Outskirts Press, INC.

Every Day, My Brother Is a Surprise

I am so excited to tell you about my brother. He’s not like my friends’ brothers, who are the same every day—how boring! I’ve heard grownups say things about my brother like he has “autism” or “Asperger’s Syndrome,” but I don’t care what words they use. I have my own way of understanding him. My brother has different moods, or flavors, and it’s not like he has a wrapper that tells me what his mood will be today—that’s the mystery. Our mommy is almost magic, because she knows all of my brother’s flavors and she loves all of his flavors and helps my brother, me, and even other grownups and teachers to understand all of his flavors. Sometimes he is sweet, other times he is sour, but he is always super smart, and he always loves me. I just need to remember that he knows how he is feeling, but his face and words might not tell me. I need to look more closely, like I am looking under his wrapper, so that I understand how he feels. He needs me, and I need him too. If you have a mystery-flavored brother, maybe you already know what I mean…or maybe my story can help you to understand someone in your life better, too. Open the book—I want you to meet my brother and see how lucky I am!