Is it because I am in a wheelchair and wear braces on my legs? (I have muscular dystrophy, which is gradually making my muscles weaker.) Is it because I sometimes use forearm crutches to help me walk (for short distances)?
Is it because I am small for my age? (At nine and a half I look more like six or seven.) Is it because I wear glasses or hearing aids in my ears? (I had meningitis when I was a little baby, and it affected my vision and my hearing.)
Is it because I don't look like my brothers or sisters, or even my parents? (As you can see, I am adopted. All of the kids in my family are.)
Is it because I have a noticeable speech problem when I talk? (I stutter when I talk.)
I can't help the way I am; it was just something that happened, this meningitis, and then the muscular dystrophy. It is nothing I have done, and it is *NOT MY FAULT*. I know this; my family and my mommy and daddy know this, too, and so do my cousins, aunts, and my uncles. But kids, PLEASE don't stare; it makes me uncomfortable, and I don't like that feeling. I don't stare at you; WHY MUST YOU STARE AT ME????
It is NOT FAIR!!!!
How would *YOU* like it if *YOU* were in my shoes? How would it feel if YOU couldn't walk without the aid of crutches (forearm OR underarm) or heavy leg braces that weigh you down? How would *YOU* like sitting in a wheelchair for hours and hours, hoping your butt doesn't get another pressure sore, which hurts like fire; and then you end up having to go to the hospital if it gets infected; and then you have to lie in a special bed called a Stryker frame, which has to be turned every two hours, since you can't really turn yourself? How would *YOU* like it if you blacked out every so often, and then, when you awoke, you felt tired and achy and sore all over, and not really remembering much before everything went black; and all you want to do is sleep?
How would *YOU* like it if you couldn't see well enough to read; and if you *DID* read, you had to put your face really close to a book, so you could see the words on the page; and then you find out that you can't read well enough in the first place? Or, how would *YOU* feel if you couldn't hear without the aid of powerful hearing aids; and then, every so often, the things short out and cause this horrible buzzing or squealing in your ears?
Well, these are things I face each and every day, and believe me, it is NOT FUN. I wouldn't want to wish any of this on you! You are *SO LUCKY* to be able to walk, see, hear, talk; I can't really do none of those things well, as you can see each time you see me.
I am a little boy with FEELINGS, just like you, and I DON'T LIKE BEING TEASED!! Teasing hurts, and it just makes me feel worse than I already do! And being stared at is worse; it's like someone sees a yucky bug when they see me and all they want to do is step on me; and I *HATE* that feeling!!
As I said earlier, you DON'T have to like me, but *PLEASE* give me a chance!! I am more like you than you may think, and you will find out that I make a very good friend!!
Written by: Johnathon ("Johnny") Sandusky, aged 9 1/2 years.
Winner of two 2020 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards in the Ebooks Category:
Best Illustrations: 2nd Place
Picture Books Ages 6 and Older: Honorable Mention
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