Unconditional love
Veronica Murphy’s son, Sebastian, is autistic. Since he was a child, Veronica has done everything she can to protect and support him against the general lack of understanding of others – in particular the savage cruelty of bullies. However, Sebastian is now a twenty-year-old man who has developed an obsessive desire to have sex, which presents Veronica with an even greater problem.
Whereas this would be a normal rite of passage for a male of his age, Sebastian’s autism makes it difficult for him to understand the boundaries between what is considered appropriate behaviour and what is not. This leads to an embarrassing incident with a neighbour’s daughter.
Although she has tried her best to explain things to Sebastian, Veronica knows it would have been far easier to deal with Sebastian’s desires if his father was still there to share the burden. After all, Pete had always been so much better at controlling Sebastian’s tantrums. Sadly, Pete died of a heart attack when Sebastian was only seven, leaving Veronica to cope alone.
With limited options available to her, Veronica decides to try the medical route first. However, it soon becomes apparent that, apart from drugging Sebastian with medication – a method strongly opposed by Veronica – the therapist has no idea how to deal with an autistic person … let alone an oversexed one. So, although it goes against all her principals, Veronica reluctantly reconciles herself to her last option. Opening her laptop, she searches online for a high-class escort.
Initially, Veronica is repelled by most of the websites she sees, which only serves to increase her reservations about the appropriateness of such a service for her vulnerable child. On the verge of giving up, she then comes across a site, which seems a cut above the others – Angels Escort Services. Still unconvinced about the wisdom of this plan, Veronica is about to close her computer when she recognises one of the escorts – a trainee nurse from the therapy clinic, who had treated Sebastian with kindness and understanding. Although surprised to see her listed on the site, Veronica decides she would be the ideal person for the job. Her decision to contact the agency, however, sets in motion a scenario which is destined to change the lives of all three of them forever.
As always, Louise Beech has taken a difficult subject matter and delved below its surface to shine a light on the qualities and warmth that most people often fail to see. In this case, the confusing world of autism, where everything is black and white with no room for grey areas.
With each of the three main characters struggling to cope with a personal situation, the author’s skilful and sympathetic writing soon elicits our empathy and understanding for their plight – especially Sebastian, who manages to surprise everyone … including his own mother. It also encourages us to question and challenge our preconceptions and notions of humanity; to realise that it is often to be found where we least expect.
‘This is How We are Human’ is a study in unconditional love and the sacrifices we are willing to make for those closest to us. Although harrowing at times, it is a heart-warming story which never strays into oversentimentality. The ending is both satisfying and surprising.
Whereas this would be a normal rite of passage for a male of his age, Sebastian’s autism makes it difficult for him to understand the boundaries between what is considered appropriate behaviour and what is not. This leads to an embarrassing incident with a neighbour’s daughter.
Although she has tried her best to explain things to Sebastian, Veronica knows it would have been far easier to deal with Sebastian’s desires if his father was still there to share the burden. After all, Pete had always been so much better at controlling Sebastian’s tantrums. Sadly, Pete died of a heart attack when Sebastian was only seven, leaving Veronica to cope alone.
With limited options available to her, Veronica decides to try the medical route first. However, it soon becomes apparent that, apart from drugging Sebastian with medication – a method strongly opposed by Veronica – the therapist has no idea how to deal with an autistic person … let alone an oversexed one. So, although it goes against all her principals, Veronica reluctantly reconciles herself to her last option. Opening her laptop, she searches online for a high-class escort.
Initially, Veronica is repelled by most of the websites she sees, which only serves to increase her reservations about the appropriateness of such a service for her vulnerable child. On the verge of giving up, she then comes across a site, which seems a cut above the others – Angels Escort Services. Still unconvinced about the wisdom of this plan, Veronica is about to close her computer when she recognises one of the escorts – a trainee nurse from the therapy clinic, who had treated Sebastian with kindness and understanding. Although surprised to see her listed on the site, Veronica decides she would be the ideal person for the job. Her decision to contact the agency, however, sets in motion a scenario which is destined to change the lives of all three of them forever.
As always, Louise Beech has taken a difficult subject matter and delved below its surface to shine a light on the qualities and warmth that most people often fail to see. In this case, the confusing world of autism, where everything is black and white with no room for grey areas.
With each of the three main characters struggling to cope with a personal situation, the author’s skilful and sympathetic writing soon elicits our empathy and understanding for their plight – especially Sebastian, who manages to surprise everyone … including his own mother. It also encourages us to question and challenge our preconceptions and notions of humanity; to realise that it is often to be found where we least expect.
‘This is How We are Human’ is a study in unconditional love and the sacrifices we are willing to make for those closest to us. Although harrowing at times, it is a heart-warming story which never strays into oversentimentality. The ending is both satisfying and surprising.
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