Friday. Beginning of the school day. The students arrived.
The students are all brought into the classroom at the start of the day by the instructional assistants, kind of in one fell whoosh. It's chaotic as they get settled.
Domingo ambled into the room, and rather than immediately going outside, he kind of hovered.
Vera came in with her student, got her settled, and put her stuff away in the drawer the aides use for their stuff.
Domingo went into the drawer, moved Vera's jacket out of the way, and he snatched her apple.
Vera was understandably upset. She brought that apple for herself. It was a variety that she looks for especially. But now that Domingo had it...
At the end of the day, the apple had been left outside. Untouched. Domingo didn't eat the apple. He didn't even take a bite. He just held onto it. (He also holds onto books. And toys.)
It had become his comfort apple. His apple companion.
We'll all be more careful with apples from now on. And anything else Domingo might want to snatch.
What a guy. He will have an interesting teen life.
ReplyDeleteHas had. He's 18. This is the class for developmentally disabled adults.
DeleteCalifornia is lucky to have such programs. In my rural area, these adults are shuttled from home to the center and back again.
DeletePlease go check my site. I put up the new video.
This program only lasts until they're 22. Then they have to find other programs.
DeletePoor Vera. An apple friend is better other choices of friends I guess, even if its a stolen apple comfort buddy.
ReplyDeleteHe has lots of inanimate object friends.
DeleteReminded me of Calvin and the bully character he had in his class.
ReplyDeleteDomingo didn't talk to it, did he?
ReplyDeleteDomingo doesn't talk. He grunts.
DeleteOh what a shame for the lady having her apple stolen, but it least it brought the man some joy I guess if he held onto it all day!
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a good weekend :)
Away From The Blue
It seemed to keep him calm, and he had it on Monday again, so it did its job?
DeleteDid Vera try to get it back? I just wonder if he understands it wasn't his. He obviously was planning on taking her apple. My favorite apples are Cosmic Crisp.
ReplyDeleteOnce she saw Domingo had it, she knew it was lost to her. She's been working for the district for a long time, so she knows the population we have.
DeleteGood for Vera for not having a temper tantrum or meltdown.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if he saw her bring it in, or new she did bring in apples?
ReplyDeletedo you really think he took it for a comforter? or a way of controlling another person/owning something they will miss? If I was the teacher I think I would have a bowl of apples on my desk for those that have not and see how they feel about it - sometimes the pleasure is not in the prize, but the means of obtaining it :)
ReplyDeleteIf I was in a regular classroom, I might consider that. However, Domingo isn't "all there". Sometimes when he lashes out, I don't think he knows why he's feeling that way. If he talked, perhaps we could ask him.
DeleteI miss being able to seek out specific varieties of apples! Here, where apples do not grow, if there are any available at your local fruit vendor, you take the variety offered. Well, I don't usually, not anymore. Because when you are used to fresh apples (or at least only transported from a few states away), apples that have been in transit for a longer period of time are not as flavorful.
ReplyDeleteThat's okay. I get the good pineapple. And mangoes, and dragonfruit... it's a trade off.
I imagine it would be.
DeleteOoh, dragonfruit can be very tasty. We're blessed to have an international market nearby. Best wishes, my dear.
DeleteBless his heart but he does need to learn that if its not his, keep hands off.
ReplyDeleteAnd then he violently lashes out. We try to redirect him away from things he should not have, but that doesn't always work out so well.
DeleteHandling children like Domingo is really challenging. Hope Vera understood ...
ReplyDeleteOh my
ReplyDeleteThis assignment is a lot.
DeleteOh man, I just could work there so bless you for doing that.
ReplyDeleteNo blessings, please. So many could do a much better job. I'm just holding a place.
DeleteA comfort apple - now here's something I haven't heard about. Hope it'll do its magic!
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteI hope Vera at least got her apple back at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteShe chose not to retrieve it. He didn't eat it, but he did have his hands on it all day. She chose to let him keep it.
DeleteI hope so that Vera got apple back and Domingo find something else. Very interesting story.
ReplyDeleteOh, he has stacks of books and toys. Vera did not take her apple back.
DeleteI offered to by Ava a life sized stuffed animal of a trout for comfort. She declined :P
ReplyDeleteA trout? Gotta to with a teddy bear ;)
Delete