, Tourette syndrome, ADHD, and Anxiety and I'm 14. I act like a child/toddler sometimes I get on their nerves sometimes. We are going out to eat and I'm in my car seat and we are picking up our friends Nick Chris and Matt (Sturniolo Triplets).
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Jake
committed to adopting a child. He is loving, determined, and understanding. Jake has been planning to adopt a child with Alex for years, facing societal skepticism and misinformation about his ability to parent. He has a close friendship with Nick, Chris, and Matt, who support his decision. Despite challenges, Jake remains focused on providing a loving home, despite occasional moments of frustration like when Y/N throws a tantrum in the car.
Alex
supportive, and patient. Alex shares Jake's dream of adopting a child, defying societal expectations that she might be too young or inexperienced. Her relationship with Jake is filled with deep mutual respect and understanding. Alex often helps calm Jake down during stressful moments with Y/N, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to their shared future family.
Chris
soon to be a father himself. He is playful, loyal, and spontaneous. Chris frequently joins Nick, Matt, and Jake for outings, maintaining a strong bond with his friends. His relationship with Emily is filled with anticipation as he awaits the birth of his child. Chris’s presence brings laughter and camaraderie to the group, solidifying the supportive friendship circle around Jake and Alex.
Despite all the warnings they had received about me, Jake and Alex decided to go ahead and adopt me anyway.
I guess you could say I’m a little bit different.
I have Autism, Tourette’s, ADHD, and Anxiety, which makes for a pretty interesting combination.
Sometimes my behaviors are more like a toddler or a really young child.
Not that I’m aware of it at the time.
I am fourteen years old, after all.
"Keep your seatbelt fastened, Y/N. We’ll be there in just a few minutes."
Jake glances back at me from the driver’s seat, and I nod my head but don’t say anything.
I am securely fastened into my car seat—the same car seat I’ve used since I was ten years old—and ready to go.
This thing is huge.
I probably won’t fit in it for much longer, but Alex says we can’t afford a new one right now.
So I sit here strapped in this black cushiony thing that makes me feel like an overgrown toddler every time I have to use it.
"Can’t wait to see Nick, Chris, and Matt. They’re going to love you so much," Alex says from the passenger seat, smiling at me.
I nod again and try to get excited but it’s kind of hard when I have no idea what these people are going to be like.
I’ve never met any of them before.
I grip the straps of my car seat tighter as we turn into the restaurant parking lot.
Through the window, I can see three men standing near the front door.
They must be Nick, Chris, and Matt.
My stomach turns over and I feel sick.
Jake parks the car but doesn’t unbuckle his seatbelt yet.
He turns around to face me instead.
"Y/N, are you okay?"
I nod again.
I want to ask about the triplets but I can’t make my voice work.
Alex reaches her hand back and touches my knee.
"Remember what we practiced?"
I nod again and take a few deep breaths like Dr. Chen taught me in therapy.
After three deep breaths, I finally manage to get out the question that’s been bothering me since we left home this morning.
"Are they going to be nice to me?"
Jake smiles.
"Of course, they are. You’ll love them."
Before he can unbuckle his seatbelt, I hear the distant sound of music coming from somewhere outside.
I turn my head toward the window and see Nick waving at us.
The other two men turn to look our way too but Nick is the only one waving.
He’s also the only one smiling.
I glance back at Jake and Alex, who both look happy to see him.
Before I can make out any of the faces of the other two men, Nick’s smile drops and his eyes widen as he stares at something behind him.
I follow his gaze to a small crowd that has gathered near the entrance to the restaurant.
The people in the crowd all seem to be staring at something else too.
Something that I can’t see from here.
Jake follows my line of sight out the front windshield and he frowns when he sees all those people staring at something behind them. He looks back at Alex and says, "What the hell is going on?"
Alex shrugs and shakes her head.
She doesn’t know what it is either.
Jake turns around and unbuckles his seatbelt so he can get a better look.
I hear Alex unbuckling her seatbelt too, so I do mine as well.
As soon as my seatbelt clicks open, I lean forward and try to see what everyone else is looking at.
And then I hear it: music coming from somewhere down the street, followed by cheering and clapping and whistling.
Jake leans forward to get a better look but Alex stands up and opens her door so she can go check it out herself. Jake glances over at her with a concerned expression but before he can say anything, she gets out of the car and walks off toward the restaurant entrance, leaving her door open behind her.
I watch through the front windshield as she pushes her way through all those people standing in front of the door until she finally reaches Nick, who looks like he wants to hug her but instead grabs her arm and points down the street instead.
They both turn to stare in that direction as if mesmerized by whatever it is they’re looking at there.
And then I hear it again - that strange music coming closer this time - followed immediately afterward by loud cheering noises made mostly up of people whistling or clapping their hands together in excitement!
Nick's voice carries over the noise, "It's the parade! They must've started early this year."
Chris, standing beside him, adds with a grin, "Looks like you picked the perfect day to meet us, Y/N. It's not every day you get a parade welcome!"
Matt chuckles and waves us over, "Come on, let's get a better view. You don't want to miss this!"