Typical Conversation

Dad: Hey Jordan, Porgy and Bess will be at Fair Park in Dallas at the end of February. Do you want to go?
Jordan: Sounds good to me.
Joel: What?
Dad: Porgy and Bess will be at Fair Park in Dallas. Are you interested in going also?
Joel: Maybe. Will there be an orchestra?
Dad: Yes
Joel: Will it be big?
Dad: I think so.
Joel: Will there be flutes?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: Clarinets?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: Oboes?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: Bassoons?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: Saxophones?
Dad: Not sure, but I think so.
Joel: Drums?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: Trumpets and Trombones?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: French Horns?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: Tubas?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: Violins and Violas and Cellos and the big, gigantic bass?
Dad: Yes, lots of instruments.
Joel: Will there be an organ?
Dad: I doubt it.
Joel: How come?
Dad: Usually there is not an organ in an orchestra playing for a show, but I am not sure about this one.
Joel: What about a piano?
Dad: Maybe so.
Joel: Oh, good.
(a moment of silence)
Joel: Will there be a tenor?
Dad: Yes, lots of singers.
Mom: Joel, it is an opera. Of course there will be tenors.
Joel: Lots of tenors?
Dad: Well, I think so.
Joel: How many tenors?
Dad: I don't know.
Joel: Probably, like about 6 or 8 or 10 tenors or 20 tenors.
Dad: Probably not that many.
Joel: A baritone?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: A soprano?
Dad: Yes. Probably a choir too.
Joel: A big choir with lots of people?
Dad: Maybe, but not too big since there is a stage.
Joel: How big is the choir?
Dad: Not sure, but it will be good.
Joel: How many are in the choir?
Dad: I really am not sure.
Joel: Who will be singing?
Dad: Not sure, but most of them will be of African-American descent like Gershwin intended.
(more silence)
Joel: How far away is it? Can we stay in a motel?
Dad: About 3 hours but we will probably not stay in a motel.
Joel: I like motels with pools. Indoor pools.
Dad: I know but they cost money and it will be enough just to pay for the show.
Joel: How much?
Dad: I am not sure yet.
Joel: About, like, $5.00?
Dad: More like $50 or $75 probably.
Joel: Oh. I have $50 but I want to buy a pin-stripe suit. Where will we eat?
Dad: Joel, I just don't know. It is not happening for several months and we don't usually plan our eating places that far in advance.
Joel: Can we eat Mexican food?
Dad: Maybe so.
Joel: With lots of chips and tacos and enchiladas and hot sauce?
Dad: Probably but let's don't think about that right now.
Joel: Okay. What time will we leave?
Dad: Maybe 3 or so.
Joel: What should I wear?
Dad: Well, I guess nice clothes but you don't need to worry about that right now.
Joel: Can I wear a tie?
Dad: Yes.
Joel: Should I wear a sweater or maybe a black shirt and tie?
Dad: Yes, but since it is a long time, let's don't talk about that.
(long silence)
Joel: Are there lots of songs?
Dad: Yes, like "Bess You Is My Woman Now" and "Summertime" and "I Got Plenty of Nothin"
Joel: Those are good songs.
Dad: Great songs.
Joel: Great songs. But I might not go.
Dad: (after thinking about that) Well, we'll talk more about it later.
Joel: But I might go.
Dad: Okay.
Joel: But I might stay home and eat Mexican food.
Dad: Maybe that is best.
Joel: But I want to see the orchestra.
Dad: Joel, let's talk more about this later. Right now it is time to eat.
Joel: Okay.

Thus is a typical conversation with our 18 year old autistic son, Joel!