A short story by Patricius...

I've had quite a full day and feel rather tired, but I promised a very good friend of mine today that I'd write her a short story to better explain something. And so, this is a story about a special boy named Joseph who saw things differently from most people.

Joseph is 25 years old. Since his earliest days, he has had a remarkably advanced language. He was speaking his first words at 9 months and by 18 months had a vocabulary well-beyond his years. His first word, amusingly, was ''cantankerous'' - probably derived from his father who frequently complained about the elderly woman who lived next door who was more than a little awkward. Joseph's parents were understandably proud of their firstborn son, who by 2 years old could read the small-print on the back of the family VHS tapes.

Joseph went to nursery, where his ''teachers'' were concerned that he was ''living in a bubble.'' When he started school, his social ineptitude became more apparent. He was never interested in other children, but often ''stalked'' the adults about, telling them of his favourite book The Hobbit, and would talk endlessly about it if not interrupted. He spent hours in his bedroom alone, often making lists or writing out the dates of birth of people he knew and working out how much older they were than he. He would often spend considerable time opening and closing doors, manipulating light-switches and curtains, to no purpose that his parents or anyone else could see. He learned the scripts of some of his favourite films (such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, he adored Audrey Hepburn!) by rote, and would often correct relatives if they quoted a film in jest if they got it wrong.

Joseph was frequently in trouble in Primary School for disregarding the school timetable, preferring to sit in the Library alone with history books. When constrained by the Headmaster (who called his parents in because of Joseph's frequent tantrums) to audit lessons, he would often interrupt the teacher if she made a sweeping statement, an assertion of fact or an opinion. The teacher felt troubled, for she could see that Joseph was intelligent and curious, but she was concerned about his disruptive behaviour. And so, Joseph was referred to a Child Guidance Clinic. However, because Joseph's mother thought the therapist team were a ''bunch of hippies,'' he was removed and continued school as normal. Joseph's mother was concerned that the boy be raised ''normal'' like everyone else, and refused support grants, and even the finances to build an extension to their house so that Joseph could have his own separate room away from his brother, with whom he often fought because he was untidy.

Joseph passed his SATs tests with high scores for English but below average scores for Science and Maths, and he went to Secondary School with no great optimism. Secondary School proved even worse for Joseph, where he was bullied by older girls and even by some of the teachers (whom he accused of being in league with them). He became increasingly ''obsessed'' with areas of his interest, such as Art and History and Literature, and he frequently argued with his teachers. He was annoyed that he was accused of being ''pre-occupied'' with a subject long since ''dealt with'' on the Syllabus, and he retorted that if a subject was worth learning, it was salutary to learn everything one could about it rather than briefly going over it. He was shocked at what passed for education at Secondary School (he went to a mainstream school), describing the History syllabus as designed for idiots and constantly truanting from P.E lessons. He little understood what was socially appropriate, when enough was enough, or when he might be considered abusive or boring. It was not all bad though - he got on well with his Art teacher (who allowed him to sit in his classroom during break-times and read his books) and (astoundingly one might say) the Science teachers; his Maths teacher was patient with his attempts at Maths.

Joseph passed his GCSE exams respectfully and went onto Sixth Form College and University. He had little difficulty at Sixth Form, and passed his exams respectfully, starting University with a positive outlook. At University he developed a small group of friends, with whom he had much in common, and while not all the academic topics covered in the Syllabus were to his liking, he tried to get on with them as best he could, but often found procrastination and attention an issue, his attention often being drawn away to ''pleasures'' (since he adored the literary works of Oscar Wilde, he became obsessed with ''youth,'' he did nothing untoward or devious though) such as good food and drink, buying of books, first editions and all sorts. His lifestyle exceeded his income (he had a part-time job, the bane of his life as he called it) and he was often in debt, but his parents, happy that he was getting to be more ''normal'' as each day passed, were proud when he passed his degree. He is now, perforce, alone, but he is content with life as it is, and is often thought of as that ''shy'' but slightly ''odd'' chap who knows a lot about Star Trek...may the Force be with you!!!

The above image is of an ammonite fossil. It has nothing to do with the post, but I like looking at Ammonites, rather like staring into infinity.