AriYah and the Puzzle of Patterns
by
Ahgaddes Haynes
A story about Autism
for your 4th Grader.
AriYah stepped off the bus in front of the towering art school, feeling the swirl of noise and energy. He clutched his sketchbook, keeping an eye on the reflections dancing on the windows. Patterns always caught his attention, and the bustling city offered plenty to see.
AriYah entered the massive lobby, where echoing voices blended into a steady hum. He focused on the rows of stark white tiles, noticing the neat lines and repeated designs. Whenever he spotted clever patterns, his thoughts became calm and focused.
Each tile fit together precisely, forming a mosaic of simple squares that gleamed under the lights. Faint traces of color hinted at hidden pictures if someone looked closely enough. Even in the busiest hall, the design seemed to whisper a secret message.
AriYah found a quiet nook near the hallway walls, crouching down to sketch his observations. He noticed a colorful poster stuck on a nearby bulletin board, announcing an upcoming art competition. At the thought of creating something original, he felt his heart pound with excitement.
AriYah gathered old bottle caps, bent copper wires, and scraps of cardboard from the busy recycling area. With each piece he collected, he felt a spark of inspiration. He pictured a sculpture that would show his love for tiny details and hidden designs.
Late that afternoon, AriYah spread the items on a table and arranged them in shifting rows. He studied every curve and shape, looking for perfect ways to fit them together. Building something from discarded pieces felt rewarding, like uncovering treasures nobody else noticed.
Under the warm glow of overhead lights, the table brimmed with plastic bottle caps, metal scraps, and cardboard shapes. Colors were sorted into neat rows, forming bursts of red, green, and blue across the cluttered surface. Bits of wire curled like small spirals, waiting to be included.
By evening, AriYah stepped back from the half-built sculpture with a satisfied grin. He ran his fingertips over the shapes, excited by each unexpected pattern. When he felt nervous about the contest, he remembered how focusing on details soothed him.