I feel like I have au-kward moments every other day, rather than every week. This makes sense, though, considering I have two twin sisters with autism that are very vocal, charismatic, and outgoing.

Luckily, this week was extra special. I went home from college for the weekend and went to Friendly’s with my mother, father, and sisters. We went at prime time: 12 o’clock noon when the restaurant was filled with children. Since most looked to be around age 12 and under, I assumed most of those children didn’t understand autism up-close — let alone from afar — so I was already preparing myself for their curious stares when one of my sisters was guaranteed to give them something to talk about! And she did: Emma gave them a fun-filled example!

My sister Emma has been on a YouTube-kick watching this particular Sesame Street clip with lots of high-pitched singing. Emma is the queen of repetition, and decided not only to sing just as the characters do, but extremely exaggerated. It was like Sesame Street Live!’s Broadway show without costumes. Needless to say, we all got the deer-in-the-headlights stares from the kids and perfectly practiced eye rolls that we were waiting for from the parents. But, oh, how my family laughed at her on-point spontaneity! For a moment, I wished I had the courage to entertain via restaurant cabaret, too.

And you’re welcome, parents. Your children got a free show with lunch. 🙂

— Diana Alessandrini