Robin’s Hidden Superpower
Kim and Alex are sitting at the dinner table with their child, Robin.
They are talking about Aunt Margot, who is coming over.
“Snow,” Robin says suddenly.
Kim and Alex look at each other. It’s always the same: they are talking about something, and then Robin talks about something completely different. It looks like Robin has a problem with focusing, or maybe a hearing problem.
“Snow?” they ask Robin politely.
But it’s already too late. Robin is talking about something else again. It’s always the same.
Kim and Alex are getting more worried every year. Maybe they have to go to the doctor to see what is wrong with Robin.
What Kim and Alex don’t know is that Robin has a hidden, soon-to-be-discovered superpower.
When they were talking about Aunt Margot, this is what happened in Robin’s head:
Aunt Margot → nephew Pete → Pete always has loose shoelaces → the feeling it would give if you would tickle those shoelaces on your face → red soles from the song “Loubou Shoes” → I want new shoes → I like playing outside → I need shoes with good soles so I don’t trip while playing in the snow → I like snow!
“Snow!” Robin said.
It would take years—and a lot of diagnoses later—to find out that Robin has one of the fastest brains in the world. Robin was actually forming new connections extremely fast.
By then, it was already almost too late.
Life as It Really Is
But what am I supposed to do now? Robin thinks.
They can say whatever they want, but they don’t understand how fast my mind goes. Everything is constant chaos.
“Just make up a story,” Robin suddenly hears a voice from above.
You can make up a story at any moment of the day and tell something about that moment. That’s the most fun thing there is. You don’t need anything for it, just your own mind.
If you sit still for a moment, then tell a story about that moment.
It doesn’t matter who you tell it to. You can do it inside your own head.
Just try it—sometimes it feels like there’s always someone in the universe listening. Even if you think no one can hear you.
“I’ll start,” the voice says.
“My leg hurts. It’s raining outside. I’m smelling my hand. I’m twisting my hair. I’m scratching my neck. I tickle my scalp. I’m thinking about what I’m going to tell you next.”
“I understand,” Robin says. “Life as it really is.”