13 / 102
- 11 -
that Carl Jr. (Hank as he is known by his family and
friends) is very slow to share a medical opinion with
anyone unless he has examined the person for that
particular problem. We have often become annoyed
with him for this, but actually understand and agree
with his ethics. I have been known, however, to
remind him that he is the only doctor (so far) whom
we have helped to finance through medical school.
After my worried insistence Hank told me that he
believed Keaton to be “a little autistic”! This was my
first time to hear this term applied to Keaton, but it
would not be the last time.
I shared the conversation with Carl Sr. and with
Mark. Mark added this information to his growing
concerns about Keaton. He spoke with a colleague
regarding his brother’s suggestion of autism and
Keaton. The friend told him that there was no such
thing as being a little autistic. He said that it was
the same as saying that someone was a little bit
pregnant. How wrong that person appears to us now!
For the remainder of the term Keaton was placed in
the care of a grandmotherly lady during school days.
He was quite content to be with her and enjoyed the
meals she prepared, especially the gravy and biscuits.
He says that he still thinks of her when he eats a gravy
biscuit meal, one of his favorites.
Mark and Pam had close friends, Chris and Shelly
Watts, who visited them often and brought their
daughter, Taylor. Taylor was several months younger
than Keaton. While Keaton did not play games or
build block houses with Taylor, he did enjoy her
company. He listened as her speech improved and as