Listen to the Music, Dustin!

There was music in the way Mark bounced a ball after church, thump, thump, thump on the gym floor. The music swirled around him, and Dustin spun in happy circles, laughing with joy when Mark gave him the big, red ball. Dustin liked red. And oh, he liked balls! Mark was a good friend for giving him a ball. He liked Mark. Dustin smiled at the three laughing boys following him. He was happy they wanted to play! He giggled and flapped his hands in excitement. They laughed even more. He laughed with them. He liked happy people. But why were they pointing at him? Why were they flapping their hands? Only Dustin flapped his hands. No one else did. Were they mocking him? He stopped and stared at their pointing fingers, the laughter turning ugly in his head, and taking all the music out of this good day. He looked around for Mommy, but he couldn’t see her from where he stood, paralyzed by the panic choking him. A great big sob escaped his pinched throat, and two fat tears rolled down his cheeks. What should he do? He tried to think. Listen to the music, Dustin. The music makes it better! But the music was gone, and Mommy was gone, and the scary boys were laughing ugly sounds. Suddenly he saw his little sister running toward him.