The situation was going from bad to worse faster than the festival goers could eat their cotton candy. Jay was in there and refusing to come out.

I removed the phone from my ear and hit the button to call Jay again.

Jimmy asked, “He coming out?”

I turned to look at him. “No. He hung up.”

My baby-in-laws Dan and Kathy* were waiting patiently but I sensed concern and confusion on their part. I felt pressured. God, what they must think of all of this?

Craig announced his end of patience and need for a nap with a loud, continuous cry.

I was embarrassed and mad at Jay’s behavior. I had no idea how long this situation was going to drag out. I needed to end it quickly. Everyone was ready to leave and now Craig was chiming in. If Jay didn’t physically move himself to join us, I had no idea how we were going to get him to the car.

Jay answered the phone on the third ring. He didn’t say hello. “Jay, listen to me.”

He groaned.

“Here are the rules of the fair. You will get of that chair, go to the front gate and go with us to the car.”

“No.” Jay went on to say more but I powered over him.

“That is the rule. You must follow it.” He groaned again. “Get up and get your ass out here right now.” I spoke to him with the meanest voice I’d ever used.

Jay hung up.

I turned to face Jimmy, Dan and Kathy.

Jimmy had Craig on his shoulders trying to bounce and entertain him. He asked, “Jay coming?”

Normally, when Jay had these moments at home or at school, we’d give him his space. However, it could take hours for him to pull out of the funk and interact with everyone again. Jay didn’t have the time or safety to do that here.

Jimmy repeated himself, “Jay coming?”

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know.” I called Jay back, but he didn’t answer.

I had no idea what Jay was going to do.

Check the 'Special Needs Kids' category for more in this series.

*Dan and Kathy are my son Craig's grandfather and aunt on his birth dad's side. Their names have been changed to protect their privacy.

*Baby-in-laws is how we refer to being family to one another through open adoption. One day I told Dan that he feels like my in-law but wasn’t sure how that worked since he wasn’t Jimmy’s dad. He said we’re baby-in-laws! The name has stuck.


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