VI. 17 years ago…

The next few days after Cooper recovered from his illness he felt different.  He couldn’t explain why but he noticed his world differently.  Colors seemed more vibrant and sharp. Conversations he overheard between his parents he seemed to understand. Maybe he just never paid attention before and maybe that was the difference – he paid attention to everything now.  Almost like he couldn’t shut his brain off.  His brain’s computer was on and running all the time. He couldn’t explain any of this to anyone because he was still processing it.  Was this normal and he just never noticed before? His mom noticed something was different but she wasn’t sure how to explain it either. Suddenly, her boy that liked to keep his hair trimmed in a crew cut style now hated getting his hair cut. He refused to let her cut his hair. That wasn’t a battle worth fighting so she let him grow it out. One other thing that was obvious to everyone was he no longer needed his inhaler.  When his mom questioned the doctor, she was told that sometimes “children outgrow asthma.”  She also mentioned to the doctor that he started coming home with stories of winning races at school.  His energy level seemed to spike.  The doctor’s response was to give him some meds which she declined.  It wasn’t an uncontrollable energy; it was more of an intense, albeit focused, energy.  At the first parent-teacher conference after his fever she was told that he was exceling in every subject.  His teacher commented on his outstanding performance.  Even the PE teacher remarked on his ability.  At the previous conference, the PE teacher couldn’t remember who exactly Cooper was.  Up until then, Cooper blended in with the background.  Not anymore.  He was getting noticed, remarked on, and remembered.