“Grandma,” chides Justin. But Ann does not try to hide her surprise. She asks Sam, “Does he have special needs?” “Yes,” says Sam, and her cheeks sting, because she has never said that before. She and her mom never say, Yeah, Noah has problems or issues or needs—not even when he is melting down and people are staring. Sam wouldn’t say it now, except that Ann surprised her.
autism?
