Gary, 25, with Hypersocial Disorder, Meets a Girl at the Support Group
The Autistic Planet, ch. 2
This story is based on my article “What If Autistic People Were the Majority?” I recommend you read it first if you haven’t already.
The HSD Association of Silver Lake was at the lakeside. Gary parked the car and stepped out. He admired the lake for a minute.
The Silver Lake Town had been named, unsurprisingly, after the lake. The lake was still frozen, but it would melt soon. Gary could smell the spring in the air.
The HSD Association had been built at the lakeside because the autistic people didn’t want it in the town center. They were concerned that the people with HSD would be noisy.
Gary went inside. The support group meeting was in the big room in the middle of the building. There were small cubicles next to the wall in case autistic people would visit the house. But the middle of the room was unusually open.
Chairs formed a circle in the middle of the room. Brad, John, and Amy were already there.
“Hi, how are you?” Gary greeted excitedly.
Instead of confused stares, Gary’s greeting was met with happy replies:
“Good, how are you?”
“Wassup, G-boy?”
“Good to see you, Gary!”
Gary was in his element. This was where he belonged. This was his tribe…
A gorgeous young woman with long, dark hair walked into the room. Those almond-shaped brown eyes, and that body, what a body!
Gary sat down quickly. He didn’t want the girl to notice his boner. Or was it too late?
“Alright, buddies, welcome”, John said. He was the leader of the support group. “I see we have a new member here, welcome. How about we start with self-introductions?”
Amy was first. She was a happy, middle-aged redhead.
Amy was also John’s wife. John and Amy had met at the HSD Association.
“Hello there, I’m Amy. I was diagnosed with HSD five years ago. I think it was a blessing in disguise; thanks to my diagnosis, I met John. I also got a job as a secretary here at the HSD Association. You could say that Jesus changed my life when he gave me the HSD diagnosis!” Amy giggled.
But Gary’s attention was on the gorgeous brunette. She sat between Amy and Gary. After Amy, it was her turn to talk.
“Hi, I’m Miranda. I recently got diagnosed with HSD. People say I don’t look like someone with HSD. I’ve heard it’s difficult for women to get a diagnosis because we don’t act like hypersocial boys.”
“So, you’re masking?” Brad asked.
“Probably. But it’s not just that. I’m just not as hypersocial as some people with HSD, you know? I’m an introvert, but I’m not autistic. I answer questions too quickly. I can read people’s facial expressions. At the same time, I find the term “hypersocial disorder” misleading. Because I’m not exactly hypersocial.”
Gary listened to Miranda with fascination. He was so focused on Miranda that he forgot it was his turn to speak next.
“Oh, hi. I’m Gary, and I have the hypersocial disorder. I’ve always felt like I’m different from everybody else. Didn’t do well as a programmer because I’m too social. But you know what? I’m tired of society telling me I’m “too social”! Isn’t it time we, the people with HSD, stood up for ourselves?” Gary said.
“Well spoken, son”, John said. “But that’s what we’re doing here at the HSD Association. We’re spreading awareness on HSD. By the way, I read your interview, Gary. Well done. You helped spread awareness too.”
“Thank you. But I’m just wondering, is that enough? Shouldn’t we do something more radical?” Gary said.
“Remember that the slow bird gets the worm”, John said.
“Oh, yeah. Right.”
After the meeting, Brad sent Gary signals that he wanted to talk to him. Gary sent Brad non-verbal signs that he wanted to talk to Miranda. Brad immediately understood Gary’s sign language and went outside.
“So, how was your first meeting?” Gary asked Miranda.
“Oh, it was great. I enjoyed meeting other people with HSD and hearing their stories.”
“Great. Awesome.”
“Yeah. I think you’re right, by the way. We should do something to promote the rights of people with HSD.”
“Cool. Hey, I was wondering… Are you coming to the spring party of the HSD Association?” Gary asked.
“I haven’t heard about that. When is it?”
“It’s on Saturday next week.”
“Sure, I think I can make it. So, I guess I’ll see you there?”
“You bet you will!” Gary said and pointed at Miranda with his finger and winked, a gesture he had not planned to make. Damned it.
“OK, cool. See you. Bye!”
“Bye!”
So, Gary still had it in him! It was excellent news that Miranda would join the spring party. Gary hadn’t dated for a while, but the spring party was his chance to get back in the game.
Gary left the building escorted by his humming and dance moves.
The story continues in chapter 3.
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